Author Archives: JC Torres

Modular keyboard concept employs hexagons to switch things up a bit

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There has been a great deal of effort and attention put on keyboards these past years, whether for actual products or for ideas that embody the hopes and wishes of both users and designers. From split-type ergonomic keyboards to keyboards with all sorts of knobs and touch screens, these designs are all made in an attempt to make people’s lives easier and to cater to their needs. Of course, not everyone’s needs are the same, so features on one keyboard might not work for different audiences. This keyboard design concept is already interesting because of its modularity, but it becomes even more eye-catching thanks to an unusual choice in the shape of its keys and controls.

Designers: Travis Ragsdale, Elijah Vary

The basic design of keyboards is almost set in stone, at least for the combination of letters and numbers that make up the essentials for keyboards of any size. The layouts might differ from region to region or from laptop to laptop, but there are more or less 80 keys even on the smallest configurations. Beyond that is almost fair game, with some preferring a numeric keypad to the side, while others probably wish for a different set of controls.

The K-Bird Spec Project is a concept design for a modular keyboard that tries to address that need by providing a different side module for different applications. You can have the typical numpad for fast numeric input or you can have a set of sliders and dials for quickly controlling or editing audio. You can even have a small drawing area with a groove to place a stylus. Or you can have no modules at all and be left with admittedly odd-looking handles protruding from the side.

The base shape of the keyboard theoretically allows for modules to be placed on either side, but the modules themselves would have to be designed to be ambidextrous. The default seems to presume the current convention of placing modules on the right side where the numeric keypad would usually be, and you can’t simply put it on the left because of the handle extending from that side.

What makes this design a little different from other modular keyboard concepts is its use of hexagons as the main shape for all the controls, even the sliders and dials on the modular extensions. The keys themselves are indented, which is already unconventional as far as keyboard designs go. It gives the keyboard a more visually interesting appearance, though it’s not clear whether that will have any negative impact on the ergonomics of typing on such a kind of keycap shape.

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Duracell Portable Power Stations are like gigantic alkaline batteries

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We’ve seen our fair share of portable power stations, and most of them roughly share the same designs. They come in rectangular box shapes and bear rugged materials, which makes it easier to transport them from place to place if needed. There isn’t any rule that says they have to be made that way, though, especially if you’re willing to skimp a little on the battery capacity to add some style and flourish. For example, Duracell, a name long associated with batteries, has had the rather amusing idea to pay homage to its most popular product line, resulting in portable power stations, or extra large power banks, that look like overgrown D-size batteries, with a few tricks up their sleeves that add some flavor to a normally boring piece of tech.

Designer: Duracell

There was a time when consumer electronics revolved around these cylindrical batteries that had to be thrown away once they lost their charges forever. We’ve thankfully mostly moved on from these wasteful energy sources, replacing them with rechargeable and reusable variants, but there’s still a certain fondness attached to the image of these old alkaline batteries that have become icons of their kind, just like floppy disks. Riding on the nostalgia trend these days, Duracell had the clever idea to put that iconic design on a portable power station, almost like a tongue-in-cheek joke on these extra-large batteries.

The Duracell M250 and M150 both look like giant D batteries, complete with a black and bronze color scheme and a smaller disc shape on top that designates the positive end of the cylinder. They’re rather small compared to most portable power stations but also considerably larger than even the largest power bank. The size differences are quite understandable considering these two only have 60,000mAh and 25,000mAh battery capacities for the M250 and M150, respectively, though those are enough to charge most electronic devices, including a laptop via the 100W USB-C port. The larger Duracell M250 even has a 100W AC port for other use cases.

The portable power stations have more than just looks, though. That protruding disc at the top actually functions as a MagSafe-compatible 15W wireless charger, and you can lift that top lid to tilt an iPhone or iPad to the desired angle so you can watch your screen even while charging. Tilting that cover also reveals a small storage compartment for cables and chargers, things you’d want to keep near the power station. To charge the power station itself, you’d have to put it on the included dock, an elegant solution that unfortunately means having to carry a separate part with you on your trips.

Admittedly, this traditional battery form is not the most space-efficient shape for traveling, putting the “portable” part of its name into question. Still, there’s no argument that it’s an interesting design for a portable power station, putting an almost poetic spin on the product category. It will definitely be an eye-catching presence in coffee shops or even on planes, though interest could turn into derision when you start fumbling to put the large can in your bag or luggage.

