A Wearable Subwoofer and TV Handbags
- daisypope
- May 22, 2019
- 4 min read
I've found an interesting mixture this week of some interesting designs. A bracelet that provides haptic musical feedback, handbags with flexible screens on the side and an elegantly designed walking stick.
The Lofelt Basslet
Using headphones or earbuds is great. You can be in your own little world, listening to anything you like, while no one else around you knows what you're listening too. However, there is a huge difference between listening to music out loud and through earphones... feeling the music. When you listen to a great base line at a concert or even through speakers you can feel the vibrations and really get in to the music. However, this is unachievable with headphones. However German Studio WertelOberfell for Lofelt have created a wearable bracelet that provides haptic feedback to music. The bracelet is slightly bigger than an Apple watch and looks like any other wearable tech with it's sleek black design. However the only function of this device is to provide musical haptic feedback using a miniature actuator connected to a monitoring system that converts sound into a haptic experience. It can feel like you're standing right next to a speaker at a festival. I am slightly skeptical of how a wearable on your wrist can give your body the whole feeling of being near a music speaker. However I love the idea. Rather than using a wearable to track the usual health and fitness everything, this wearable is for pure enjoyment. I can see it being a must have item for those who love strong base lines, perhaps a niche market?... Also is this another smart watch that doesn't tell the time?... See more at https://design-milk.com/lofelt-basslet-is-a-wearable-subwoofer/.
TV Handbags
Ever thought about combining your smart phone and your handbag?...Not something you'd consider practical. However Louis Vuitton have debuted their two OLED screen handbags in New York at the Cruise 2020 show. The bag comes in two styles a smaller handheld bucket bag and a larger handbag that zips in the centre with two handles. The flexible screens are made using organic light-emitting diode technology that produces very thin and flexible light panels without the need for backlighting. It would be pretty cool to be able to change the pattern or colour of your bag each day by changing what was on the screens. It might also be good to have a tv screen on there so perhaps on your morning commute you could watch an episode of the latest series without needing to set up your laptop or Ipad. It's a great example of fashion fused with technology... Practicality wise? I am not convinced. The bag is an interesting concept, but I don't think you'll see many people sporting one down Oxford Street anytime soon. See more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/16/louis-vuitton-oled-screen-bags/.
A New Walking Stick
This week the humble walking stick has been designed into a sleek, modern item that anyone would be proud to use. Studio Knack have design Abl to provide users with a personal accessory rather than just a mobility aid. Abl is made from luxury materials with a stitched leather hand grip, an aluminium shaft and rubber end. It comes in two colour options, black or white, to match any fashion preference. The end of the walking stick is also flared rubber to allow the user to have stability on any surface rather than having to stick to flatter ones. It also allows the user to lean on the walking stick when needed. It's not a revolutionary design, but it is a beautiful design. It also highlights the fact that sometimes we might forget about redesigning certain objects as we just accept them as they are. So many things we use everyday are purely designed for function and, let's face it, aren't that attractive. Perhaps we could look at these everyday items in a new light and give people more beautiful design in their lives. Have a look at https://www.designboom.com/design/knack-product-design-studio-abl-walking-cane-05-17-2019/.
A More Mindful Mobile
We are always hearing about how we need to put down our phones more and enjoy our lives away from the screen. However, with so many people reliant on their phones for their jobs, this can be incredibly hard to do. However designers at Morrama have created three concepts to help us be more mindful about using our phones. The first concept is called a helping hand. A user can turn their phone upside down and the phone will only show a limited amount of apps, that include weather, calendar, clock and calls. I guess the idea for this one is to remove more distracting apps such as social media to give us a phone with only the basic function, like phones were 15 years ago. The second concept is more to do with the shape of the phone, a Quick Escape. Morrama have designed the back of the phone so that it is tilted away from your view when you place is on a surface in front of you. The idea is that you have to physically push the bottom of the phone down, and make a more conscious decision to use it, should make you question whether you really need to use it. I guess it could help you think twice before checking your notifications for the umpteenth time in ten minutes because you're bored. The third and final concept is called Present in the Moment. Have you ever put your phone face down on your desk to stop you being distracted by it? I know I have. Morrama have added a tiny display on the back of the phone that show the time and any important notifications that you receive. It could stop the user from aimlessly checking their phone when it isn't needed which could leave to further distraction. The concepts are all interesting ideas, but don't tackle the bigger problem that we all use our smart phones far too much. I guess it highlights the issues, but I'm sure after a while the novelty of tilting your phone every time you use it will become annoying and will soon wear off. See all the concepts at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/14/morrama-smartphone-concepts-wellbeing/.
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