Tag Archives: concept

SME smartphone concept aims to aid the visually impaired

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Smartphones are mostly created for those of us that are seeing or at least not visually impaired. But for those that want to be more inclusive, there are not that many similar products in the market that would cater to those that have some sort of visual impairment. Good thing that there are product designers out there who are thinking of such things and if their concepts are viable, I really hope that they get the funding to produce devices like this or at least major telecom brands adopt these ideas and create product lines for those that may need smart devices to communicate but are unable to use the usual ones.

Designer: Eslam Shafik

The SME is one such concept for a smart phone for the visually impaired. Unlike regular smartphones that are usually in a rectangular or square-ish shape, this one looks more like a smart speaker or a smart home hub. This a specific design direction that will make it easy for them to carry it around on the palm of their hand without a concern for its orientation. It also has a fabric mesh so you get a tactile grip on the smartphone and the materials used do not conduct heat so it’s comfortable for the user.

It even has a walking mode so the built-in high-quality camera will be able to guide the visually impaired as they’re walking. The voice assistant, Loutaz, can issue warnings when there are obstacles at a distance of not less than 50 centimeters. This assistant, powered by ethical AI, can also read out messages, social media posts, and other digital assistance you may need. It has a base for charging and to dock it when you’re not moving so it can still act like a smart home hub when you’re at home.

If further developed, this can be a pretty interesting, not to mention, useful device for those who need something like this. The 3D modeling seems to have dealt with the ergonomics and design aspect of the SME so what needs to be enhanced are the actual features and functions that will be truly helpful for the visually impaired.

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LAYER Design and Deutsche Telekom unveil the future of communication devices

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As a huge fan of science fiction content, from books to movies to TV shows, I am excited to see which things from what I’ve read and seen will come true one of these days. And with the advances in technology, a lot of them are not far-fetched ideas anymore. There are some things that may be scary or at least creepy but it’s still pretty interesting to see what we’ll see next which we thought were just works of science fiction before.

Designer: Layer Design for Deutsche Telekom

German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom recently unveiled the Concept T project which is a collection of advanced technology and gadget concepts that will show consumers what may be the future of communications. Concept View is a home hub with a twist: it has a 3D holographic AI-equipped virtual assistant called Emma to guide you through things like video calls and other digital world activities. It looks like a cross between a crystal ball and the Palantirs from Lord of the Rings but instead of showing you what the future holds, it will show you the future of technology.

A Wi-Fi router isn’t the sexiest gadget out there but Concept Level definitely makes it more interesting. It is a re-configurable router that is made up of different interchangeable, modular elements. The set includes a display unit, Wi-Fi sensing element, mesh repeater, and computational module for Web 3 use cases. The elements are designed using different geometric forms so it looks like you have interesting mini sculptures rather than an actual router.

Concept Buddy is your own personal robot at home, similar to the ones you see in malls and airports. It’s an AI-based digital assistant companion that is able to communicate through the “emotion and information display”. It is able to give reminders like taking medication and household chores and can also assist in calls, online shopping, and other tasks you may need assistance. It can even warn you of potential hazards and contact emergency services if needed. It is able to adapt to your routine and will only “come alive” when it is engaged with.

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Portable moka pot lets you get that espresso shot boost while traveling

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When I travel to a new place, one of the things that I always want to try out are the local coffee places. However, not all places have really great original beans and not all coffee addict travelers would trust coffee shops especially if there are not a lot of recommended places. So I know some people who are picky with their caffeine fix who actually travel with all sorts of coffee paraphernalia. Of course this adds to their luggage so it’s not always that convenient. So having paraphernalia that’s handy and at the same time gives you that kick that you need is a must.

Designers: Vanshika Singhal and Yashi Jivnani

BrewPin is a portable coffee machine using the moka pot brewing method that was developed as a concept for coffee brand Bialetti. It is meant for those picky travelers that need to have their espresso shot when they want a caffeine boost and there isn’t any local coffee shop that would suit their taste or if there aren’t any coffee shops in general, like in the mountains or in rural areas. It looks like your typical portable coffee tool but it looks like it’s much easier to use.

The bottom part has a silicone cover with power coat and above it, you find the stainless steel water tank. There’s also a funnel filter and a coffee pod tank as well as a perforated plate where the moka magic happens. There’s a borosilicate glass on top where you pour your coffee in and a nozzle to pour the coffee from. Basically you just plug in the BrewPin, let the coffee brew your espresso shot and then flip it, twist off the cup, and enjoy your caffeine boost.

As someone who often complains that the hotel coffee is almost always no good, this can be a great tool to tide me over until I’m able to get to a proper coffee shop. The only downside to this is that you need to plug it in but if they’re able to create something that would harness energy from somewhere else to get that espresso shot, it would be perfect.