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SwitchBot K10+ Mini Robot Vacuum cleans narrow, hard-to-reach places with ease

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Robot vacuum cleaners are quite the fad these days, offering peace of mind by keeping your floors clean without getting your hands dirty. They come with a wide range of advanced features and a variety of designs, but they all have one thing in common. The majority of robot vacuum cleaners come with very large bodies, often justified by the power they pack inside. Bigger isn’t always better, though, and size can even become a liability rather than an asset when dealing with small, cramped areas or difficult corners. That’s no problem for the world’s smallest robot vacuum cleaner, sneaking into tough corners and narrow paths in order to provide a more efficient cleaning experience in a compact and portable package.

Designer: SwitchBot

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With it’s compact design K10+ can reach smaller spaces to clean better.

The SwitchBot K10+ honestly looks too cute to be true. At only 248mm in diameter and 92mm tall, it’s only half the size of run-of-the-mill robot vacuums and might easily be mistaken for a toy. In fact, you can easily lift it with one hand and carry it upstairs or anywhere, which means you can easily move it to rooms that need cleaning in a snap. Despite that diminutive size, however, the K10+ is no slouch, and it’s exactly thanks to its size that it is able to offer more for less.

K10+ features a design that can blend in with any home, making it even less intrusive.

LiDAR Navigation.
K10+ allows you to achieve AI level precise mapping and quickly plan cleaning range at a speed of 2080 pts/sec.

K10+ returns to its base station for charging when battery is low, and returns to the last place it cleaned to finish up.

With its smaller diameter, the SwitchBot K10+ can easily navigate narrower spaces without breaking a sweat, deftly reaching the floor between the wall and a closet, underneath the couch, or in between the legs of a side table. Because it’s able to clean areas that most robot vacuums steer clear of, it offers 90% more coverage and significantly increases its cleaning efficiency. Of course, it’s not enough to simply be able to roll where no robot vacuum cleaner has gone before, and this little wonder surprisingly packs quite the assortment of cleaning features that puts it on par with its larger rivals.

Use the app to control the K10+

You might be surprised that the smallest robot vac actually boasts a suction power of 2500Pa, which means that even kitty litter and small pieces of food are no match for this wonder of technology. Even with that much action going on, it is able to keep quiet while it does its job, down to 50dB or 50% quieter than the industry average. It can also mop the floors after it has sucked them clean, and the disposable cleaning pads free you from the hassles and risks of dealing with dirty mops after each cleaning session. Best of all, the large 4-liter dustbin can collect dirt for up to 70 days before you need to take out the trash.

The SwitchBot K10+ is also equipped with plenty of smarts, from SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) self-navigation to obstacle and no-clean zone detection to scheduling cleaning sessions. It can also integrated with smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri, and even IFTTT for hands-free voice control. With the SwitchBot K10+, you never have to worry about missing those hidden corners and spots ever again and dedicate more of your time to the more important things in life.

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nubia RedMagic 9 Pro gaming phone arrives with a new design, same tiny fan

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The year is almost over, but there’s plenty of time left to unveil new products, including new smartphones that could become gift ideas for people in some markets. We’ve seen quite a few make their way to the market a few days ago, but most of them revolve around “normal” phones for everyday use. Gaming phones, however, still make up a slice of that large pie, and one of the top brands in this market is taking out its big guns early. Former ZTE sub-brand nubia is reaching out to gamers with the latest RedMagic model, bearing a slightly new design that manages to keep key features that fans of the brand have grown fond of, whether they make sense or not.

Designer: nubia

What sets a gaming smartphone apart from regular smartphones, including those expensive ones, isn’t just their over-the-top performance. Most gaming-centric phones carry a certain aesthetic that really marks them for a certain crowd, one that appreciates a lot of RGB lighting, lines and geometric shapes, and other details that make the design look futuristic if not highly technical. The nubia RedMagic 9 Pro continues that tradition this year but makes a few tweaks that streamline the gamer design a little bit better.

Most notable is the relocation of the cameras from the middle of the phone to the side, something that’s almost a standard across all smartphone designs. The camera bump is also gone, with the lenses sitting flush against the entire back. That does mean that the phone is a little bit thicker than most of its kind, but a hefty and beefy handset is already expected for a device that’s designed to be a heavy-duty gaming machine. The rather odd design change is that only two of the three big circles are actually cameras, with the third deceptively hiding the cooling fan. The third camera is off to the side, though having a 2MP depth sensor makes it almost negligible.

The rest of the RedMagic 9 Pro has a similar vibe to its predecessor, with lines and shapes on the back that give the semblance of panels that cover futuristic machines like ships, robots, and similar. For those who prefer a more subtle appearance, the Sleek model has an aesthetic closer to the typical black smartphones, masking its identity for more discreet uses. The front still has an under-display camera, which means there’s nothing visually breaking the large screen.

