New Tech Reviews Just another NEW TECH NEWS

ACK? is a signal used in computing to indicate acknowledgement of receipt of a packet, and also a common exclamation of surprise but it’s also the title of the installation that represents the vision of the Milanese practice Pierandrei Associati for which the human space is no longer characterized by a rational juxtaposition of components but by a forest of suspended bamboo and metal tubing.There’s a whole lot of esoteric rhyme and reason why this exhibit exists but the main gist is a series of sounds naturally reverberating off the hollow tubes of bamboo and metal as you bump into them. You get lost in this world on dynamic sound and light. Perceptions change as I’m sure any would crashing into a bunch of hollow tubes, but the sensorial data stimulates different emotions and connections you share with other visitors in the exhibit. Think of it as a wondrous interactive labyrinth where nature meets technology. Visitors can even leave personal messages on the bamboo – the proverbial “I was here!”

The exhibition was on display during Salone del Mobile for Tecno (office furniture) but I’m not sure if you can still see it. Let me put this on my to-do list.

Designer: Pierandrei Associati

It’s an art gallery! In a nutshell, it’s both a shipping container for artwork and a gallery for the artwork once it reaches it’s destination. Inspired by the work of Marcel Duschamp: perhaps you’ve heard of him. Duschamp created 24 suitcases which he brought with him to display his works of art to places where it would have been unrealistic to bring their larger counterparts. In the same way, this “Box in a Crate” is made in such a way that it might be opened and displayed in a wild array of places, indoors and out.

Each “Box in a Crate” consists of 12 adjacent soft-hinged panels, kind of like a totally unfolded milk carton, minus the milk. The flexibility of the system allows for multiple configurations which is totally great if you’ve got lots of different kinds of art and whatnot.

Such a lovely gallery! I wonder what the strangest dude and artist basically I’ve ever seen or heard of (Marcel Duschamp) would think? He’d probably think about it for a very long time while spinning a bicycle wheel attached to the top of a stool. Straight up.

Designer: Wise Architecture

It’s the DOT: Direct On-demand Transport. It’s aimed foremost at London. It’s a small non-poluting vehicle that not only works on a giant organized system that reduces traffic and travel time to a minimum, it’s made to encourage car-pooling as well. Each unit can combine with another unit to create a larger unit. And boy are you gonna enjoy the way the vehicle works.

The vehicle’s wheels are magnetically levitated by motors on either side of the unit. Sequential acceleration and braking allow the vehicle to turn, while the back wheel is in place for stability.

The vehicle runs on Li-On batteries, recharged by solar panels on the roof of the vehicle. The batteries can also be charged at any number of special zones in the city through induction charging.

It’s all the good parts of a personal vehicle with the cost and environmental goodness of public transport. Being able to travel to several locations in the city in a short amount of time is imperative to the modern professional (or anyone who’s not a cube-liver.) Ending humankind’s war on nature, that’s imperative too. These roller cars would be just lovely!

Designer: Varun Niti Singh

Many of us park our cars at the railway station and then catch the local train to work or wherever it is that we have to go. Building on this theory is the Paracit, a single person commuter car that plans on putting the car itself on the rail tracks. Generally there is a 5 miles free space between two trains on a regular railway track. This free space and time can be utilized by these commuter cars to get people going on to their destinations. Essentially just hop into Paracit and drive up to the station and skip the train and wait for your turn; use the tracks till your destination and then drive off in it for the remainder of the journey. Sounds like a neat idea but could become a logistical nightmare for the stationmaster to handle trains and cars!

In case you missed it, the car has a retractable arm that acts as a balance on the railway lines and covers the distance between the tracks. Its tucks away neatly to the side when on the road.

Designer: Matthias Pugin

Trademark of the Coach: his ever-present Clipboard and whistle. A little twist however, the whistle stays, only the clipboard gets modern; its the E-Ink Electronic Coach Playboard. Using E-Ink technology (for longer battery life), the clipboard can be used to draw out strategies for multiple games like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc. Templates of the field/court come pre-loaded, just choose your game and start drawing out the moves using your finger. The instructions can be reviewed and replayed numerous times, till the athletes get the game-plan perfected. Go get em tiger!

