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E-Ink Display Technology Implementation by Continuum

TheFuture — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:05:32 +0000

E-Ink is a concept display technology with very thin, durable, flexible and low power attributes, which is also referred to as an electronic paper sometimes. This project is a continuum challenge for the designers to create innovative applications for this unique technology. Among many, we think that one compelling solution was to evolve the E-Ink film into the top exterior of a snowboard, since the riders of snowboards often require information about the mountain they are surfing and don’t want to take the hassle of pulling a compass, maps or other supplies. The E-Ink technology, with the stability and low power attributes, has made it an ideal fit for this application.

Text from Continuum :

Snowboard graphics powered by Piezo generator

The top surface of a snowboard is a perfect place for a changing graphic display. This concept suggests several graphic functions for a snowboard, including a compass, a reminder, directions display, altimeter, and a graphic proximity alarm that can be set by the owner of the board that activates a large “STOLEN” sign that flashes when the board is too far from its owner. The graphics are powered by a Piezo generator embedded inside the board that is activated when the board is flexed.

Pill bottle labels that can display changing information about contents

The Pill Bottle concept seamlessly integrates E-Ink display technology into a common package design. Using E-Ink technology in a prescription bottle label allows the bottle to be reused by recoding the label, thus reducing waste. The clear text also improves prescription legibility and is therefore safer.

The bottle cap serves as the “brains” of the bottle. It contains a tiny battery as well as the microchip where the label information is stored The label in the bottle contains a contact that engages with the bottle cap to activate the graphic. A smaller E-Ink display on the top of the cap is magnified by a clear lens, and helps to quickly identify the contents from above.

Flipping the bottle upside down activates the scale function of the bottle and tells the user how many pills are inside. The ability to weigh the contents helps eliminate mistakes (or theft) by pharmacists. When flipped around the display can also inform the user when they took their last dose as well as how far they are from needing another refill.

Designer : Continuum

BikeBug Communication System for Cyclists

TheFuture — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:49:16 +0000

BikeBug Bluetooth radio concept will diminish the limitation of cyclists when they go out together and want to communicate with each other. BikeBug communication system includes an easy to use, small radio consists of two major components; a radio resided in a stretchy, hook-on exoskeleton, and an earpiece or microphone that includes the volume control mechanism. An incorporated Bluetooth transmitter links the earpiece or mike with the radio wirelessly through which the cyclists will have a wire free convenience. Family Radio Service frequencies, which are being used by most economical hand-held radios, will be mostly used to establish the communication.

Designer : Continuum

BacVac Fuel Cell Vacuum Cleaner with Backpack-Style

TheFuture — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:03:46 +0000

Vacuum cleaners are an unavoidable appliance for those who would like to keep their households neat and clean. There are many available vacuum cleaners over the market but not many of them are as effective as BacVac, a fuel cell concept vacuum cleaner. This smart backpack-style vacuum cleaner is powered by an integrated fuel cell which allows the user to enjoy a cable free cleaning experience. The main goal of this vacuum cleaner is to meet the residential cleaning needs and is hanged over the users shoulder like a passenger bag. When recharging needed, the fuel cell can be reloaded with instantly available ethanol.

Designer : Continuum

Solay Running Shoe Concept from Continuum

TheFuture — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:54:49 +0000

The new Solay concept running shoe comes with a modular, removable mid-sole which easily can be changed by the runner whenever a new sole is needed. During the course of a training, many of the marathon and distance runners usually have to replace running shoes every 3 months, as the thick foamed mid sole in the shoe gets compressed and loses the resiliency, which provides critical support needed for the runner’s feet. This thus prolongs the life of the shoes by several months and allows the runners to train in the shoes with which they has become comfortable. So just run the long race.

Designer : Continuum via IGreenSpot

With Link Child Locator, Hopefully No More Missing Children

TheFuture — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:11:24 +0000

You are about to catch the flight for that weekend get away with your family and it’s a last minute rush to board the plane. You already have the boarding pass and just as you hear the last minute announcements, suddenly you observe that your child is missing! You look everywhere but where to locate in this sea of human faces? Is he safe or what might have happened? This might seem to be a scene taken out of any popular movie flick, but could as well be a scenario in real life too. There are many incidents across airports, amusement parks or shopping malls wherein the Public address system is used to locate the dear ones. Not any more! If the Link Child Locator is anything to go by!

