You can tell when you’ve got an allergy. You can tell when you’re feeling faint. You can tell when you’re down with the flu, but there are some things you can’t tell. For instance, how much UV your skin has been exposed to.
L’Oreal plans to change that with its UV Sense, a series of smart, battery-free ornamental stickers that sit anywhere on your body (although I do have to admit they look rather pretty on the nails). These stickers comprise patterns made from photoreactive dyes that change based on how much UV they’re exposed to. In short, the more time you spend outside, the more change the stickers register. They even broadcast the data to your phone, allowing you to monitor how healthy your skin is and whether you need an extra dollop of sunscreen or not.
Designed by the minds at Fuseproject, the tiles wonderfully blend aesthetics and medical functionality (seamlessly, if I may add). Perfectly capturing the style of the demographic they’re meant for, L’Oreal hopes that these stick-on UV meters will be as common as carrying chapstick around with you.
You’ve got products that were designed to fulfill their purpose, and you’ve got products that were designed with soul. There’s little to no difference between their functionality, but one product connects emotionally with users more than another.
Hive’s View security camera seems a lot like the latter kind of product. Designed by Yves Behar and Fuseproject, the Hive View looks like a GoPro on a throne that swivels 360° on both vertical and horizontal axes, allowing it to point any which way you choose. The aluminum arm that holds the camera even transfers power to the cube-shaped camera that can be detached from its base, extending the functionality of the security camera in a way that lets it be your home security as well as your personal security device.
The camera comes with sound as well as motion detection, and captures everything within a 130° viewing angle in stunning 1080p HD, allowing you to play back your security tapes on your phone via the cloud. Its classy ‘throne’ can be placed on any surface or even wall mounted, allowing you to virtually put the camera anywhere you please. Want to place the camera in a more remote location, the cube magnetically snaps right off its base and can be carried and placed anywhere. While the cube itself has an unsuspecting design that gives it a sort of camoflage when used independently, the Hive View along with its base is the complete opposite, adding a bit of style to tech inside the house. With the ability to choose from a white and champagne combination to a black and rose gold blend, the Hive View is all poised to become your capable home-cam with a touch of class!
Before we look at the Dreem headband, I’ll just say that this is something I’m rather invested in because I myself struggle to fall asleep. Studies show, and I’ve been practicing it myself, that your brain operates at certain low wavelengths during the sleep cycle, and it can be tricked into falling asleep with audio at those wavelengths. However, since audio can’t be heard by us at those wavelengths, we use tricks like Brain Entrainment audio to hack the brain into operating at a particular frequency. (Do have a look at Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones, they’re an absolute treasure trove of crazy techniques that are said to work but the results are debatable).
The Dreem employs a similar technique, but rather than relying on audio, it just relays the vibrations via speakers, directly into your skull, right above the prefrontal cortex of your brain. Envisioned by startup Rythm (who debuted an early prototype last year), the company called on Fuseproject to help design the final product. The challenge was to not just design the product in a manner that allowed the sensors, EEG, and speakers to sit at strategic locations, but to also make a headband that someone could wear while sleeping for an average of 8 hours without complaining about discomfort. After various prototypes (including one that looked like alien tentacles wrapped around your head), the team zeroed down on what we’re looking at today. After rigorous testing (even involving Yves Behar wearing the headband for 7 nights in a row), the electronics were strategically placed right above the forehead, a zone that almost always stays exposed and therefore never has to come in contact with things like pillows, or headboards. The design was wrapped in soft foam and a plush fabric making it feel rather comfortable, and was designed with elastic bands that not only provide a great grip, but also allow to let one Dreem headband fit all head sizes. Once worn, the Dreem analyzes brain patterns using the EEG and works towards providing you with faster and a better deep sleep.
The Dreem is all set to debut at the end of this year, and will retail for a rather hefty price of $499… but I guess you can’t really put a price tag on a good night’s sleep, can you?
The much awaited Consumer Electronics Show (CES), also known as International CES is just only a few days away from now. We have been eagerly waiting for this event since last and can’t wait anymore...
I’ve seen many different kinds of clunky TV boxes, and many are forgettable. There are quite a few that are basically eyesores in your living room, and it’s not always easy to find a way to make them appealing, except if you completely hide them away.
Fan TV was developed by Yves Behar’s Fuseproject studio. The design was created for the company Fanhattan. The remote and set-top box are quite unique. They are supposed to mimic nested stones. The pebble-shaped remote is supposed to respond to the slightest touch, and you can tap as well as swipe it to navigate through your movies and shows.
The system itself is designed to integrate live TV, DVR and streaming media in a single interface. Though it’s not clear what other devices will be required in order to use the live TV and DVR features. There will also be companion apps for iOS devices so you can watch and control your content on the go.
Here’s a brief demo of the Fan TV in action:
There’s no word yet on pricing or a release date for the system.
