BeoTime can make every morning an enjoyable one with its discreet own chime or customizable wake up sounds from your favorite radio station, TV program or a piece of music and can be switched off at a preset time when you are leaving the house. It also includes a built-in sleep timer which is able to switch all the Bang & Olufsen apparatuses in the room to standby mode after a chosen time interval of up to 120 minutes. This feature is very much convenient for those who want to stay up late to watch TV, or fall asleep with a preferred music without worrying about turning off the music. Aside from the alarm and sleep timer features, you can use this gadget for basic functions of the bedroom loudspeaker, television or light control.

The ease of handling and operating of BeoTime is really noteworthy; you can hold it in one hand and can operate it with your thumb. The built-in tilt sensor shows the information and button functions modify orientation as per the BeoTime is held by the user.

BeoTime is a magnificently polished and anodized aluminum tube, with a trumpet-shaped button that protrudes from one end when you will activate the alarm by pressing it. The tube’s other end comprises a cover that conceals the battery chamber for three batteries that can last around one year. Two rubber feet ensure steady footing to BeoTime when lying on the table and the almost unseen magnetic wall brackets are used to mount it on the wall. The square navigation button along with three separate displays with dark text on a vivid background performs the navigation when setting the alarm time.

From : Bang and Olufsen via Dvice

More information about crescendo from Jessica:
This is a flashlight designed for those in public service. (police / emt’s) I spent a great deal of time researching the environment which this would be used along with the individuals it is designed for.

The flared head elegantly opens the lens for an elliptical beam of light. This profile is easily removed and placed into the holster without being snagged or stuck on the form. The elliptical pattern of the light matches human peripheral vision. By utilizing this shape, the user can be more aware of their surroundings with a smaller light. It takes full advantage of the natural night vision of the user and enhances it.

The flashlight has 2 power switches. One on the tailcap- and a 3-way on the barrel. The 3-way switch is used to select the light mode- Green, Red and super bright white. The green light is very useful in chaotic / emergency situations such as a car accident. The green light prevents night blindness while still permitting the user to identify colors which can be extremely important ( blood vs oil). The red light is less visible to others and used for a low profile stealth situation. The red light- and elliptical beam simply enhances the users natural night vision to give them more feedback on their surroundings and more control. The super bright white light is for common use of the flashlight- as well as situation control by creating night blindness for a person that may be a threat.

The 3-way power switch allows for immediate selection of the color mode without cycling. The switch on the tailcap controls the white light as a constant-on (press to click) or a ‘blink’ on for quick flashes controlled by the user.

The rubber grips are very important. They 1 keep the users hand off the metal which could be cold especially in the winter. The grip has a cut-away shape filled with thin strips. This shape makes less cumbersome for female users with smaller hands to have complete control of the tool. Also- at the end of the cut-away, there is a tapered lip. This lip provides a great security during the ‘cigar hold’ by providing the user a stop.

Due to the nature of limited advertising to these groups, the logo and name are permanently molded on the flashlight itself through the grip features. This creates a strong brand identity. The rubber is also receded from the very tip of the lens area, revealing more metal. This is so it may still be used as a weapon in emergencies, causing enough damage- or creating enough time so the user (police) can access a better more sophisticated weapon for the situation.

Designer : Jessica LoVerso

Designer : Joanna Hawley

FWD vehicle can also be used in rental system, once rented by means of a monthly payment, the bicycle/tricycle (fwds) can be obtained in any of several stations spread out through the city. Returning the vehicle to the station after each use is not required, but eliminates the need to either store or carry the bi/tricycle all the way across town (in a car, or bus) when you need to cover a greater distance. With fwd, you can take a bus to go to school, rent a fwd there to move across town, and return it before taking the bus back home. fwd is specifically targeted to college students, to which its existence is most beneficial, but can be rented by anyone.

Finally, in the ‘cruiser’ mode, the back wheels converge to the ground, effectively changing fwd into a highly mobile bicycle, suited for places where there isn’t a rail and for more adventurous uses.