There’s also still that miniature cooling fan, one of the brand’s gimmicks to help keep things cool and prevent the phone from throttling its performance. It may be effective to some degree, but the price that is paid is having no dust or water resistance guarantee. With a more efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a newer “ICE 13 Multi-Dimensional” cooling system, such a fan might no longer be needed and is becoming more of a liability than a selling point in the long run.

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Historical Buddhist site master plan looks like a fantasy biodiversity space

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Most people probably think of religious sites as churches, temples, or even buildings, but there are plenty of locations regarded as “holy” or even historical places that are sometimes nothing more than a mound and a tree. Buddhism, for example, has one such sacred space that holds relics of its past, an unadorned mount covered by grass and topped by a simple yet distinctive tree. Given both its religious and historical significance, there is a strong interest in preserving such a site while also promoting its spirit in tangible yet subtle ways. One such plan transforms this key piece of Buddhist religion and history into a biodiversity garden that almost looks like a landscape straight out of a fantasy film.

Designer: Stefano Boeri Architetti

Located in western Nepal, the Stupa or “heap” of Ramagrama is one of the most important locations in Buddhism, combining religious, historical, and cultural heritage in a single place. A centuries-old Bodhi tree sits on top of a green hill that has formed over an intact dirt burial mound that contains portions of the relics of Buddha. That landscape has remained unchanged, protected by both nature and man, yet there is no assurance that it will be that way forever. A master plan is needed to help preserve the natural beauty of this site while also encouraging both believers as well as tourists to immerse themselves in the environment in a safe manner.

The solution presented in this beautiful design creates a wide space around the stupa and the Bodhi tree that maintains a respectful distance in order to preserve historical landmarks and objects for future generations. Covered walkways encircle the hill while dozens of pathways draw a beautiful and mesmerizing mandala that can only be seen from the skies. Four portals in each direction break up the area into four quadrants, with large access roads that lead to the central hill.

This open space for contemplation or “Prato della Pace” is surrounded by the Garden of Biodiversity, a slope that is conceived to hold 80,000 plants of 70 different local species selected from the Terai plain considered to be the Buddha’s birthplace. A shaded path covered with trees separates these two circular areas and provides a convenient location to view and appreciate the Ramagrama Stupa from a distance.

The master plan for the Ramagrama Stupa is an ambitious project that combines the many elements that represent Buddhism into a harmonious piece of architectural design and landscaping. The structures and circular paths embrace minimalism and mysticism, allowing visitors to both pray and marvel, whatever the purpose of their visit may be. The high biodiversity pays homage to the Bodhi tree, itself a symbol of biodiversity, and ensures that the botanical legacy of Buddhism will also be preserved for years or even centuries. It’s a design that generates an air of mysticism and wonder, creating a space that is literally rooted to the earth yet looks like it exists on a higher plane.

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Apple Vision Pro Air Typing experience takes a small step toward usability

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It’s truly mind-blowing to see virtual objects floating before our eyes, but the magic and illusion start to break down once we try to manipulate those objects. Input has always been a tricky subject in mixed reality, either because we can’t see our actual hands or we can’t feel what we’re supposed to be touching, which is physically nothing. Until the perfect haptic feedback gloves become a reality, we have to make do with tricks and workarounds to make input less awkward and more convenient. That’s especially true with typing on air, and Apple is apparently using some special techniques to offer a more usable experience on the Vision Pro mixed reality headset.

Designer: Apple (via Brian Tong)

Apple’s first teaser for the Vision Pro headset and visionOS platform didn’t show typing of any sort. It focused, instead, on icons, windows, and menus, virtual 3D objects that are easier to interact with using hand gestures. Of course, sooner or later you will be faced with the need to input text, and the usual method of voice recognition won’t always cut it. visionOS, fortunately, does include a virtual floating keyboard like other VR systems, but the way you use it is quite special and, to some extent, ingenious.

For one, you can interact with the keyboard like you would any part of the Vision Pro’s interface, which is to look at the UI element to focus on it and then use hand gestures. In this case, pinching a letter is the equivalent of selecting it, just like what you’d do for menu items or icons in visionOS. It makes the gesture grammar consistent, but it’s also an awkward way to type.

You can also “peck” at the keys with your fingers, making you feel like you’re typing on air. The difference that the Vision Pro makes, however, is that it tricks your eyes into believing you’re actually pressing down on those keys. Thanks to Apple’s flavor of spatial computing, hovering your real-world finger on a virtual key makes that key glow, and tapping on it results in an animation that looks like the key is actually moving down, just like on a real keyboard. There’s also a haptic sound, similar to the clicking sound effect you’d normally hear on an iOS virtual keyboard, to complete that audiovisual illusion.