Designer: Gordon Yeh for Iota Creations

A good comfortable and fitted mask is quite essential when you are in your workshop modeling your ID prototypes. Revolutionizing this theory is the Respirator Mask Design by Elijah Stillson. The design takes into account the contouring of the human head and is inspired by natural forms like fish gills. By moving the filters out of the user’s field of vision, the design improves safety while working and re-balances the weights. Since the filter cartridge is integrated into the mask, it closes when the respirator is not being worn and extents the filters life.

Designer: Elijah Stillson

Geist Projector thinks itself to be a levitating fakir, but sadly its not! The magic happens coz of the electromagnetic field, which makes the projector ball levitate on the base. This gives an almost unlimited amount of mobility to the image projection field. The system keeps audio-visual reproduction as priority and thus is compatible with the multitude of recording formats available in the market. The projector base splits up into 4 parts and consists of the speakers, battery pack, input slots and card slots. Take a look at the detailed slides inside for all the info.

Designers: Flavio Nazario, Jenni Moreno and Tati Vieira

I dont blame the woman in this pic for looking so stiff coz I wouldnt know how to react to this kitsch helmet. Made from textile instead of rigid materials, the TopUp Head Protection for cyclists and walkers is an exploration of the honeycomb pattern and device a protective gear for the head. The brief was to design a gear that was is light and compact and that could deal with minor bumps and falls. The honeycomb was an obvious choice for its impact resistance and shock absorption qualities. TopUp is being currently developed by DoYouVlo?, so maybe you will catch one of us YD-ers prancing about in it soon.

Designers: Caroline Journaux & Adrien Guerin for DoYouVlo?

Guys don’t feel left out….This is how you will look in the TopUp…

While his Zweistil Bike project brought him many accolades, the Night Ease project may dub Stefan Wallmann as the creator of the “Darth Vader of the night lights…” This ones a simple solar solution that has its bottom covered with solar cells for juicing up. During the day just invert it with the bottom up, on its ring-stand and let it soak in the rays. At night, place it peak-side up and turn it the right way around (it has a tilt switch inside) to activate the light. For the Jedi, may this force be with you!

Designer: Stefan Wallmann

Click tick, tick, click; olden clocks are where it’s at. Not since my grandmother’s mail-order grandfather clock have I seen a clicky-clock I like so much. But this one is not old at all! And at 18 inches at it’s widest, it’s not that space-consuming. But then again, take a peek at it’s wild manifestation. Sort of unwieldily perhaps. Not for the home with the tiny children with long reach. You know what kind of small household companion would like this though? A parakeet.

What a lovely perch it’d make.

This machine, this clock, is called the “Delay.” As you can see from it’s looks it was never meant to be in the average home. Instead it’s for the fabulous, the weird, and the wild.

Dimensions: L35 x W35 x H48 cm
Material: Inox Metal
Production: The Netherlands
Object Photography: Bart Roos

The future of steam-punk technology. That’s not even a thing! But if it were, this would perhaps be it. The simplicity is daunting in it’s complexity.

Designer: Bas van Leeuwen of Bloomming Design

You can’t get too tipsy on this: the “Cheers” personal mobile device. It’s powered by an efficient, maybe even energy-saving Alcohol-cell. Looks mighty like a container of the whisky, doesn’t it? Well it’s at least half as fun! What a mighty little device this fellow is! That cap on top of the device not only locks the cell inside, it’s a function switch as well. Kind of like a “wheel” if you will. Do you party?

Party here. Right on this lovely device. Although I’ll never be a fan of objects that require more and more batteries, more and more things to plug in, I’d say this is certainly a beautiful solution. Or at least beautiful. What say you alcohol aficionados? How well do you think it’ll play out if it’s produced? Is it “green?”

Cheers!

Designer: Tryi Yeh

Let me first say that I love pie-in-the-sky designs. Those design inspirations that have absolutely zero chance of ever being manufactured in any way, shape or form. These types of concepts serve as a great launching point for our imaginations, allowing everyone to rethink or preconceived notions of known, actual designs. Part Dick Tracy, part Minority Report and all bad-ass, this latest design exercise by Bruno Delussu is not only “inspired by Bugatti’s” Type 57, it is also vaguely inspired by actual automobiles. With absolutely no thought given to mechanical feasibility, physics, engineering or even the ability to turn(pesky details), designer Bruno Delussu has delivered a stunning interpretation of the classic streamline beauties of the 1930’s and 40’s. Calling it the “Bugatti Stratos”, the stratus is exactly where it will forever live.

