These last weeks, I have been overly preoccupied with architects’ wages and loss of jobs, at the expense of updating our readers on progress at Woobius HQ. Now that our clocks have been put forward, the evenings are getting longer, and spring is in the air, the time seems right for something more positive: a Woobius news up-date.
At the end of February the Woobius team got together for their first ever photoshoot in central London. Construction Manager Magazine was keen to write a feature on new collaboration technologies within the construction industry, and naturally they thought of us to be the main focus. Fortunately for the rest of the team the group photo was omitted, with Bob taking all the glory in a full page, full figure shot (My, what a handsome chap!). Bob uses the article to discuss the merits of low cost tools such as Woobius and to introduce our new app, Woobius Eye, described by Paul Wilkinson as ‘taking mobile collaboration to another level.’ Have a read, it’s interesting stuff.
Out of the blue another article hit the web, setting the twitter-sphere alight. Our thanks go to Whitson Gordon for such a positive review of the Eye on Life Hacker. The concept seems to have made a mark and it has been fascinating watching news of Woobius Eye spread around the world. (A quick search on twitter suggests the article has now reached Japan, via Russia yesterday!)
As we might have expected, sign-up for our Woobius Eye beta test has been incredible, with many more interested parties than expected. These include some big names in the construction world, including Zaha Hadid’s architectural practice. No doubt trying to explain the position of a shadow gap detail on one of her twisting, fluid amorphous signature buildings will become a great deal easier with the introduction of the Eye.
Our feedback request has yielded some interesting responses. We have taken on board suggestions for additional features and been pleasantly surprised that people have understood what we are trying to achieve. Key uses we are hearing time and time again include commenting, coordinating, brainstorming, snagging, and collaborating. One future user hits the nail on the head…
I work as a construction manger on sites scattered over a large area. This will be useful to get in contact with our design team and correct issues on site without having to come back to the office. I can therefore spend more time on site than travelling backwards and forwards to the office.
Another says,
I will use it as a design solution tool whose key function is to communicate between our construction managers, project site team and our designers. The principle here is that problems encountered on site can be easily communicated via this tool to our design to increase the reaction time of our designers in providing a solution that is practical and function to all parties.
Of course, some people have less serious applications for the tool and would rather ‘play Pictionary with friends whilst on the bus’ or even ‘plan ideas, screw with employees and other random things!’ but the joy in this is that it reveals the extraordinary potential inherent in visual communication.
I will sign off with a great little clip we have made to describe the Woobius Eye in less than 45 seconds. The animation is from the pen of our very own Bob Leung and the music is courtesy of fellow Woobian Cliff Rowley.