Of course, your fingers aren’t actually hitting anything physical, so there’s still a disconnect that will probably confuse your brain. The visual effect, which is really only possible thanks to spatial computing, is still an important step forward in helping our minds believe that there’s a “real” three-dimensional object, in this case, a keyboard, right in front of us. It’s not going to be the most efficient way to input text, but fortunately, you can connect a wireless keyboard to the Vision Pro and you’ll be able to see your actual hands typing away on it.

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Standalone AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen USB-C charging case might not be worth the price

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The newest iPhones have finally jumped on the USB-C bandwagon, but there are still a few Apple products that still cling to the older Lightning technology. That includes all iPhone models before the iPhone 15, older iPads, and the majority of charging cases for the AirPods. A few months back, Apple did release a version of the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case, but you’ll have to buy the whole set to enjoy this upgrade, both earbuds and charging case. If you already have a 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that came with a Lightning charging case, however, you can now just buy the USB-C case on its own, but the price tag on this very optional accessory could have you thinking twice why you’d want to buy one in the first place.

Designer: Apple

To be fair, the USB-C charging case does have a few advantages, though the biggest one would be consistency between the most recent Apple devices. You won’t have to carry a separate Lightning cable, presuming you’ve gone all-in on USB-C already. There’s also this convenient reverse charging feature where you can charge the AirPods Pro case from an iPhone 15 using a USB-C to USB-C cable. Handy in an emergency but not exactly a ground-breaking game-changer.

Given the nearly similar features, the $99 price tag on this standalone USB-C charging case for the AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen might seem a little excessive. It also only makes sense if you already have the Lightning version of these AirPods Pro and only want to enjoy the benefits of USB-C mentioned above. Otherwise, it doesn’t offer any charging speed advantages between these two models and both support the same wireless MagSafe capability.

That said, you might want to upgrade from the 2nd generation Lightning AirPod Pro to its USB-C sibling for future-proof durability and features. The USB-C AirPods Pro 2nd-Gen has an IP54 rating, up from last year’s IPX4, which means it’s better protected against dust and small particles, though it’s still only splashproof rather than waterproof. It will, however, support lossless audio when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset, at least if you can get your hands on one next year.

The USB-C case itself is also IP54 rated, but you won’t get the dust-proofing upgrade for the earbuds just by switching cases. That makes the standalone case less appealing for the majority of AirPods owners. Then again, there will always be someone who wants a complete and consistent set of products or may have had the misfortune of losing their original charging case. Fortunately, now you won’t have to buy a new set just to replace that.

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Portable Theater concept combines projector and speaker in a unique shape

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Home projectors are becoming more popular these days as more cord-cutters want to enjoy the freedom of streaming from almost anywhere in the house, even on the ceiling while lying in bed. Despite the growing number of these devices, however, most of them still have designs that originated from projectors made for professional use in board rooms and conferences. There are, of course, a few that have embraced more stylish aesthetics that try to match your living room’s decor, but these often still retain the boxy shapes of their ancestors. That might be a convenient form for cramming electronics, but they limit the potential of what these home appliances can do. This concept design, for example, eschews that traditional box and embraces an unconventional form that lets you tilt the projector’s angle without having to use stands or tripods.

Designer: Hana Belassi

Boxes are the most convenient shape for most electronic devices because you can easily cram so many components inside and arrange them in an efficient manner. They’re not the most visually interesting, though, no matter how much you cover them in premium materials like glass, leather, or fabric. The most common smart home projectors, however, still have that same basic design, which also puts limits on their functionality. Tilting the projector to the angle you want isn’t easy, and you either have to make do with short, built-in legs or have a tripod or stand nearby.

TRIPO is a concept design for a smart portable theater device that employs an odd shape of a rather thick disc that tapers toward the top. On its back are four flat sections that allow you to stand the projector upright or tilt it back in three angles, including 90 degrees to project your content on a ceiling. Because it operates wirelessly, you can achieve this without even having to get up from your couch or bed, providing the utmost convenience and comfort in any situation.

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That’s not the only thing that makes the TRIPO concept special, of course. Every inch of the device was intentionally designed to blend well with other pieces of your home decor, from using fabric to minimalist design elements. Vents are well hidden underneath the fabric-covered discs on both sides, providing heat dissipation that doesn’t ruin the design. It isn’t all just looks either because the portable theater is intended to be a powerful yet convenient smart entertainment system, both at home and even outdoors. An ingenious sliding cover, for example, protects the buttons and the lenses during travel.

