As a consistent iPod user and Apple enthusiast, I constantly find myself looking out for the latest and greatest applications. I’ve tried a multitude of personal productivity applications over the last year, however, it wasn’t until recently when I found Diacarta that I felt like I had one that I actually want to use. Other applications at times, seemed confusing while being overloaded with advanced options that in turn make them less intuitive. The user interface is so clean, simple, and intuitive that it literally takes you a few seconds to add another task into your day. With a library of over 50 different icons, the interface also does something I’ve never seen in another personal planner — visually map out your day! You can very easily drag-and-drop these icons to the appropriate time of day and it will snap in place, automatically adjusting the time. How much easier can you get!?

Another neat feature of this application is the ability to switch between your AM and PM tasks or even days, with only the flip of a finger. I liked this personally because if you’re as busy as I can be a times, all those tasks pile up and get to look a little intimidating! So in a way, this is feature is helping to organize your day, and ease your mind.

As a designer, one of the most interesting things about this application was reading about the development of it in another review. Created by Jake and Georgia Yanchar, two former New York City lawyers, Diacarta is said to have evolved from daily organizers that Jake would draw daily in his Moleskine notebook. I think this only says alot about the application and its simplicity. If one person can organize their life from a few sketches in a notebook, and turn it into a iPhone application, it just might be worth a try! You might be surprised!

This piece really pushes the envelope when thinking in terms of what we could consider ‘traditional.’ Designed by Marlies Romberg, the Wooden Computer Station does a great job of fusing the lines between technology and traditional woodworking. For those of you who might have seen my posts in the past, this would be a great accompanying piece to the Wooden Mouse designed by Alest Rukov.

Props
Design: Marlies Romberg
Article: Design Milk

At first look, it might look like a regular plotting printer, but after a few seconds you’ll realize that this contraption is anything but ordinary. This invention called simply “The Plotting Machine” was developed by the folks at You Don’t Matter. This modified printer can work in various types of media and do anything from print, draw, cut, and scratch using any type of traditional technique, allowing for results that are neither man-made nor machine-made. I find the aesthetic to be one of its most interesting qualities. Although its a machine, none of the images it produces are ever the same. This may vary by pressure, color, media, etc. Furthermore, with the proper equipment, you could attach a glowing diode and take a timed exposure and actually watch this machine draw out its masterpieces with light. Overall, I think this is a truly unique piece of equipment. I hope anyone else out there will share my enthusiasm!

For more information and to view some of the work produced from this piece, click here.