Future Technology » Search Results » different shapes

Tabelit Sensory Toy for People with Learning Disability

TheFuture — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:35:56 +0000

Tabelit is a learning toy concept that will help people with learning disability to paint by pushing buttons with different coloring facility, allowing expressing their creativity. It has been designed with five different layers and features two mini speakers to produce quality sounds. The left sidebar includes an illuminating touch strip, on which the user can slide their finger to select a color that will come across the switches. The user can learn shapes by following the randomly appearing shapes and accordingly, press the appropriate button for that shape. A rewarding sound will be played with every successful trace. The user can express their feelings with music by utilizing the individual sound assigned for each button such as piano, drums, etc. Moreover, it offers single or multiple player games which will develop the social and responsive skills of the user. Tabelit can be used both at home for a relaxed, multi-sensory room environment and at workplaces with maximum functionality.

Designer : Trudy Cheung

Moleculair 3D Food Printer to Provoke Innovative Ideas of Cooking

TheFuture — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:57:18 +0000

The Moléculaire concept is actually a marriage of science and cooking, which is actually a 3D molecular food printer. This device is inspired by chefs who painstakingly and scientifically experiment with food to surprise the guests and provoke innovative ideas of cooking. The Moléculaire simplifies the existing hectic, tough and time consuming process of food experiment with this Computer Numerical Control (CNC) food printer for both domestic and professional kitchens. This gadget works with a layer by layer printing method using small elements from diverse ingredients, whilst providing accuracy, simplicity, repeatability and great tasting food. Vote for Moleculair here.

Interview with Nico :

What was the inspiration for your concept?
The inspiration was the experimental approach to molecular cooking. Even after several decades of molecular cuisine, it still seems to be an exclusive game for specialists. So it became my main goal to bring some of the fantastic possibilities and ideas of molecular cooking to all ambitious cooks with an easy to use, affordable appliance.

How does your concept fit into this year’s competition theme “Designs for the next 90 years”?
I think the idea of molecular cooking is forward-looking, but the procedures and methods of preparing molecular dishes are still conventional. I would like to change this with my concept. At first, the idea of printing food seems to be something straight out of a science-fiction movie, but on second thought it is not unrealistic at all. I even think that Moléculaire could be the future kitchen tool that opens up possibilities for food-makers interested in molecular cooking.

What are the main consumer benefits of your concept?
Moléculaire is a futuristic kitchen appliance that offers several new possibilities to professional chefs as well as home users. It’s based on a layer-by-layer printing technique that arranges small particles from a set of ingredients. Within minutes, it prints out three-dimensional desserts, complex structures, shapes for molecular dishes, and patterns for decorating a meal. In addition, it’s easy to use. You simply insert a blister pack into the reservoir, place Moléculaire on top of a plate, and press the start button. Users can also create their own recipes with special software and their own ingredients. Ambitious users can download recipes and share them with other users in an online community.

Describe the consumer research behind your concept.
I conducted interviews with chefs and did a lot of research on the Internet. These approaches helped me to understand users’ interests, concerns, wishes, needs and desires. The outcome shaped my initial ideas and helped them grow. The most difficult thing about designing for the future is predicting the possible social and technological developments (their direction and speed). Therefore, it was very useful to read reports like sociological studies about cooking and future scenarios about the development of new technologies.

What kind of materials would you use to build your concept?
For my concept, I would use polycarbonate as the main material. I plan on applying this material in three different variations, each providing the right characteristics for the different parts of my design. Transparent polycarbonate can be used for the window, black tinted for the lid/display, and white for the body. The robotic printer arm and head could be made from aluminum. A blue (O)LED backlight accentuates the processes inside the printer.

Who is your favorite designer?
I don‘t have a favorite designer.

What are your career goals?
After I graduate in 2010, I want to gain more professional experience in a product-design company. In the long term, I want to further develop my conceptual and strategic skills and step into product-related design management.

Designer : Nico Kläber

CubeTots : Educational Cubes Game for Children

TheFuture — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:21:57 +0000

CubeTots is a simple game that can teach children shape matching color identification, character development, alphabet and number reconviction, and sensory skills through vibrations, lights and counting. The shapes can be stack up in any way as the children want and they will get only ten seconds to stack them up numerically or alphabetically, before the toy will start vibrating and the whole stake fall down. This is only one phase of the game; there are many other alternatives of playing the game, each with different innovations. This toy is designed for children between 4 to 6 years old.

Designer : Hector Silva

Mercedes-Benz High Quality Folding Bike with Shimano 8-Speed Gear and Disk Brakes

TheFuture — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:57:20 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has recently launched a very smartly designed folding bike that can be folded in two different shapes. When fully folded, it becomes a very small package ideal for carrying easily using public transport and when it’s in the ‘shuttle’ position, users can push and steer it with great convenience. Completely folded Mercedes-Benz Foldingbike needs a very small space, only 80×80x30 cm, which allows the user to pack it up in the high-quality carrying bag supplied with the bike. As a result, you can easily store it in a camper van, car trunk, office or yacht. In fact you will find it as a good buddy who can go with you wherever you go.

The patented folding system is really easy to operate which requires no additional tools and takes only few seconds to folding and unfolding the bike. The aluminum frame includes 40 mm suspension travel at both front and rear wheel and this can be adjusted for individual riding soothe. This Foldingbike offers relaxed cycling with the Shimano 8-speed gear and disk brakes ensure supreme level of safety. This extraordinary bike includes a side stand, a variable luggage rack and protective metal cover, and is available in two different colors, silver and white.

