Designing Banks

[TECHNOLOGY] Multi-Touch G2 Demo

This is an update to a previous post on multi-touch technology and Microsoft Surface.

Things are now heating up.  It seems Multi-Touch G2 is ready to give Microsoft Surface a little competition.

VIA:   Multi-Touch G2 Demo

RELATED:

• [TECHNOLOGY] Microsoft Surface For Barclays Banks
• Barclays leverages Microsoft Surface to create new store concept
• [INNOVATION] Umpqua Bank's Innovation Lab Video
• Barclays puts Microsoft Surface in their lobby
• Microsoft Surface
• Touch Screens for Many Fingers

[TECHNOLOGY] Microsoft Surface For Barclays Banks

Surface technology will allow users to grab digital content with their hands and navigate information about Barclays' Premier banking offering.      [more . . . ]

Microsoft Surface is a proprietary product based on new technology called, “Multi-touch”.  Simply, touch screen technology using more than one finger.  No big deal, right.

Actually, it could be a BIG deal.

Informational ease-of-access is about removing barriers.  Specifically, the barriers between what you want known about your organization and who you want to know it.

What multi-touch does is bring your patrons one step closer to your products and services through direct interaction with the information they see on a tabletop display.

Consider getting a better view of your bank statements by sliding the “pages” around the screen with your fingers. Or enlarging a picture of a digital brochure by moving your index fingers apart. In other words, working intuitively with familiar objects, much as you would at your desk.

Barclays is apparently using Microsoft Surface as a touchpoint.  It is a way to draw their customers closer to that sometimes elusive, personal relationship with the brand and what the company has to offer.  Not through a conversation with a person, but through almost playful interaction with the corporation itself.

VIA:   Barclays banks on Surface | OnWindows.com

RELATED:

• Barclays takes Piccadilly Circus branch
• Barclays leverages Microsoft Surface to create new store concept
• [INNOVATION] Umpqua Bank's Innovation Lab Video
• Barclays puts Microsoft Surface in their lobby
• Microsoft Surface
• Touch Screens for Many Fingers

[ARCHITECTURE] Herzog & de Meuron - Madrid bank HQ

 

BBVA MADRID BANK HQ

I thought you would be interested in this.

EXCERPT:

The design concept proposes creating a small city and artificial oasis on a site on the outskirts of the city, described by the architects as a “desert-like” space.

[more . . .]

VIA:    Herzog & de Meuron reveals design for Madrid bank HQ - Architecture news from the architects' favourite weekly newspaper - Building Design

RELATED:

• BBVA headquarters by Herzog & de Meuron
• BBVA buys the Foresta Business Park from Gmp, where it will develop its new Corporate Center in Madrid

RESOURCES:

• Herzog & de Meuron 1978-1988
• Herzog & de Meuron 1992-1996
• Herzog & de Meuron 1997-2001

[RETHINK] What's Health Got To Do With It?

LATERAL THINKING

As an architect, I often look at design directions developing in industries, other than the one I am currently focused on.  Many times, I have discovered a number of interesting parallels, which lead to fresh ideas I have not yet explored.

This video, on the future of personal health, has nothing to do with banking.  However, it sheds light on new information technologies which may, some day, apply to banking.

As you watch, think laterally. Try to see the similarities in seemingly unrelated disciplines.  Look for ways you can apply what you see to related areas in your business.

This technique has served me well for many years.

VIA:  YouTube - Office Labs: Future of personal health concept

RELATED:

• [INSPIRATION] BMW GINA – Not A Bank, But . . .
• Lateral Thinking

[UPGRADE] Added "News You Use" To Blog

I come across a number of interesting news items everyday.  Some directly affecting banking and many related to business in general.  A few are darned interesting and I have decided to share the links in a new sidebar section called, “News You Use”.

Incidentally, I particularly liked the links in red.

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

[REDUCE] Cut Storage Space And Energy To Save Money

In previous posts, I discussed “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, as a means to help your business, while helping the planet.  I thought, in this post, it was time for a few examples.

Let’s start with “Reduce”.

Alpine Bank in Greenwood Springs, Colorado, is using new storage technology to save energy and space.  With help from Nexsan Assureon, they have found an innovative way to cut their storage footprint by half; energy consumption by 30 percent; and replicate 700,000 images per day.

In summary, they were able to reduce consumption of energy and resources, and increase performance.  That is what this is all about.

[Read about it here . . .]

VIA:   Alpine Bank Aligns Green Banking and IT Innovation Using Nexsan Energy-Efficient Storage Solutions | Reuters

RELATED:

• [RETHINK] Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• [RETHINK] Banking On Survival

• Nexsan Assureon

• Jack Henry & Associates