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TRIPO can also function as a simple Bluetooth speaker for those times when you want to listen but not watch. And when not in use, it can almost stand as a piece of sculptural art, calling attention to itself without being overbearing and perfectly fitting with your lifestyle as well as your aesthetic tastes. There might be some compromises in terms of specs given today’s hardware options, but it will only be a matter of time before designs such as these become the norm rather than the exception.

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Upcycled skateboard factory rejects transform into warm wall lighting

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Recycling is a great way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but the process itself can sometimes have some negative impact. There’s still a lot of energy and water involved in converting materials into something usable again, and there’s also some loss when the original design gets destroyed in the process. Upcycling is a more efficient and time-saving alternative, but not everything can be upcycled and not everything that can be upcycled can be used in newer and better ways. Sometimes, it takes a bit more creative thinking to transform one thing into a completely different thing, like how factory seconds from skateboard manufacturers are turned into these understated yet elegant wall lamps.

Designers: Michael and Mariel Upton

Skateboards are objects that bring up images of speed, tricks, and devilish stunts. They’re hardly associated with warmth, subtlety, or even light. Of course, these associations aren’t inherent in the shape of the skateboard’s wooden deck, which makes them open for reuse and reinterpretation, as the case of this trio of wall lamps demonstrates, providing stylish lighting that hardly gives a clue to their origins.

Considering the long oval shapes of skateboard decks, not to mention their upward curved ends, you definitely wouldn’t be able to guess that these wall lights are exactly made from those wooden parts. That’s because these pieces of 7-ply maple wood are taken from factory rejects, decks that obviously didn’t make the cut. Since the shapes of these boards are too specific for general use, they often end up simply being discarded. They’re thankfully made from wood, so they’re biodegradable and have fewer harmful effects on the environment, but they’re still waste and, more importantly, wasted opportunity.

Upton thankfully has the wonderful idea of using those boards to provide ambient lighting as well as a piece of minimalist wall art. The discarded decks are cut to create a shorter and straighter oval shape and then paired with lighting hardware on the back. Each of the three variants, namely, Heru, Cuna, and Mara, get a square piece of original art that becomes the visual center of the entire fixture. With this, even if the light is off, the designs act as decorative pieces that enhance a room’s ambiance in a subtle way.

When the light is on, however, you get a warm ambient halo of light that sets a calming and relaxing mood in any space. The light is emitted from the back and is reflected on the mounting surface, making it look softer and avoiding painful glare when you look in its direction. The wall lamp projects a character of calm and warmth, definitely not something you’d expect from a speedster skateboard that it would have become in some other lifetime.

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Triangle Side Table offers an interesting way to show off your books

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As the name suggests, a side table is a piece of furniture that’s often placed on the periphery, serving a secondary purpose to hold small objects temporarily. They’re a great location for placing drinks while you lounge on the couch and read a book, or for placing that same book when you need to put it down for a bit. Because of this function, it’s sometimes possible to let side tables take on less conventional forms, at least compared to common desks and tables. You might even be able to stretch the definition of a table to something that might not look like a table at all, like this hollow triangular prism that functions as a decorative piece and a resting place for your books.

Designer: Matthew Soule

The standard definition of a table is an elevated flat horizontal surface supported by vertical legs, but the exact interpretation of these elements is sometimes left to imagination and creativity. The only real requirement is that it should have a stable structure to hold items, though what objects it can hold is again open to interpretation. Side tables are often used to hold cups, mugs, pens, phones, notebooks, and books, and they sometimes have separate storage space for other, less-used objects.

With that in mind, there are plenty of sources for design ideas, like this Triangle Side Table that was supposedly inspired by kids’ toy blocks. It definitely challenges the definition of a table having a flat horizontal surface, though there is definitely an area for that on the back of the apex, like a ledge for your things. That flat area, however, is barely enough to hold a mug, a small notebook, or a smartphone, but only one at a time. There’s also a groove for securing a writing instrument, but you’ll have to make it your favorite or most-used tool since there’s only room for one.

The main focus, instead, is to have a resting place for what you’re currently reading, be it a book or a magazine. You place the partially opened book on top of the triangle, using the tip as a bookmark. It’s a popular design in many minimalist products these days, though it’s uncertain whether it will harm the book’s binding in the long run.

The open interior of the triangle is also another place to showcase reading materials, though it can also house a potted plant or even a pet mattress. The unique shape of the side table, its natural wood material, beveled edges, and the minimalist base that makes the table look like it’s magically floating all contribute to making the odd side table an attention-grabbing piece of furniture. Unfortunately, it’s also quite poor at actually functioning as a regular table, so you’ll definitely want to put it at the sides only.

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