Humane Explores New Future for Smart Devices - Let's Catch Up #11

This week Xiaomi launching EV, SEAD waste based seed functional packaging, smart medical delivery device, Nike's AI sneakers, Grasp Lamp, D-Link routers re-using materials and some elegant packaging

Apr 29, 2024

Happy Monday! I’m already onto my second coffee today as there has been so much news! Now go, be inspired and have an informed week.

Technology- Humane’s AI Pin Pushes Boundaries, Not Without Teething Issues

Credit Humane

Earlier this month Humane release the AI Pin. The first design of a new smart device that could rival the smartphone. Like all technology that is pushing the boundaries of technology and design, the AI Pin has received mixed reviews from clunky functionality, poor AI accuracy through to bad interface designs and just basic things like if you need to put on a jacket... I’ll credit them with this, to explore and be the first product into a new space is not easy and I revel in seeing ingenuity behind some elements of the AI Pin such as immediate language conversion and translation that would make traveling a breeze.

Full Product Review Here

Automotive- Xiaomi’s First Venture into EV’s Casually Sells Out

Credit Xiaomi

The smartphone manufacturer is the latest to make cross industry jump turning into a technology company. The SU7 is the new electric offering from Xiaomi offering high performance low drag single or dual motor variants, with 475Kw power (664bhp equivalent) and a range of upto 515miles (828km). Now coming from a mobile manufacturer the system and interfaces in this model are promising to say the least and with a 6 month waiting list in China alone it’s no surprise the wait might be some time to get hands on a ‘mobile’ EV car.

See Launch Video Here

Product Design- ABZero Smart Delivery Medical Capsule

Another solution utilising drones for critical delivery services in health. This smart capsule ensures quick, stable and safe delivery of blood, organs, medicine and other medical products via a drone system. When time and preservation is critical, this design solution provides not only an appropriate, well designed (with a clean, modern aesthetic and simple stand out bold colour) solution to house goods but also takes into consideration the growin emergence of drone delivery. Developed by BioRobotic Institute of the Sculola Superiore Sant’Anna in partnership with PQ Design Group.

See Full Details Here

Packaging Design- SEAD Plant and Seafood Waste Packaging Provides Seed Growth Benefits

Credit Mara Zimmerman

I love seafood, so to see a new packaging solution born of discarded seafood shells is wonderful. SEAD not only promotes sustainability via its use of waste material but the material itself also acts as a biostimulant to enhance germination! Other benefits include enhanced seedling defence against pests and diseases while improving water retention. Great to see novel solutions like SEAD rethinking what packaging can be.

Read Full Article

Product Design- Nike’s Let’s AI take Lead with Future Sneaker Concepts

Credit designboom, Nike

I had to talk about Nike and their AI sneaker… A lot of very mixed feedback from the inexplicably tiny ankles of athletes to the oblivious AI thought for user comfort. Nike has presented these as a future way of working, and to their credit I do believe their process of informed, stakeholder reviewed AI is quite a good use of AI models for speeding up the design process. I do however wonder, that the more designers rely on AI to generate and explore designs that homogenised design aesthetics will always be produced due to models being trained on existing content.

Product Design- No Wires, No Worries Grasp Lamp

Is this a lamp? To me the stand makes it a lamp, otherwise it’s a large, non location binding, rechargeable light. I do love the simple solution of removing the need for plugging in a light. This rechargeable LED lamp provides that solution, ensuring you will always be able to place your lamp wherever you want. No longer will you be limited by pesky, ill place powerpoints, short cords or the power going out!

Product Design- Quietly D-Link Makes Pesky Routers More Friendly

Credit D-Link

The often forgotten device that most of us have in our houses to provide internet connectivity to our devices, the humble router. Now routers have been a little bit of a bug bear for me between their hideous designs often hidden away to the need to always get a new one every time you move! It’s great to see D-Link reduce impact by design of using post-consumer recycled materials and improving their packaging design to eliminate plastic. As well as being brave in their aesthetic direction, emulating curling waves and more natural elements enables better integration into home environments.