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Minimalist desk lamp is a flexible and functional space saver

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For people who spend hours (or more than half the day) at their desk, having proper lighting is a major factor for productivity. If the room you’re in doesn’t always have the best lighting, having a proper desk lamp is also important. Sometimes though, lamps can be bulky and take up precious desk space. This concept for a desk lamp solves that problem and also brings a bit of sustainability to the table, so to speak.

Designers: Simone Guglielmetti, Tommasso Rossi, Andrea Tomaciello, Nikia Kirilovs

The Tars desk lamp is a minimalist concept that shouldn’t take up real estate in your work space. That’s because it’s designed to be clipped to the edge of the table so you’ll have space for all the important things you need to do on your desk. The design also makes it more flexible and gives it a wide range of movement so you can easily place the light where you actually need it. You can twist it around and probably also stretch it to a certain extent so it can reach the parts of your space that needs lighting.

Even the controls are pretty minimalist but also easy to use. The interface is on the bottom of the head so it’s easy to reach wherever you’ve placed the light. The circle button is to turn it on and off while the other button is to adjust the light temperature. They’re both edgeless and can be seen from both sides. The designers also said that it’s easy to assemble and disassemble, also keeping in mind the repairability when choosing the materials to create the lamp.

They were able to do a 3D printed model to make sure that all the functionalities that they designed were working. I for one would want to have a desk lamp like this since one of my problems in my home desk is space. As they say on the internet, “shut up and take my money” if this ever goes into production.

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Light stand with webcam can make people more comfortable on video calls

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After years of doing video conferencing while we were working or studying remotely, you would think that people have gotten used to using our computers’ and devices’ webcams already. But there are still those that are not used to turning on their cameras to participate in video calls whether for work, school, or personal reasons. It’s something that will probably be around for the foreseeable future so we still need all kinds of video conferencing tools.

Designer: Soohyun Lim, Designer Dot

Seesun is a concept for a webcam and lighting tool that can be utilized by those who are concerned with privacy but also need something to help them out for times when they have no choice but to turn their cameras on. It’s basically a display that can cover the camera if you don’t want to use it but if you need to actually use it, a smiley face will help you become more accustomed to the camera.

When you turn on the camera, you’ll see a countdown to help you prepare for when it begins showing you to whoever it is that you’re meeting with. There is a smiley face on the display that will supposedly help put you at ease and make you stare directly into the camera and make you look more trustworthy. It can also serve as a light stand if your room needs it to give a better video quality. There is also a small remote to help you control the device.

The design basically is that of a light stand but with a web camera on top. The smiley face may actually help in putting people not used to appearing on webcams at ease. As someone so used to video calls, it may not be much of use to me but there are still a lot of people out there who need tools like this to become a video calling pro.

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Take your chess game on the road with unique, portable set

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I never really properly learned chess or at least remembered the basic rules, although I did enjoy Netflix’ The Queen’s Gamit. I also have close friends who really enjoy playing the game or watching people play the game. But the problem sometimes is that chess sets are pretty hard to carry around if you wanted to play outside your home like in the office or when traveling. There are some small, portable chess sets that you can bring around but it’s probably not as stylish as this one.

Designer: Sofia Gegunde

The Hyde Chess set is built for practicality and portability but is also designed to look like something different from your usual chess sets. For one, the pieces aren’t the traditional ones that you see but are a re-imagining of the pawns, rooks, knight, bishop, queen, and king but in circular pieces that can fit easily into the smaller and portable set and box. They’re all the same height except for the king and queen. There is a cylindrical holder inside to store the pieces when they’re not in use and there are also slots on the chess board to “stabilize” them when you’re actually using them to play a game of chess.

When not in use, everything is just stored inside a small box. But when it’s time to actually play chess, just open it and assemble the chess board with the rectangular pieces. You can then remove the circular chess pieces from their storage and arrange them on the board like you would a regular set and start the game whenever you’re ready. The pieces are made with a CNC router while the wooden parts are made from guatambu and dark cedro.

The assembly and disassembly are pretty easy and learning the different pieces should be pretty easy. Even though they’re circular pieces, the designs are based on the traditional chess pieces. If they actually produce and sell this, it would be a pretty neat gift item for my chess-loving friends and they may even eventually convince me to play with them.

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SMEG baby monitor concept shows off a cute, retro aesthetic

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Whenever I pass by the appliance sections of department stores, I am always drawn to the SMEG display, even though I know I will probably not be able to afford any of their stuff. I like the retro aesthetics of the brand that they are able to bring to all their kitchen appliances. I also have no need (and never will) for a baby monitor but this project that imagines what a SMEG baby monitor would look like is still pretty interesting.

Designer: Priyanshu Maiti

The designer studied the design aesthetics and applied it to this project that asked them to create a concept for a baby monitor. The target market is Western and European parents and caretakers belonging to the upper middle class, which is basically SMEG’s market for their kitchen appliances. In keeping with the retro theme, what he came up would fit right in with the other products in their line since his inspiration was their other appliances anyway like the mixer and coffee maker.

