Technology

David Hockney’s digital drawings: To do, not to do, or to undo

By Pip Marks on December 28, 2016 • ( 4 )

I often wish I had an ‘undo’ button in real life, not just on my computer. This feeling generally hits me after moving heavy furniture – when it looked better beforehand – or when I’ve been a bit too vicious… Read More ›

Is Pokémon Go giving us a glimpse of a healthier happier future?

By Pip Marks on August 4, 2016 • ( 12 )

A few weeks ago, the world divided into two groups: People addicted to chasing small fictional creatures around cities Luddites (like me) wondering what all the fuss is about. Whichever group you belong to, there’s no denying the incredible success… Read More ›

How do you deal with relentless global bad news?

By Pip Marks on July 21, 2016 • ( 7 )

A couple of years ago, I published a post about the horror movie marathon in which we’re all taking part (here). I hadn’t thought about that post for ages, until I read an article this week entitled ‘How to stay happy when the sky is… Read More ›

Serendipity (Part 2) – What role can serendipity play in enhancing environmental and social sustainability?

By Pip Marks on February 12, 2016 • ( 0 )

Anyone can find a few clues, but not everyone can solve a crime Recognising an opportunity or uncovering a new piece of information is only the first step in the journey. You also need to appreciate its significance and be willing… Read More ›

Is it April Fools’ Year?

By Pip Marks on February 21, 2015 • ( 2 )

A few times this week I have found myself checking that the date wasn’t April 1. ************ The first was when it was reported that Australia is considering scaling back or postponing the national census that has been conducted every… Read More ›

How did you find people before phone books & social media?

By Pip Marks on November 30, 2014 • ( 6 )

In Victoria (Australia), you probably would have used a Sands & McDougall Directory to find people in the days before telephone directories & the Internet. These impressive publications were compiled annually between 1857 and 1974 and listed the occupants at every business and residence,… Read More ›

Using eye contact to help protect endangered species

By Pip Marks on October 19, 2014 • ( 0 )

Eye contact is our strongest form of non-verbal communication and plays a critical role in initiating emotional relationships between people (and other species). Photographers, for example, know that getting subjects to look directly at the lens of the camera is… Read More ›

Uno due tre quattro – what’s next? (cinque-generation & 5D printing?)

By Pip Marks on June 2, 2014 • ( 0 )

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all of the information available at your fingertips? Or find yourself totally blown away by what new technologies can do and how they are changing our lives? No sooner do I begin to get my head around… Read More ›

Car faces & body language

By Pip Marks on May 30, 2014 • ( 8 )

Humans have a fascinating tendency to see faces in random things, such as clouds. This phenomenon is called ‘paleidolia’. We do the same with cars – and often ascribe personality traits to these inanimate objects based on their front end features. “Even if people don’t… Read More ›

Let’s do the blog hop!

By Pip Marks on May 23, 2014 • ( 2 )

Thank you to the fabulous (three) mothers at 4mothers1blog for inviting me to participate in a blog hop asking bloggers why they write. Carol, Beth-Anne and Nathalie have already shared the ins and outs of why and how they write (here, here and here)… Read More ›

Using wombats to promote your blog and support good causes

By Pip Marks on May 10, 2014 • ( 8 )

I am a big believer in the power of ‘word of mouth’ marketing and ‘peer to peer’ referrals. These models rely on trust and are especially well suited to blogs – where a recommendation, link or other promotion via a blogger that you… Read More ›

We play in the garden – where art meets the corporate world

By Pip Marks on March 13, 2014 • ( 4 )

It is a sunny day. Jack and Jill go outside to play.* Mummy is working in the garden. ‘Look at the pretty flowers!’ says Jill. ‘I love flowers!’ ‘Look!’ says Jack. ‘A ladybird!’ ‘I love ladybirds,’ says Jill. ‘Oh! The… Read More ›

A guilt-free Valentine

By Pip Marks on February 14, 2014 • ( 5 )

This post (and the amazing cloud that I saw a couple of weeks ago) is dedicated to all those who conscientiously object to the crass commercialisation of this saint’s day, didn’t receive flowers or chocolates today (but would have liked to),… Read More ›