Tag Archives: health accessory

This smart desk gadget doubles as a stretching aid to keep you moving while working!

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Transitioning from working out of the office to working from home has undoubtedly thrown our daily movement routines for a loop. While our days once consisted of walking throughout the office and completing our daily move goal ring by lunchtime, our workdays are now split between slouching at a desk and laying on the couch for short breaks. Turning to smart technology to help incorporate more mobility throughout our days, a team of designers based in Korea developed a smart stretching device called Root.

The team of designers behind Root incorporated smart technology into the handheld device that mimics the experience of movement tracking from other smart devices like the Apple watches or built-in smartphone health monitors. Built to be the size of a large pen, Root is as compact and portable as any other health-tracking smart device. Most of the device’s operability is integrated into its internal structure, coming complete with an elastic strap inside that extends for full-motion stretching and built-in motion sensors and coils that provide the groundwork for smart technology. Root’s accompanying app receives information from the device’s internal sensors to provide stretching exercises that are most appropriate for each user’s limitations and individual needs.

After pairing Root with the app via Bluetooth, users can return to their own profile to view upcoming stretching routines, exercises, as well as activity training throughout the day. Integrated coaching and in-app expertise guide users through each movement that Stretch recommends, depending on the handlebar sensors to ensure correct body placement and movement. In developing Root, the team of designers hoped to create a stretching device that helps users generate a solid foundation for our daily movement that will ultimately turn into a daily routine to open up the day to new possibilities. With the chunk of our days taking place behind screens and hunched over our smartphones, Root’s minimal screen provides the ideal recharge we all need.

Designers: Eric Kim, Jae Hyeon Lee, and Nemin Jin

The designers settled on the name Root after finding inspiration in three words: root, routine, and infinite.

The charging station is as compact as the actual stretching device, offering a minimalist display for busy workspaces.

Root is a stretching smart device that’s as compact as a large pen.

Root can easily pair with your smartphone and accompanying app.

Inside, Root carries an elastic stretching band for full-body movements.

Root has an ergonomic build and intuitive design for optimal usability.

Root’s PUI display on its 2.5D glass screen informs users when and how to exercise.

Root’s main smart technology is integrated into the internal structure of the device itself.

root can be used anywhere, at any time throughout the day.

The main body of Root is composed of a type-C port and coils for charging, motion sensors, and wire sensors.

The home page of Root contains each user’s scheduled routine for stretching.

Users can swap out exercises as they see fit.

Integrated smart technology signals to users when their stretching is correct.

Activity tracking fills out most of the app’s main purpose to ensure productive stretching tailored for each individual.

Built-in coaching guides users through each exercise.

This sleek yet compact juicer pays homage to Norman Walker and easily fits into every kitchen!

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Since 1936, juicing has been considered one of the most effective and concentrated means for boosting your health. Norman Walker, a trailblazer and the original innovator behind vegetable juicing, designed and produced his own juicer, the Norwalk Hydraulic Press Juicer, which is still manufactured and available for purchase today. Walker was a pioneer when it came to vegetable juicing and made it his life’s work to speak of its health benefits. Bringing their own compact juicer to the mix as an homage to Walker, Hatch Duo has designed The Walker Juicer, a masticating juicer without the bulk.

Offering a slower, more concentrated grind, masticating juicers do not incorporate too much heat or oxygen into their juicing process. In regard to nutritional value, masticating juicers are largely preferred over centrifugal juicers. However, masticating juicers typically take up more space than centrifugal juicers since their slower grind generally requires a longer spout and auger. The Walker Juicer consolidates the parts of a masticating juicer and places them in its main body to create a more compact build without compromising each juice’s nutritional value.

Ditching the traditionally clunky build, The Walker Juicer is designed to be disassembled and assembled easily. Four wooden legs, made from sustainably harvested wood, give rise to The Walker Juicer that can be dislodged and plugged back in using a peg-and-socket method. When not in use, The Walker Juicer can easily be broken down and stored away, but with such an unobtrusive and warm design, it looks good on any kitchen countertop even when not in use. In homage to the great Norman Walker, The Walker Juicer saves space, produces healthful juices, and looks good while doing it.

Designer: Hatch Duo

The bulk of the typical masticating juicer is cleverly consolidated in The Walker Juicer’s main body, providing a compact build.

With a steel exterior and smoothed-down wooden pegs, The Walker Juicer doesn’t compromise on design.

Easily disassembled, The Walker Juicer’s wooden pegs can be dislodged when storing away for future use.

Shaped like a walking cow, The Walker Juicer is familiar in shape and innovative in design.

This leg brace promises improved health for patients with its mindful, sole-friendly design that reduces pain

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Whether you’ve had an injury or unfortunately suffer from a chronic medical problem – choosing the right braces for your legs, ankle or feet is vital. Wearing one that is not ergonomically built for your comfort and convenience can hamper day-to-day activities, and also create other problems like excessive heat in the feet which leads to bad smell and itching. The latter can result in allergies if not taken care of in time. Keeping the ergonomic needs of its people in mind, design studio Valkiria has mindfully thought of leg braces (designed for Mercur) that users would actually love to use.

