Headset-like device concept envisions a non-invasive treatment for cross-eyed kids

Some diseases and physical disorders don’t really care whether you’re young or old, but unfortunately, treatment does. You can’t, for example, perform surgery on extremely young or extremely old people, which severely limits what you can do before it gets too late. Some defects like strabismus, more popular under the moniker “crossed eyes,” can become a big problem for adults and a long-lasting emotional wound for kids. Some types of strabismus can, fortunately, be corrected by wearing special types of glasses, but that treatment can be inefficient and costly over time. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, especially if you stretch the design a bit, like this device that looks like a VR headset but is actually a wearable treatment for kids afflicted by this vision disorder.

Designer: Haechan Ryu

There are a few vision disorders that can be corrected by wearing special glasses, particularly ones that use a prism to redirect the way light enters the eyes. For those affected with strabismus, this can help train the eyes until they get back to a more natural position. The problem is that glasses with prisms have fixed angles, and as the wearer’s eyes adjust, the eyeglasses have to be replaced as well. Of course, surgery is out of the question for kids, so a more efficient and cost-effective treatment is needed.

SWP, which is an acronym for Simplicity With Professionalism, tries to offer that solution with a design that might look a little familiar now, even for kids. From the outside, the device is very similar to a virtual reality headset like the Meta Quest or HTC Vive. In fact, it might also be using some of the same designs and mechanisms as a regular headset, particularly with the way two lenses can be adjusted on the fly.

In SWP’s case, there is a motorized prism inside the visor that can adjust the angle to adapt to the severity of the wearer’s strabismus. A dial in front can adjust the spacing of the lens for the eyes while the inner lenses rotate inside to exercise the eyes and correct that angle over time. Rather than replacing the eyeglasses every time the strabismus angle changes, one only needs to change the headset’s settings to continue the treatment.

1

Making SWP look like a VR headset isn’t accidental, of course. The form offers a more distributed weight balance, so it won’t be too heavy for kids to wear. Of course, it will also be considerably lighter because it has fewer internal components to cram into that small space. It might even make kids feel special for wearing such a device that grownups play with, helping them become more accepting of the treatment that will help correct their vision until it becomes normal again.

The post Headset-like device concept envisions a non-invasive treatment for cross-eyed kids first appeared on Yanko Design.

The short runtime of ‘WandaVision’ really is the best of both worlds

Episode six of Disney+ original WandaVision certainly kicked things up a notch. That should silence complaints that the show was moving at a crawl, but one reason it felt slow is that we get so little of it every week — the longest episode, number fi...

The Vision Mercedes Simplex explores a fusion of old-world form and new-age treatment

Taking form inspiration from the 1901 35 PS, the first ever automobile to carry the Mercedes brand name, the Vision Mercedes Simplex concept is both a hat-tip to the past, and a signal towards the future. The Vision Simplex has an open-wheel design, made possible by fitting an electric powertrain in each wheel for a four-wheeled drive. The open-cockpit car is a driver’s dream come true, giving you and the passenger beside you the absolute thrill of driving with the wind in your hair. The car even features a minimalist dashboard, with just 5 simple elements. The radiator on the front resembles the 35 PS, but comes with a rose-gold lining and an interactive display on the front, emblazoned with the proud Mercedes logo. I particularly love the old-world combination of black and rose-gold, contrasted against the futuristic color-combo of white and electric blue! This car is truly a 21st century neo-steampunk automobile!

Designer: Mercedes

BMW’s Vision iNext Concept is a palpable, realistic concept automobile

Well, it turns out that even BMW isn’t impervious to leaks, because these images of the iNext concept made their way around as early as 2 days before the launch! However, now that the car has formally launched, let’s look at what’s probably one of BMW’s most believable, palpable concepts yet. Building on the aesthetic of the Vision Next 100 concept that featured wild ideas like expanding wheel-bases and a body that could stretch along with the wheels.

As AI continues to become a stronger entity in our day-to-day lives, companies are moving to highlight their efforts in AI by either debuting new products, or concept, as is commonly done in the automotive industry. BMW too is embracing the future of vehicles (which is clearly self-driving cars and not flying cars) with the Vision iNext concept, a car that joins BMW’s i Series, but showcases what the company has in store for the future… which is the autonomous automotive. The company still believes the car should accommodate for a driver, if need be, as BMW Chairman Harald Krüger asks, “What does a vehicle look like which no longer needs to be driven by a person but can be if desired?”

The exterior borrows a lot from the Vision Next 100, with an authoritative exterior, the golden/copper hue, and the fragmented triangle design detail around the grill. It also features a unique looking double-kidney grill that’s actually connected at the middle, which in ways seems innately BMW-ish as well as ground-breakingly different. The kidney grill takes on more of a data-driven role, given that the iNext is completely electric, and acts as an “intelligence panel” housing various sensors critical to the autonomous driving experience. The windscreen extends all the way to the top, turning into a sun-roof, giving the interiors a more airy feel. On the inside lie two individual seats in the front plus a one-piece bench in the rear creating a relaxed ambiance for up to 4 people. The car, as mentioned earlier, comes with a self-driving mode but at the same time doesn’t do away with the driving console (like Volvo’s 360c), emphasizing the fact that the driver plays an important role in mobility and performance. The car, however, does borrow from tech companies by providing the service of an Intelligent Personal Assistant that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”.

The iNext Concept is all set to be molded into reality as early as 2021. While the aesthetic may be subjected to a lot of change, the iNext’s focus on self-driving and its AI-driven experience will be much more interesting to observe!

Designer: BMW

bmw_vision_inext_2018_1

bmw_vision_inext_2018_2

bmw_vision_inext_2018_3

bmw_vision_inext_2018_4

bmw_vision_inext_2018_5

bmw_vision_inext_2018_6

bmw_vision_inext_2018_7

bmw_vision_inext_2018_8

bmw_vision_inext_2018_9

bmw_vision_inext_2018_10

bmw_vision_inext_2018_11

bmw_vision_inext_2018_12

bmw_vision_inext_2018_13

bmw_vision_inext_2018_14

bmw_vision_inext_2018_15

The Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic explores modular mobility

Not one to be outdone by Motorola’s obsession with modularity, Mercedes-Benz showcased their vision for modularity in automobiles. The Urbanetic shows the company’s explorations in modular vehicles, where the car’s undercarriage is a separate entity that allows various vehicular bodies to plug on top of it, allowing it to transform from a self-driving minivan to a self-driving truck.

Its hyper-organic detailing aside (something I’m not really a fan of), the vehicle, or ‘mobility concept’ as its creators call it, comes with a skateboard-esque powertrain base that allows you to simply mount and swap bodies on top, giving you mobility for different scenarios when needed. While the very concept of having a one-powertrain-drives-all system sounds innovative and could definitely present a new era for mobility and manufacturing, it’s probably the execution that I personally have problems with. For instance, Mercedes-Benz could do so much more than making their minivan look like a bicycle helmet on wheels, and the truck look like a metallic loaf of bread. Other than that, a pretty innovative take on the future of transport, be it human or goods!

Designer: Mercedes-Benz

vision_urbanetic_1

vision_urbanetic_2

vision_urbanetic_3

vision_urbanetic_4

vision_urbanetic_5