Designer : Mercedes Benz

Frost Electric Car by Anders Gloslie

TheFuture — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:03:15 +0000

Anders Gloslie, a Norwegian designer who is studying at IED Tornio currently in Italy, developed the FROST concept electric car. The stylish exterior design of this extraordinary car was enthused by and developed to suit arctic climate conditions. The asymmetrical bodywork of this car was influenced by formations of ice and features plenty of ‘cracks’ which cover the lighting systems. This motivating natural inspiration source also denotes that the idea takes of various shapes seen from different angles. The FROST concept layout mixes the proportions and the 2-seat design of a racing car with the rough potential of an off-road vehicle.

Anders says:

“Since most of the worlds power supply comes form water, I wanted to use this as a concept. Th!nk is a Norwegian brand, so I also got inspiration from arctic clima. Arctic clima+water=Ice. Freezing water creates natures most powerful force. So that would be good to use for an electric car as an inspiration and concept for clean power. I wanted to create something different from all other works i have seen, mixing sports car looks with off road set up.

Using the non symmetric structures of ice as styling inspiration. Creating hard edgy and non symmetric surfaces. I wanted the car to look different, when its seen from different angles. The cracks in the body, hides signal lights over each belt, as the original think cars do. The huge fans at the back, controls air onto the cockpit also, and adjust the engine and cars temperature. The information hose at the back sends data about weather,temperature and all information thats needed, viewed from inside the car, and also outside. The data information will be shown on screens near at the fans, at the back of the car. That means you can operate the data info from the outside.

This 2 seater car has AWD, 4-wheel steering, independent suspension and hydraulic wheel extenders, for maximum traction and maneuverability.”

Click image for bigger view

Designer : Anders Gloslie

Colim Concept : A Cool Combination of A Car and A Caravan Camper

TheFuture — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:20:27 +0000

The new vehicle design by Christian Susana is a nice combination of car and a caravan camper. Christian has called it Colim (Colors of Life in Motion), which might not win many points on looks department, but still is quite useful given the kind of flexibility it offers. Colim provides the advantage of detaching the front part if one does not have a usage for the home part. Design wise it reminds more of geometric shape, which one can say to be a welcome change from the regular designs, but the designer has really explored a possibility using different shapes which may pave way for better shaped cars.

The designer says : “The Colim concept – an acronym meaning ‘colors of life in motion’ – is an intelligent mobility concept which stretches primarily the bridge between caravans, camper, lifestyle and business. Dubbed a ‘lifestyle motor home’, the cockpit can be disconnected from the usable living space. The livable area is flexible, with individually applicable multi function modules. Designed for two people (max. four persons), the motor home offers the possibility to personalize its four mobile ‘walls’ according to the present life situation of the user. This flexibility is not only limited to the living area, but also features in the cockpit.”

Designer : Christian Susana

Futuristic and Cool Mobile Phone Designs by Mac Funamizu

TheFuture — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:17:12 +0000

Many cell phone users like to use phone with new design and impressive looks. This designer has tried to give a fresh new look to the mobile phones in different shapes and sizes. Some of the shapes are incredibly cool and sleek. Each and every mobile phone comes with different mechanisms for inputting data and soft key layouts. If you are searching for an innovative slider design with an impressive feature set then you might get one in these designs.

Dual Layers Phone Concept

Designer : Mac Funamizu

Transformer Shelf : Multiple Storage for Small Area

TheFuture — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:09:52 +0000

Every household needs shelf that should occupy less space and provide large storage area. Owing to the need an Amsterdam based product designer Martin Saemmer has recently designed a great shelf that could be transformed into various shapes and evolve multiple storage and shelving needs. Looking like a solid block, this shelf can be changed into different shapes and styles just by pushing and pulling the racks. This transformer shelf doesn’t even occupy much space and can be put up in any corner of your house. It’s a multipurpose shelf that could provide you ample of storage area to arrange every small and medium size items of your room.

Designer : Martin Saemmer

No More Messy Toothpaste Tubes with Chube Automated Toothpaste Dispenser

TheFuture — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:05:43 +0000

Are you tired of dealing with messy toothpaste tubes? If yes, then try out automatic toothpaste dispenser. It helps to conserve toothpaste with even flow dispensing and draws the complete volume of toothpaste from the tube eliminating any waste. When you put your toothbrush under the nozzle, a motion detector triggers an internal motor that pumps a pre-set amount of toothpaste directly onto the brush. Standard toothpaste is contained in Chube-specific cartridges that are sold at grocery, department and drug stores. You simply insert a new cartridge into the dispenser and prime the pump and Chube is ready to go. Once empty, Chube cartridges can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling. In return, consumers receive rebates or coupons for discounts on future purchases. The reusable cartridge caps are dishwasher safe and are available in an assortment of decorator styles. This device can be mounted to any smooth surface and comes in different colors and shapes.

Text from designer :

The loop at the top of the one tube design is not for hanging but had two purposes:
1. It allows people who lack dexterity, such as those with arthritis, to easily grasp the tube and pull it out of the dispenser when it’s empty and needs to be replaced. The loop can be easily grabbed with any one or several fingers.

2. It’s a visual target for the visually impaired.

Designer : Michael Gamstetter

Moonlight Globe Lights for Your Pool

TheFuture — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:07:00 +0000

Moonlights are manufactured by Germany’s award winning “Moonlight – Globe Lights” for offering luxury seen at the finest resorts all over the world. These are not normal round shaped bulbs but these are a new line of contemporary light fixtures made up of shatterproof polyethylene. These lights are globe shaped and are available in different shapes and sizes from 15 to 30 inches. You can use them for home interiors with assorted changeable colors as well as for outdoor such as a floating model for your pool. Moonlights are surely going to shine your house or resort with a unique and fresh look.

Designer : MoonLight