3D Printed Ears and a Safer Cycling Helmet

daisypope
Mar 31, 2019
5 min read

For the end of March we have a very eclectic mix of new designs. A lot focussed around new technology including 3D printing ears, a new design of cycling helmet, a different smart watch and the latest innovation from Dyson, with a new meal portioning product thrown in for good measure...

3D Printed Ears

The future of 3D printing is finally here.... now we can have 3D printed ears. A 3D bio printer has been developed by researchers in Australia at the University of Wollongong to print human ears that can be used for reconstructive surgery. The bio printer prints with bio ink that uses stem cells to grow human ear cartilage. The new technology has already been used in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, the first hospital in New South Wales the have a high tech bio printer.

Researchers say that this new technology brings them a step closer to revolutionising a complex medical procedure for children with microtia – a congenital condition where the external ear is underdeveloped. (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/25/3d-printing-human-ears-university-of-wollongong/)

As the ear is such a complex shape the new bio printing technology is a great solution to creating a realistic ear while also using natural tissue.

"Treatment of this particular ear deformity is demanding because the outer ear is an extremely complex 3D shape, not only in length and breadth, but also in height and projection from the skull," said RPH ear, nose and throat surgeon Payal Mukherjee.(https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/25/3d-printing-human-ears-university-of-wollongong/)

The team initially used stem cells from nose cartilage as this is usually discarded. However there is hope to develop the ink so that it will use a patients own stem cells so the implant matches their anatomy. The vision is for ears to be printed that are customised to a persons ear abnormality and also their facial features. This is a fantastic way to give someone their individuality back with a custom implant, while also addressing a terrible problem. It paves the way for more potential 3D printing to medical problems. Maybe you could have other implants 3D printed such as noses, bones, even one day organs. It would certainly solve the problem of the ever growing transplant lists and lack of organ donors.... But would people view it as unethical? Find out more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/25/3d-printing-human-ears-university-of-wollongong/.

A Safer Bike Helmet

Something I frequently see redesigned in various ways is the good old bike helmet. Ultimately the goal is to create something very safe while also looking super sleek, especially as cycling becomes more and more popular. Well a bike brand from the US have used a shock absorbent material called WaveCel to create a new bike helmet, hailed to be 48 times safer than your average foam helmet! WaveCel is a flexible material made up of individual cells which absorb the force from an impact, reducing the amount of force on the head. Traditional foam helmets are designed to withstand fatal force on the head, however the cells in the new design bend to absorb force and then crumple to disperse energy from the impact, much like the crumple zone of a car. This technology prevents the brain from being shaken around too much and will also be effective when the force on the head is from an odd angle, unlike traditional helmets. The helmet is available in a variety of designs for road, mountain and commuter biking, so everyone can be safe no matter what their sport. This new technology is certainly a step forward in the safety of cyclists. How could the technology be used in other ways? Perhaps in cars or other impact sports? Rugby for example, which is infamous for long term head injuries.... could this technology help prevent that in the future? Check out https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/26/bontrager-wavecel-bike-helmet/ for more.

Perfect Portion Sizes

We've often heard that when it comes to portion sizes you need a handful of carbs, a palm of protein and a thumb of fats... or something like that. But how are we really supposed to use that as a measure? What if you have unusually small hands?... Using this idea RCA graduate Ponsawan (Mo) Vuthisatkul has created a collection of portion measurers and has called the range 'the Nee Normal'.

"The collection takes cues from nutritionists who say that we can easily compare our food portion size with our hand. “I think this is a very interesting idea because hands are always with us and easy to understand by everyone,” Vuthisatkul says. “Each of the four bowls in the collection is designed to correspond to a different hand form that can be used to hold the item. These tools will help people estimate five basic food groups and then form a new memory and change behavior in long-term.” (https://design-milk.com/the-new-normal-changing-perceptions-of-portion-size-through-tableware-design/)

It's a much more organic method of measuring food quantities rather than counting calories on a smartphone app or obsessing over grams and millilitres. The designs are also sleek and understated so would fit well into most people's kitchen environments. As I healthy eater myself I love the idea of this, taking the measuring out of food prep so you can leave the scales just for baking. However one of the main problems I find with unhealthy eating is people's lack of education around it. What if there was a children's version of this product? Many adults stick to their routine and it's hard to change a habit of many years, however children could be educated early about the importance of portion size and that knowledge will stay with them for the rest of their lives. See all the designs here https://design-milk.com/the-new-normal-changing-perceptions-of-portion-size-through-tableware-design/.

Not Just Another Smart Watch

I know what you're thinking, another smart watch to count my steps, sleep, calls, what I had for breakfast, when I went to the toilet... Well bear with me as this smart watch is slightly different. Sony have just internationally released the Wena (Wear Electronics Naturally) watch strap. A smart watch that does all the usuals like heart rate monitoring and call notifications, however all the technology is in the strap. This means that you can attach you're favourite analogue watch face to the strap so that it doesn't look like you are wearing a smart watch. The watch face is quick releasing so when you've finished at the office and head out on your run you can just wear the smart strap, leaving you with a lighter fit bit style design. You can also make contactless payments with the watch which Sony say will be easier than any of their rivals as you don't need to twist your wrist to touch the card reader. The watch faces are available with a mechanical, solar powered and quartz movement with three chronograph styles also available, all using Bluetooth to connect to your phone. A great solution if you prefer the traditional style however still want to utilise the latest smart technology for lifestyle tracking. A great alternative to the space age looking smart watches already available. See more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/29/sony-wena-smartwatch-strap/.

Dyson's Lightcycle

The latest release from Dyson is a very interesting new product that perhaps you wouldn't expect from them.... a Task Lamp. Well it can in fact be used as a task or floor lamp. Lightcycle has a 3-axis arm design with a range of height adjustability and the 360 arm movement. Three warm and three cool LED's are used, however a microprocessor in the lamp continually interprets daylight data and adjusts the light accordingly. Lightcycle also factors in the users age. Once age is inputted using the Dyson Link app, the LEDs are adjusted to help the user’s eyes.

Apparently “a 65-year old person needs up to four times more light than a 20-year old.” (https://design-milk.com/the-dyson-lightcycle-is-up-to-the-task-of-simulating-sunlight-for-60-years/)

This is the ultimate smart lamp and would be incredibly useful for someone who uses a task lamp and frequently works at a desk. However with a price tag of £460 (task lamp, £690 for floor lamp) I think I'll just stick with my standard desk lamp.... for now. Check out more https://design-milk.com/the-dyson-lightcycle-is-up-to-the-task-of-simulating-sunlight-for-60-years/.