Designer: Bruno Delussu

Honestly, this is probably only the first of a few top 10s dealing with the automotive category from Yanko; we be drivin. Today’s list is the future. From wild wheels to perfect seats to flying cars, this is the way we’ll be crashing into eachother when tomorrow rolls around. Are you ready for that?! Are you ready to do some amazing flips, twists, and the all important barrel roll? Drop the back on in!

Designer: Mechanic Superstars Galore

1 ) MMR25 by Mitsubishi Motors You cant possibly lose this race! This first entry in the 10 is all amazing in the wheels – looks kinda Star Trek now, doesn’t it? I saw a lift-loader in that new movie with basically the same wheels on it! And as long as we’re on the wheels…

2 ) Dynamically Augmenting Wheel System by Charles Pyott Look at that augmentation! This car, on these wheels, heck, it never loses it’s traction not even one bit! Wheel out! Oh you wanna fly perhaps?

3 ) Honda Fuzo Concept Car by John Mahieddine So let’s take off! Here’s your Fifth Element right here. It’s got both an in-car Fly-by-Wire system to keep all hovercars from colliding and an indoor/outdoor airbag system. This system reminds a fellow of another movie called … mmm… Speed Racer.

4 ) Jet Powered Bike by Norio Fujikawa Whoooly crap that is a giant jet for such a one-person bike. Oh it’s going to be flying through the air with all the other jets? Oh that’ll be just fine then.

5 ) RT20 Future Vehicle by Mathieu Lewis But just incase you totally smash yourself into creamcakes, you’ve got what I nicknamed the “coffin car.” It’s for racing, it’s for copping. Liquid hydrogen engine and identification card activation and engine start aught to keep you future thankin.

6 ) Monza by Iman Moghsoudi If familiarity is what you’re in this for, you might get a glimpse of it here. But just a glimpse! Full automated Monza allows you to control the machine through your PC-like control panel, but only if you want to. It’s smart enough to act on it’s own. And yes there are little wheels back there on those fins.

7 ) CarGo Concept Cargo Truck by Adam Schacter SLOW it on down! And yet, speed it on up? For shipping. With three modes of transformation: narrow, compact, and pick-up truck, this concept transporter is one of the top automotive posts on Yanko of all time!

8 ) The Wooden Splinter by North Carolina State University Craftspeople Speeding back up a bit, but not too fast! As this is a toothpick basically. Laminated wood. North Carolina got seaship on us with this fully-realized fully-real wooden sports-car.

9 ) 2015 Honda CB750 Motorcycle Concept by Igor Chak SLOW DOWN says the future cop, if there even IS a speed limit. This blocky and lovely motorcycle just screams moto-cop, comin up from behind to arrest those pesky land-lubbers. Carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium, for the heaviest donuts.

10 ) Gamma by Niels Grubak Iversen Can’t see me! I’ll speed on through the law. The “Gamma” features “polycarbonate and composite materials to create lighter, stronger, and more fuel efficient cars.” Wot a lovely bottom bun to this fantastisandwitch of automotive loveliness!

Never forget your categories! The Automotive category, along with whatever other categories are assigned to the post, are posted in the upper left of each post. They can help you find exactly what you’d like to peep your peepers on right when you want it! Keep on Yankin!

For the VIVID FESTIVAL in the land Down Under, designer Warren Langley had the installation Vessel of (Horti) Cultural Plenty showcased. Fashioned as this huge pot with plenty of illuminated flowers in it, the installation was smart enough to utilize 84 strand lateral emission fiber optic cables and just three low energy metal halide globes, 450W in total, to create almost 200m of linear light. What was even smarter was the construction of the vessel: vandal resistant materials like galvanized steel & laminated sheet iron and plywood. It must have been a spectacular sight to see.

Designer: Warren Langley

First glance and they look like really tall vases in your living room, but nope they are the Altec Lansing OMNI; a pair of omni-directional speakers. A heavy construction ensures lesser vibrations and superior sound quality. Each structure houses a woofer, a mid-range speaker and the tweeter on the top. The three of them dont get into a fight coz they are shielded from each other via a ceramic plate. Since a cone sits on the top of each speaker, it distributes the sound equally in all directions. A big Omni party in there!

