Patrick’s own words :

Due to the growing number of private hand research facilities, the erratic spread of innovation in nanotechnologic increases, before ethic guidelines can be set up by governments. I use a critical and critical picture to point out a topic-related vision of our world in 40 years. The study’s fundamentals in technology and science are based on literature and ongoing science forecasts by well known scientists, to not drift off into science fiction but to create a reliable vision.

Because one can still argue about assets and drawbacks, this topics needs to be displayed as transparent as possible, in order to encourage designers to look into the subject and deal with it in a responsible way.

The nDoo’s powerful (autonomous) capacity to act represents not only the subject of nanotechnology, but also every new and extreme kind of innovation. The contrast within this concept is the nDoo’s medical ability to heal. On the basis of this gap, the concept aims to show the explosiveness and ethical-moral arguments of the subject.

The nDoo is a medical, autonomous communication device which serves as an interface between humans and nanobots in their bloodstream, constantly monitoring all body functions and keeping up a steady exchange with an up to date database of all diseases and therapies. The nDoo forwards commands to the nanobots or writes his own code. Humans can access information about their state of health and the nanobots’ activities via a three-dimensional hologram. The visualization happens in nDoo’s floating position. While in passive mode, the nDoo can be carried like a hand-held computer.

Nanobots act as a self-organized swarm, swimming through the body’s bloodstream – powered by a nano-engine – able to localize, reprogram, destroy or mark cells, viruses etc. The nDoo serves as an extension to the immune system, detecting possible viruses at an early stage and preventing diseases. Even the emotional situation and human senses can be analyzed and influenced autonomously. Humans are accompanied by nDoos from the cradle to the grave. Energy is transfered by an electromagnetic field.

Designer : Patrick Decker

Perch is the result of a two year research MA in Industrial Design with the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland by Simon Dennehy. The results show that it is impractical to design a chair for primary school students, without considering the desk as an item of equal importance. The main objective of the project is to encourage students to sit and work in a much higher position.

The seat and backrest benefit from ventilated slots throughout. This reduces weight, increases user comfort and creates a visually stimulating aesthetic for the students of today. The chair’s simple yet effective height mechanism prevents accidental release and requires the student to stand to adjust the height. The chair’s legs protrude from back, while incorporating a footrest. This allows the student complete freedom of leg movement. The front wings at either side of the seat are completely flexible. This patented design prevents build up of pressure under the student’s legs, while the resistive feedback encourage the students to continually move their legs playfully, increasing blood flow and muscle use.

The desk profile incorporates an elbow rest, where students can perch themselves during task work. This decreases load on their mid-sections. The profile, from co-extruded hollow-section polycarbonate, incorporates a soft rubberised working surface (in orange). This provides a warm tactile surface that can resist abuse, prevent books from slipping, and can be easily cleaned. A storage trough, at the rear of the desk, includes a book ledge for when students are copying from text books. An accessories tray hooks onto the desk edge and is replaceable with a Lego base, or arts and crafts palette. This “hot-swap” system is developable, and makes task change-over much faster, and tidier.

Schools furniture among the majority of schools, internationally, is severely damaging to students’ health and, as a direct result, they can expect to develop serious disorders and illnesses in later life. The research carried out shows conclusively that school children, in particular, sit inappropriately during their primary school years, as a result of the failings of the furniture’s design.

Schools are the offices for children. They spend a large amount of their youth attending both primary and secondary schools, and during that time, are likely to be sitting at a desk. A drastic change to the standards, which dictate measurements for furniture in schools, is required.

It is hoped that this project will encourage more researchers, designers and ergonomists to peruse the subject matter so that, in years to come, the quality and understanding of furniture requirements for students will radically improve, to the benefit of the students, teachers, education and health system.

Designer : Simon Dennehy