Our Energy Information measures power consumption
February 13, 2009 by BabyReaps
Filed under Accessories, Blog, Concepts
OLED technology is famous as a substitute for a low-power display option, and it is interesting to see concept designs come up that feature OLED technology prominently. Check out the Our Energy Information (OEI) for instance - this conceptual device by Rocco Avallone is a power monitor that features a colorful albeit low power display that makes reading energy use less of a chore thanks to the use of animations and a fun presentation manner. In addition, it is able to receive community information in order to check out just how much power your neighbors are consuming, leaving you the choice to commend or berate them, depending on the circumstances. I for one, would like to see such concepts materialize soonest possible - it’d make life a whole lot more fun and colorful.
Source: Treehugger
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Baby Bottle smart enough to tell you the right temperature
February 5, 2009 by BabyReaps
Filed under Blog, Concepts, House Gear
New parents or inexperienced hands who are preparing milk or a formula for baby will find themselves in a quandary at the very beginning, and sometimes in our haste, we tend to forget just how hot the water is when mixed, accidentally scalding baby’s mouth to set off another round of screaming and crying that takes a couple of hours to cajole and die down. Instead of learning the hard way or risk burning your own mouth, how about this Baby Bottle concept? It features graphics that are printed with thermochromic anti-forgery ink, and these will change accordingly to show you when is the right temperature for the liquid within to be consumed. Surely, this takes out a whole lot of guesswork, and we are amazed something like this has not been released to the mass market already.
Source: Yanko Design
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Smart Speed Bumps flatten for slower drivers
Not all speed bumps are created equal, and sometimes they do appear suddenly while we’re driving, resulting in a nasty crunch and some heartache to you as you stop to assess the damage done to your new ride. Why, with this new smart speed bump concept, things could be very different for those who adhere to road rules. Imagine going slower than 30km/h - this speed bump will automatically lower itself to the ground for smooth passage, while any vehicle registering above 30km/h will have to slow down to avoid the bump from damaging their vehicle. This will encourage drivers to retain a constant slow speed in order to reduce carbon emissions.
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White Fruit Radio loves touching
White Fruit Radio takes a leaf out of nature’s book by offering a conceptual radio that is made of sycamore (for its superior acoustic properties, and not meant to introduce more firewood into your home this winter) as well as an LED substrate that lies hidden under the thin surface, revealing itself as and when the situation requires it. The ridges located on top of the radio will control both volume and station tuning - all you need to do is rub your finger across and see the LED substrate come to life, changing the channels dynamically. Kudos to designer Swann Bourotte for the White Fruit Radio concept - now if only someone were to pick up this delectable idea and mass produce it.
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Window air purifier concept
With the amount of smog accumulating outside these days, no thanks to ever rising levels of affluence that leads to every family owning at least a couple of cars, it is no wonder that an air purifier is an important addition to any home - if you’re serious about staying as healthy as possible. Most air purifiers are functional, although they lose out on the aesthetics side, but the ‘Window’ concept is different in a sense that it looks just like a real window. The air purifier features a transparent LCD that becomes dark if the air quality in your home drops dramatically. Interestingly enough, to turn on the purifier, you will need to “slide open” the window in order for the cleaning process to begin.
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Chocolate Keyboard
If you have a sweet tooth and love all things chocolate, chances are you would wish the Chocolate Keyboard by Michael Sholk would be rolling off factories in bulk. This sweet design (no pun intended) comes in the color of dark chocolate, and good thing there aren’t any fake nuts to go along with the fake keys, lest your fingers suffer from bruises during those keyboard thumping sessions as you furiously try to finish up whatever work you owe the office before you take off for the long Thanksgiving weekend. I think this concept will sell really well - and it would be nice to see it bundled with a bar of real chocolate of your choice.
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Easy temperature check for parents
It is extremely heartbreaking for new parents to see their kid suffering from high fever the first time round - most of the time, the care and concern lavished is nothing short of royalty. Designer Duck Young Kong (pretty zany handle, eh?) has come up with this special thermometer design that is definitely a few steps ahead of the conventional, known as the Lunar Baby Thermometer. This simple temperature checking device can be worn on a finger, and all it takes to get a temperature reading is to place one’s hand over the forehead and wait for it to beep. Well, at least the child doesn’t have to suffer the discomfort of a glass stick being stuck up (or down) an orifice.
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Wristlet helps send messages to kids
Parents of today wish things were not so complicated without the vast advancements of technology where communications are concerned. Back in their day, all they had to do was issue a stern warning about what time to expect the kids to be home, and that’s that. Plans that have been set will be seen through, without anyone breaking off an appointment at their whim and fancy unless there is a real emergency such as a funeral. The Wristlet device won’t bring those days back, but it will help parents keep in touch with kids who are still too young to own a cell phone. This conceptual device is worn as a bracelet, and it is able to receive messages, sound out an alarm or show off graphical symbols thanks to its solar-powered display. Hopefully designer Petr Hampl has thought of releasing this (if ever) in more than just pink color.
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USB flash drive comes in form of clothes peg
We’ve seen USB flash drives come in a whole host of shapes and sizes before, but this conceptual version takes the cake. After all, how many of us have actually come across a USB flash drive that features the form factor of an ordinary, wooden clothes peg? Surely this isn’t the best of amalgamations when it comes to a concept, since we all know that electronics and water don’t really mix too well, with the latter short-circuiting the former. Also, when you are hanging your clothes out under the sun to dry, won’t the strong summer heat batter the electronics within? Definitely not something I would use to store important information on if someone buys one for me as a gift.
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Insulin pump gets OLED display
Those suffering from diabetes will have to live with regular insulin injections all their life, and some people do use insulin pumps to get this vital fluid into their bodies at regular intervals. Good thing advancements in modern technology tend to trickle down to a wide range of product categories, and this insulin pump design could be such a beneficiary from an OLED display’s point of view. After all, current insulin pumps are more functional than aesthetically pleasing, then again those aren’t supposed to be fashion accessories or anything of that sort. With ideas from Jiri Bukvald, this nifty insulin pump features new OLED technology that helps prolong the battery life of the device thanks to its increased efficiency, helping diabetes sufferers relax and wean themselves off constant battery swapping.
Source: Yanko Design
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