Designer: Nuno Teixeira

Knowledge is a powerful tool and it empowers you to make better choices. Like we all know that while washing our car or hosing the lawn we should use minimum water. My question is how do we derive what is minimal when we dont know exactly how much we consume. On an average we use 80-100 gallons of water per day; now this is real figure to work on and make amends to. Likewise the Measuring Consumption water sprayer displays how much water is consumed during your washing (or gardening) activities and thus you can make relevant modifications to ensure the consumption is minimal.

Designer: Tobin Spann

Ardent fans know that YD rarely covers real-live phones and lets the tech sites do the honors. On the rare occasions that we do cover them, its coz we try and bring out a different angle to the phone, like the design angle. I had the opportunity to interact with the Philips X810 designer Trent Stoddard and understand his sensibilities in designing this phone. The task at hand was to design a phone for the Chinese market, for a user who needed a large range of functions (like handwriting recognition) plus reflect luxury and individuality.

Relying on his trademark straightforward and honest design approach, Trent employed contrasting materials like stainless steel and rubber to scrounge out a minimal yet iconic design.

Inspiration is an integral part of design and Trent was inspired by bars of gold and silver and even organic elements like waves and sand dunes. Apparently the wave form at the answer keys acts to protect the screen when the phone is placed face-down. The detailing on the phone was inspired by fashion accessories like the buckles on handbags and shoes.

I know the techie in you wants to know the specs, so feast on it here.

BTW, care to tell me what inspires you designers when you sit on the drawing board? Leave me your comments; Im sure they will inspire all of us!

Designer: Trent Stoddard for Philips

The only variations I have seen on a hanger so far are the wood, plastic and metal ones. Oh not to forget the kiddies’ delights that fleece us in the name of branding. The hotel variety that comes with clips ensures that you dont snitch any, but basically theres little innovation done in the hanger-world. Thats till you get a load of the Stylish Hangers by Iota Designs. They look pretty and compliment those expensive suits that you own. USP is the expandable orange rubber ring, which is designed to create stability and the use of superior quality raw material.

Designer: Gordon Yeh for Iota Design

Amphibian was developed as an aid for lifeguards (and Baywatch beauties) patrolling the beaches. Comprising of beach shoes and extendable fin modules, the set is meant to help the rescue worker swim up faster towards the victim. On land and in shallow waters, the fins dont act as a hindrance like the conventional flippers, coz it has a unique retractable system that allows you to keep the modules retracted till you reach the waters. On the way back, after the rescue, a simple jab of the toes on the seabed, retracts the modules once again.

Here are some notes from the designer:

- Carbon fiber blades provide increased propulsion over current rubber fins.
- Elastomer blade covers direct water over the blades ensuring maximum control in the water.
- The retraction system is unique offering the lifeguard improved flexibility, control and speed throughout the rescue process.
- The two products can be separated, ensuring maximum comfort when a rescue is not in progress.
- 10% glass filled Nylon 66 body moldings provide the required flexibility and spring when running but stiffness when swimming.
- The fin module heel clip system is quickly adjustable for different sizes from 5-13 (UK) and holds the shoe securely in place.
- The fin module is easy to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance.
- Design development and testing alongside the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI) and Loughborough Lifesaving Club.

Designer: Edward Shelton

We get some weird submissions here at Yanko, that’s for sure. What say you is the greatest combination of two tools in the history of humankind? The spork, of course! And here’s what might be the next step in human evolution. Not only is this tool, the “Implement Six,” a fork, not only is it a spoon… it’s a cheese grater. It can grate your cheese and you can eat it too! Just what I need for camping.

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. When I am camping and happen upon the rare and elusive cheesebearing tree, I’ve always gotta eat hunks of cheese whole! But now, all that is over. Now, I’ve got just the tool to make my life all that much easier!

And it’s for righties and lefties, too!

Also pictured is an earlier iteration with no spoonfork spork hand. Clearly it is seriously inferior.

Designer: Scott Graham

Presenting “The Art of Expresso” – a dream station for all those that serve that morning, afternoon, and nightly cup o joe. Expresso machines have always been quite large, and at most / all of the coffee places I’ve ever been at, it’s difficult or impossible to see what’s going on behind the counter. It takes a special person to be a good caffeine server, one that takes pride in how they mix. Now they can have that stage they’ve always been dreaming of.

All of the components of the machines are hidden below (with what I assume is easy access if need be, for repairs, ect.) What lies above are all the levers you need to expel the liquids you love, along with the grinders and tamps. The legs holding up the heads contain the tubes that bring the wake-up juice.