The design studio has put a lot of time and research into creating the blueprint, and final product of the Mercur Immobilizer Boot M1 leg braces with consultation from existing users of other such braces and health experts who conveyed the problem and the intended solution they would want. In the end, Valkiria managed to come up with a product that is safe, stays consistent in its shape with use, and intended for long-term usage if the rehabilitation period is extended. The form and function of the Boot M1 facilitate the user with both feet fit as it is bilateral – in both longer and shorter versions depending on the need. Also, there are the anatomical plastic nails that reduce the pressure on the calf, and for easy opening and closing, there is the Velcro fastening system. To address the smelling issue, the design studio chooses a breathable material to annihilate the growth of bacteria and keep the heat down.

One thing that’s utterly frustrating with leg braces is the fatigue it causes to the knee and the hip muscles. Boot M1 has the luxury of anatomical insole and sole that makes sure these issues are no longer there. Most of all it doesn’t in any way hamper mobility or is uncomfortable for extended use.

Designer: Valkiria for Mercur

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A medical device that gives you doctor-free monitoring from top to toe!

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I am guilty of going to the doctor for the smallest concern because there is no way for me to analyze what requires immediate attention. I am sure that I am not the only one who Googles symptoms and then descends into panic. It would be so much easier if there was a device like Kala, conceptual health monitoring smart kit that provides a complete non-invasive medical check-up.

A quick look at how much time, money and stress this could save us – 1/5th of doctor’s consultation time is spent on non-medical issues and there are more than 13.5 million GP appointments that do not require medical attention, most of these can be attributed to the human nature of worrying and because there is no other way of ruling out how we feel. Devices like Kala that use existing technology in innovative ways can pave the way to make monitoring devices digital, smaller, non-invasive and most importantly, accessible.

Over 60% of the world’s deaths are caused by heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes. The first step in diagnosing these ailments requires simple tools like a stethoscope, thermometer, blood pressure pump, and self-glucose monitor – Kala includes all of these and more. It tests lung functions, temperature, blood glucose, blood oxygen, stethoscope, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure which can reduce panic doctor visits and save time on follow-ups too.

Kala uses artificial intelligence to read and translate data from the device into understandable diagnostics for the user. The smart device is trained to recognize normal and abnormal values – so it cannot diagnose diseases but it can warn you when something does not seem right about your vital statistics. It has been designed keeping in mind that apart from regular check-ups at home it also serves for emergency check-ups, hence the results are in a simple green or amber color for the user to quickly grasp what’s happening and take action if needed. It is crucial in eliminating anxiety while waiting on an appointment date and lets you monitor your health at home which can save many of us from the spiral of overthinking a small allergy or heartburn. It is also a great way to find out if it is a concerning situation and then taking the right call which can also end up saving time in many cases.

One of the coolest features is that it is independent of smartphones and the internet which is a major advantage thanks to the built-in AI but also has the sync-to-your-phone feature to look back at results. If you don’t have a smartphone that is fine too, it includes a built-in thermal printer so you don’t have to rely on any other external factors to do a well-rounded test and keep the results – this is especially helpful in lesser developed regions where users may not have smartphones to sync and track their health data. The parts are made from stainless steel which retains a clean and sterile surface. The rest of the box uses recycled plastic. One of these devices can help an entire community where medical facilities might be scarce, it makes good health accessible to everyone.

Kala is the future of having an efficient and accessible health management system for individuals, communities, and reduce the load on medical facilities.

Designer: Maximos Angelakis

A Japanese charm redesigned to keep you healthy by syncing with the earth!

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Omamori (お守り) are traditional good luck charms in Japanese culture that protect the wearer of the charm. The Japanese word “mamori” (守り) means protection, while prefix “o” gives the word an external movent connotation, transforming it to “your protection” and there are Omamoris for every area of life: love, health, luck, trips, success, protection. The concept of Kenkō is a futuristic take on the traditional Omamori, it does not cure illnesses or ward off evil spirits but it helps you stay healthy by being in sync with the earth’s electromagnetic frequencies. It is ergonomic, travel-friendly and minimal while still being a powerful force.

The earth is constantly emitting 7,83 Hz (also known as the earth’s breath, who knew that?!) along its surface which is believed to allow living beings to regulate their physiological functions. Scientific studies show that the earth’s natural magnetic fields have a positive influence on our brains. With the rapid development of electronic communication technologies, our bodies are getting confused between the natural and artificial frequencies which are dwindling our inherent ability to be in sync with nature. This concept device is aimed at increasing focus, coordinated neural activities, improve sleep and circadian rhythms, stabilize blood pressure and stimulate osteoblasts. Kenkō will be created to produce a 7,83Hz signal, reproducing the natural frequency using technology which will help human bodies re-establish their intrinsic relationship with being healthy naturally. It will have an LED light strip that glows when you switch on the device. Electrosmog caused by Wi-Fi and smartphone frequencies can no longer disturb the sync between the natural rhythm and your brain with Kenkō’s 1.5m protection radius around you. It is also designed to be pocket-sized so you can carry it everywhere like the traditional Omamori is meant to be but with a sleek touch of tech!

Designer: Daniele Peruzzo