The basic concept that works on is that a parent can use to locate or keep a track of the child in a crowded location. It has 2 components, a bracelet, which is worn by the child containing a transmitter module that works at a range of up to 100 feet, and the other part is a watch style bracelet which is worn by the parent. This part receives the child’s signal and indicates the direction and the estimated distance on a small LCD display.

Not just that, with this one can keep a track of their child and also set a safe radius of distance as and when the child goes out this comfort zone, the same is indicated on the parent’s along with direction. Thus this gadget is very helpful for all those parents who would like to keep an eye on their kids at all the time.

Designer : DContinuum

Ubicycle – Public Bicycle Service System

TheFuture — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:02:16 +0000

With increasing vehicular traffic on the road and resulting pollution each passing day, more and more emphasis is being given in finding alternate means of transportation. Obviously green fuel and the vehicles running on the same is quite a craze, but the same is in conceptual stage it would be a while before the same will be in mass production. But what about the good old bicycle? With the advent of cars and other motor vehicles it somehow went into oblivion. But not anymore. With Ubicycle-Public Service, an initiative which seems to bring the bicycle back in fashion.

There are many advantages that can be said about the usage of bicycles. It is environment friendly, no pollution, and the best part is that it is health friendly as well. The main goal of Ubicycle-public bicycle service is encouraging people to use bicycles as an alternative means to commute, thus providing easy-to-access public bicycles to and from transit or nearby home, school, and workplace.

The Ubicycle service provides Easy access a Key card- Charged or credited key cards which are not only used for bicycle service but also public transportation. An Installed Smart chip identifies the user and allows unlocking of the rack and bicycle. It occupies lesser space as a modular rack unit allows parking 14 bicycles within one car parking space. Self-solar power help running the unmanned secured bicycle service system. Also its unique shape and green color is useful for easy recognition and theft deterrent. There is a built in locking device and adjustable seat height which kind of completes the ease of maintaining one. So go ahead and start Ubicycling

Designer : Continuum

Chanel Mobile Art Pavilion by Zaha Hadid

TheFuture — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:39:31 +0000

I always love Zaha Hadid works. This one is chanel mobile art pavilion, a traveling art space designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, has opened in its first destination, Hong Kong. The pavilion, commissioned by Chanel head designer Karl Lagerfeld, hosts an exhibition of artworks inspired by Chanel bags by 20 artists and called Mobile Art. The project was unveiled at the Venice art biennale last year – more details and renderings in our story on the Design Museum’s Zaha Hadid Blog.

The Mobile Art Pavilion for Chanel, initially inspired by Chanel’s signature quilted bag and conceived through a system of natural organisation, is also shaped by the functional considerations of the exhibition. However, these further determinations remain secondary and precariously dependent on the overriding formal language of the Pavilion. An enigmatic strangeness has evolved between the Pavilion’s organic system of logic and these functional adaptations arousing the visitor’s curiosity even further.

In creating the Mobile Art Pavilion for Chanel, Zaha Hadid has developed the fluid geometries of natural systems into a continuum of fluent and dynamic space where oppositions between exterior and interior, light and dark, natural and artificial landscapes are synthesized. Lines of energy converge within the Pavilion, constantly redefining the quality of each exhibition space whilst guiding movement through the exhibition. The work of selected artists has been commissioned for the exhibition. Hadid created an entire landscape for their work, rather than just an exhibition space. Visitors will be guided through the space using the latest digital technology developed in collaboration with the artists.

Hadid’s innovative architecture is the reason Karl Lagerfeld invited her to create the Mobile Art Pavilion. She is the first architect to find a way to part with the all-dominating post-Bauhaus aesthetic. The value of her designs is similar to that of great poetry. The potential of her imagination is enormous, Karl Lagerfeld explained during the launch of the Mobile Art Pavilion at the 2007 Venice Art Biennale.

Hadid’s architecture transforms our vision of the future with new spatial concepts and bold, visionary forms. I think through our architecture, we can give people a glimpse of another world, and enthuse them, make them excited about ideas. Our architecture is intuitive, radical, international and dynamic. We are concerned with constructing buildings that evoke original experiences, a kind of strangeness and newness that is comparable to the experience of going to a new country. The Mobile Art Pavilion for Chanel follows these principles of inspiration, states Zaha Hadid.

Designer : Zaha Hadid via Dezeen