Sip Un2 The Joy Fantastic!

Designer: Loc Trinh

There’s been a trend to separate ovens and cooktop surfaces but Ciprian Frunzeanu thinks that’s the wrong way to go. For maximum space and energy efficiency, he presents the Oven Re-Constructed. The cooktop surface is made of a series of plates. You cook on them like any other induction surface but they can also be arranged into a cube to form an oven. Snazzy.

Designer: Ciprian Frunzeanu

Light 4 is an exploratory exercise in trying to understand the iconic nature of objects through their form. Christian Harrup wanted the design to be unique, functional, and memorable. The main structure of this pendant lamp is made of injection moulded polycarbonate and uses high resolution LEDs or linear fluorescents concealed behind a polycarbonate lens. Simple and totally feasible. The shape lends well to a fashion studio thanks to the inherent “hanger” form.

Designer: Christian Harrup

Im not testing the waters here and neither Im some Sigmund Freud, but being a woman I think I can sum up some spectacular ID stuff that will appeal to my ilk.

An attempt to solve the mystery of What Women Want; Tough job but someones got to do it. So it may as well be me!

10) Love Seat Toilet by Amigo Zhou

This loveseat loo screams fetish, but Im sure it must appeal to some sections of the society. What can I sayIm Monica I do crazy stuff!

9) Sciarpone by Sartoria Vico

This fashion statement merits mention on YD simply for its practical usage. The clever convertible sweater/scarf design made of 100% Merino wool is ideal for the fickle minded ladies, which Im sure means ALL.

8 ) EIN/TRITT Shoe Concept by Catherine Meuter

Ok Jimmy Choo you can buy, but most women want the unattainable, like a pair of kitsch concept shoes.

7) Stolen Jewels by Mike and Maaike

Geeky Jewel Haven! Although on printed and scored leather, this kinda jewelry appeals for its exclusive one-of-a-kind manufacturing. Warning to men: Dont you dare think of replacing the diamonds with this!

6) Samsonite Black Label by Alexander McQueen

Samsonite may not be LV, but when the luggage pieces are as elegant as this collection by Alexander McQueen, then who needs the big daddy!

5) Samsung SGH-E500 by Hyejeong Lee, Sooyoung Hwang, Sunyoung Lee & Jiyun Park

Women are not going to want this phone unless they can get their nails done the exact way as the models. Kidding, but the elegant leather finish of this Sammy scores high in my eyes!

4) Killer Diamond Engagement Ring by Tobias Wong

I did warn you that Diamonds are a girls best friend. So if you rub your woman the wrong way, do expect a Wong Punch from her! The razor-sharp diamond point in this ring is set to face upwards; wicked wicked!

3) Music Powered Vibrator by OhMiBod

Prudes please leave the room; the rest can carry on reading. Actually nothing much to say here! Like it or not, women do need the ultimate iPod acsexsory once in a while.

2) Technogym – Kinesis Personal Fitness Equipment by Antonio Citterio

Women often crib about their battle with the bulge and I think the most dreaded question to a man has to be; Honey, am I looking fat in this? Guys dont even think of answering affirmative to that question. If you feel she needs a workout, get her Kinesis Personal and say that you got it so that the two of you could workout together. If you say its only for her, then brace yourself for the Wong Punch!

1) Skin Jewelry by Ines de Castilho

Most men are going to label this as just waste of money, but trust me body art and temporary bling like this looks awesome. Although I havent sampled Swarovski appliqus by Ines, I am captivated by their intricate patterns. Body art like this can make a women feel sexy and ALIVE!

It is only every few years that a new hand-held video game system gets invented. They keep getting smaller, having better graphics, and being basically the same amount of weird and bulky to carry with. What Wilson Song was tasked with doing was making a gamer that not only utilized the best in chips for graphics, but also stored a pen, earbuds, and had the ability to become smaller for easy carrying. Peel and see!

What a pretty looking little system we have here! Wilson Song this is just what I’d be using if it were real! The “Samsung WM” has earbuds and pen that clip intuitively into the back panel, a giant screen, and the ability to be tossed on the wrist like one of those slap-bracelets from the 1980s. The controls work with new motion-capture technology and a camera in the back to see what precisely your thumbs and feet are up to.

And it’ made of gold! Or regular materials.

Designer: Wilson Song