Houses for Animals Big and Small
- daisypope
- Mar 17, 2019
- 4 min read
The first product in this weeks design innovations is a cosy kennel for man's best friend using the latest sound proofing technology. See how furniture is being recycled for mini beats, fabric created from cork and the latest robotics enabling remote touch sensitivity.
Sound Proof Dog Kennels
Did you know that Ford's Edge SUV uses noise cancelling technology?... Neither did I. However the car manufacturer have now applied this new technology to dog kennels. One of the biggest stress and anxiety inducers for dogs is fireworks. When November comes around we see plenty of adverts about keeping dogs indoors to reduce the onset of stress. So what a great solution Ford have come up with. The technology uses microphones to pick up external noises and in response send out a signal to counteract the noises. A similar noise cancelling system is also used in Bose's noise cancelling headphones. The kennel is still at prototype stage but it includes cork isolation panels for increased noise cancelling, an automatic door and an anti-vibration silent block riser. What a great application of new technology to solve a problem...
"We wondered how the technologies we use in our cars could help people in other situations," said Ford of Europe brand content manager Lyn West. "Making sure dogs and their owners could enjoy a stress-free New Year's Eve seemed like the perfect application for our Active Noise Control system." (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/14/ford-noise-cancelling-kennel-design/)
I think you'll agree that the kennel looks like something from the space age, and is a prime example of how we can live alongside technology and it can improve the wellbeing of its users. But how else could this technology be used?... babies cribs and prams, inside aeroplanes to help sleep on long haul flights, cinemas, concert halls. There are a whole host of potential applications to this new technology which makes it even more exciting. For more info have a look on https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/14/ford-noise-cancelling-kennel-design/
Recycled Wildlife Houses
This week in Greenwich Ikea have been recycling their furniture and creating small dwellings for wildlife to thrive. The project has been named Wildhomes for Wildlife and has conjured up some very quirky homes for mini beasts. Tables, lamps and chairs are recycled to house a variety of British wildlife including bats, bees and birds. Although the project is a publicity stunt, what a great idea. What if Designers considered the end use of their products more so that they could be reused for wildlife at the end of their life? How about if Ikea flat packs come with the instructions to build the furniture, as well as instructions to turn it into a bird box when you don't need the product anymore? A great solution to recycling and saving the endangered honey bees at the same time. But how many people would keep the instructions?.... maybe a solution to turn the
flat pack box in to a wildlife home would be better instead. See more at https://www.fastcompany.com/90318232/ikea-turns-recycled-furniture-into-adorable-homes-for-wildlife
Cork Thread
Have you ever look at the cork you removed from your wine bottle and thought 'this would make a great lampshade'?.. well now Digitalab in Portugal have done just that. They have just won the rising star award at the Stockholm furniture fair for inventing a way of turning cork into a thread to be used as a fabric.
'Called CO-RK, the thread offers a sustainable, non-fibrous alternative to materials like plastic'. (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/15/gencork-cork-thread-sustainable-furniture/)
So the science bit... the company uses cork pellets from the branches of cork trees (a more sustainable manufacture of cork than using the cork bark) which are injected with water vapour, thus causing them to expand and the water binds with the cork resin. Cotton is added to the mixture and the combination of both can be pressed into a thin sheet, capable of being cut to 1mm thick which creates the cork thread. Cork has many interesting natural properties including sound absorption and thermal insulation. Digitalab have created some beautiful geometric shapes with the fabric that really shows its versatility, but how could we benefit from the natural properties cork has? Using it for office partitions has been suggested as it'll keep noise out and heat in. It would be great for a tent canvas. Imagine a festival tent that insulates heat during the June downpours and cancels out the noise from music that is playing only 100m away for a fully uninterrupted experience. It will be great to see how the properties of this fabric can be utilised rather than just using it for lighting and furniture, although this still looks great. For more info check out https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/15/gencork-cork-thread-sustainable-furniture/
Robotics with Feeling
This week a very interesting robotic hand has been unveiled that gives the user a real life sense of touch. Three companies have combined their technologies to allow the remote operator of the hand to feel the sensation of touch on their own hand in real time. The technology includes robotics from the Shadow Robot Company, fingertip sensors from SynTouch and haptic feedback gloves from HaptX. One of the main applications suggested for the technology is bomb disposal. The robotic hand can be set up at the location of the bomb while the operator stands back at a safe distance. Every wire the operator touches with the robotic had they will feel as if their own hand is touching it thanks to the haptic feedback gloves. This would make the whole process much safer and potentially more accurate. Although Shadow Robots MD suggests the technology still has a way to go...
"There are many challenges in the development of any haptic device including high accuracy, high precision control of force and position, dexterity and kinematic limitations," ( https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/15/robot-hand-touch-shadow-robot-company-syntouch-haptx/)
But with technological advancements ever improving I'm sure it won't be long before some of the most dangerous tasks could be carried out remotely with the feeling of being close up. Maybe the technology could even be used for arm amputees or children born with hand defects one day to give them more dexterity and a sensation of real touch. See more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/15/robot-hand-touch-shadow-robot-company-syntouch-haptx/
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