Designer : Eric Pautz, Carolina Defferrari, Leo Joas and Patrícia Campiol

Often ring tones are irritating for the others and if you want use vibrating-call that is not always useful if the phone is far from you. Wearing the phone, vibrating-call is more practical because it vibrates on the hand. I think the gesture of shaking the thumb and pinky to call is natural for the people. You can have the phone always ready to use, and putting microphone and speaker very close at your ear and mouth is possible use it also in noisy places. You can continue to catch objects or use a pen. Another more serious reason to use it, is for people that have fear of electro smog from mobile phones. Separating the microphone and the speaker is possible to adapt them according the personal shape of human cranium and to keep the electromagnetic field far from the head. Touchscreen equipped with “Voice Activated” and “Hands Free” software to dialing, picking up and hanging up the line.

Designer : Massimo Marrazzo

Available in three sizes, the device uses brushless DC motors powered by lithium ion batteries that allow up to two hours of walking assistance per charge. Honda’s Fundamental Technology Research Center will be showcasing the device at the International Trade Fair on Barrier Free Equipments & Rehabilitation for the Elderly & the Disabled, which will be held at Intex Osaka, Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2008.

Honda walking assist device is much more compact than similar device such as : rewalk exoskeleton. If this device is working perfectly, not just us, there are going to be a lot of people jump in joy for Honda’s breakthrough.

From the website :
Honda began research of a walking assist device in 1999 with a goal to provide more people with the joy of mobility. Currently, the device has entered into the feasibility stage.

The cooperative control technology utilized for this device is a unique Honda innovation achieved through the cumulative study of human walking just as the research and development of technologies was conducted for Honda’s advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO. Applying cooperative control based on the information obtained from hip angle sensors, the motors provide optimal assistance based on a command from the control CPU. With this assist, the user’s stride will be lengthened compared to the user’s normal stride without the device and therefore the ease of walking is achieved.

The compact design of the device was achieved with flat brushless motors and a control system developed by Honda. In addition, a simple design to be worn with a belt around the hip and thigh was employed to help achieve overall weight as light as approximately 2.8kg. As a result, the device reduces the user’s load and can be fit to different body shapes.

Note : This device is designed for people who are still capable of walking on their own.

Designer : Honda via AutoBlog

Designer : SolidWorks via GizmoWatch

The social acceptance is based on how much the prosthetic resembles human leg, but there hasn’t been any active movement to bring prosthetic leg from a utilitarian gear to a highly fashionable accessory that reflects the amputee’s taste, possibly a prosthetic that he/she want to show off, and don’t have to bear with people looking at them pathetically anymore.

The demand of prosthetic leg could go higher due to accidents, wars, and mostly, aggressive increase of type 2 Child diabetes, which is unfortunate but opens more possibilities to enable personalized mass manufacturing. Therefore, this prosthetic concept is designed around the 3D scanned data of the real person’s leg; Once the real leg is scanned, the data can be modified according to the condition of the limb, which makes the prosthetic “my leg”.Tag Heuer, co-brand company of this prosthetic design which has sporty, bold but elegant high-end products, has a long history of preciseness and accuracy, and has been a great sponsor for various sports activities. The design follows how we see a watch; usually hidden behind the sleeves but reveals and shines occasionally when he/she moves. This prosthetic Tag Heuer’s bold taste, but still hides the complex detail mechanism.

Designer : Koo Ho Shin

The C-Leg is an innovative, completely microprocessor-controlled leg prosthesis system that helps people who have undergone transfemoral amputation to achieve a new degree of safety and dynamics. The new C-Leg has been upgraded and expanded with many innovative features. It combines both years of experience and the intelligent use of modern technologies with a clear design of elegant appearance. The C-Leg features a wireless remote control that lets users easily switch between different settings, e.g. for walking, bicycling or inline-skating, as well as make individual fine adjustments to the hydraulic system. No matter at what speed and on what ground the user is walking, the C-Leg reacts in real time to the gait circumstances, ensuring not only natural movements but also offering a high amount of mobility and independence with every step. With its aesthetic and clear language of form, the C-Leg contributes to the well being of its wearers ? thus allowing them to bear their disability with greater self-confidence.

Source : Otto Bock HealthCare