The final render shows a baby monitor with a sophisticated but simple and playful look. The design looks like a toy rocket with pastel colors which will make it attractive to kids even though they’re not the target audience for this. When it comes to the features, it has the usual ones that you would need from a baby monitor like the camera, charging port, SD card slot, control buttons. They didn’t really expound much on the features since this is more for the design and aesthetics of the product.

As I said, I really don’t need a baby monitor. But this would be useful for those who need something aesthetic and at the same time something that would help keep their mind at ease when it comes to their children’s safety. Well, at least, we have an idea of what it will look like if ever SMEG does venture into products outside of their kitchen appliances.

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Concept CD player for Bang & Olufsen brings quality design and idea

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In case you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that CDs have made a comeback the past years, thanks in part to the Japanese and Korean music industry. A lot of fans have been buying CDs (sometimes multiple copies) of their favorite artists and Gen Z in particular has a particular fondness for something they actually weren’t alive yet when it was popular. The older generations buy it for the nostalgia. Both are benefitting from the audio quality of uncompressed music. However, the quality of CD players are not on par with what we were used to back in the day.

Designer: Anthony Chupp

Most of the big name audio brands have not been producing CD players but what if someone like Bang & Olufsen comes up with one? A designer came up with a concept for the Beosound Compact after studying the design and quality principles of the brand. What he came up with is a sleek and minimalist portable CD player that seems worthy of the brand that he created this concept for. It also brings back nostalgia feels for those who brought their Sony Walkman CD player around, although this is much more classy and shiny.

To reduce the need for an LED display, the player uses turntable styles for its volume controls and actual touchable buttons for its play controls. It is also textured to highlight the touchpoints that you need to access various controls. But the player can also be connected to the Bang & Olufsen app on your smart device in case you’re away from the CD player. There is Bluetooth connection as well to your headphones or wireless earbuds of choice as well as analog and optical output.

As someone who owns several CDs but still don’t have a CD player, I wouldn’t mind having something like this if Bang & Olufsen eventually decides to produce one. Having a quality CD player is just as important as having quality music from these CDs. Hopefully brands will catch on to this “trend” as it may be here to stay, for at least a few more years.

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Hybrid yacht concept is a futuristic-looking water transport

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One of my still unfulfilled dreams is to one day be able to view the seas from the deck of a luxurious yacht. I don’t have to actually own one but it would be nice to experience this if a rich friend or acquaintance would invite me to go on board and experience the “high seas”. It would also be a bonus if said yacht can actually let us sail at high speed if we want to. This concept for a hybrid yacht seems to be a good option for this dream.

Designer: Pierpaolo Lazzarini

The Palladio is a concept for a hybrid yacht that is ultra-light and can speed up to 55 knots maximum. It also looks like something out of a sci-fi movie set in water as it uses a futuristic, mouth-shaped, avant-garde design that makes it look like a pod cruising through the waters. It is made from carbon fiber and is propelled by twin Castoldi jets and driven by two FTP engines.

The 20-meter yacht is able to house 26 passengers, with 22 seated in the main cabin and four at the front section which includes the captain. The pod-looking vehicle can also have toilets or dinettes in the corners to make the passengers more comfortable. The back section can also accommodate some of the crew and also store the passengers’ luggage and belongings.

Even though the Palladio is mostly a closed vehicle, there are filtered air intakes on each side so that the passengers can still have a comfortable breathing space in this environment. I’ll definitely add this kind of hybrid yacht to my dream water transport, although this is still in the concept stage so we don’t know if it will eventually become a reality.

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AR/XR Glasses could get a lot slimmer thanks to this unique new hardware arrangement

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During the pandemic, we were stuck in our homes and we got used to watching video content through our smart TVs or mobile devices. Now that we can once again enjoy movies in cinemas, there has been a push and pull between the “regular” cinema experience and the comfort of watching these movies in the comfort of our homes through OTT platforms. There are still limitations with the latter but we’re seeing technology trying to catch up through various devices and gadgets that we can use at home.

Designer: Woojin Jang

Movi is a concept for an XR eyewear device that can make the movie watching more immersive even when you don’t have the benefit of a large screen. Compared to other existing VR glasses right now, this one is conceptualized to be a lighter version that you can also carry with you so you can enjoy movies on the plane or wherever you want.

It is lighter because it uses a lens called Lenslet Array which reduces the focal length and eye relief distance. The regular distance is one of the main reasons why most VR devices are heavier and bulkier this lens is a two-dimensional array of around 20,000 small lenses that have been arranged in parallel. It also uses transparent OLED so that our eyes look outward so the glasses can be designed like actual eyewear you would wear every day rather than the weird-looking bulky VR glasses we have now.

As a concept, Movi seems to be an interesting way to make watching videos on our TVs at home on our mobile devices. It would also probably rely on how movie makers and content creators can make films and videos that can adapt these kinds of technology, although that will bring about even more debate on how this may destroy the actual cinema-going experience.

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