Integrated Tech and AI in Wearable Smart Glasses- Let's Catch Up #13
Inflatable space station, sustainability product passport, waste carbon repurpose into skateboards, personal climate control, collapsible reuse cup, improving Air Conditioner designs
And we are back! Fun fact this week. Did you know white was one of the very first colours ever used in art, dating back 20,000 years!
Pull up a seat and grab your morning beverage, let’s get into it.
Technology- Oppo Air Glass 3 Prototype Unveiled, With Smart and AI Capabilities
Credit Oppo
A great start to 2024 for alternative smart devices with OPPO unveiling their Air Glass 3 prototype and its large array of features. But first let’s call out the simplicity in the glasses, although you won’t be sporting them to a party they easily blend and appeal to everyday use. Promising OPPO’s AndesGPT for a burdenless experience as well as a promising new technology called Hybrid Vision Sensing (HVS) that increases clarity of photography and videography of high-speed moving objects. Another wonderful part of the user experience is that OPPO has announced partnerships with other tech platforms to ensure cross platform compatibility, think OPPO working with Microsoft Copilot as well as complete integration with other smart devices. Exciting at 50g and even more so if the Air Glass 3 can work seamlessly with all the other devices and technology in our life.
Full Release Here
Aerospace- Inflatable Space Station Reduces Cost Whilst Increasing Volume
Credit Max Space
The International Space Station (ISS) took more than 40 flights and $100 Billion to build. This novel solution from Max Space can create an equal volume of space to the ISS for 1/100th of the cost. The module is composed of numerous different fiber elements to create a safe multi-layered system of fiber ballistic shielding to ensure safety of occupants from space debris. The most beneficial part of this design however is its ability to be compacted into a single rocket and then deployed utilising the expandable materials. Planned launch in 2026 of a 20 cubic metre unit then by 2030 the ambition of their 100m2, 1000m2 modules. I love aerospace as the innovation in technology, science and materials will directly impact the future of what is possible back down on Earth, the material tech in this has many applications that I foresee.
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Sustainable Technology- Product Passport to Enable Consumers to See Sustainability Credentials
Credit SustainabilityMatters
Once again over in Europe they are upping their circular economy and sustainability transparency with the new trial of a digital product passport. The passport will appy to everyday items and provide proof of the brand/manufacturers sustainability claims, product durability, material information, energy efficiency and end of life details such as waste, recycle, remanufacture. This is wonderful to see and something that I have advised brands and business to do regardless, now more than ever we need to incorporate this transparency. In practical terms this change will be implemented in 2030, any business exporting into the EU will be required to have a digital passport.
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Product Design- Recondition Aircraft Carbon Turned Into Skateboards
Credit Francois Jaubert/Trashboard
I always love to highlight upcycled waste material products that reduce ecological footprints. Trashboard by Francois Kaubert utilises waste carbon from Airbus to create the board which also improves on weight, flexibility and is still recyclable at the end of life. This project was a collaboration between Trashboard and Airbus not only to show how we can remanufacture waste material streams into valuable products but also make superior product solutions as well.
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Product Design- Sony Personal Climate Control Device
Credit Sony
I am seeing more tech and product companies launching personalised climate control devices. This thermal regulation device from Sony, the REON POCKET 5 that integrates into daily life providing both cooling or warming functions to help regulate body temperature. The location is strange you might say but the nape of the neck is a critical location for body temperature regulation as all your blood flows to the brain via this area and it can effectively impact your perception of warming and cooling (Just try a cold towel in summer). Personally I think they have their place in making people feel comfortable, with good functionality and design aesthetic to boot. But I can’t help but feel the undercurrent that as our climate changes these become more a necessity rather than a nice to have.
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Product Design- Collapsible, Reusable Coffee Cup Fits Neatly in Your Pocket
Credit Kalina Gotseva
Who thought innovative thought could be brought to reusable cups… This wonderfully simple yet elegant solution for a foldable cup that fits in your pocket making it more convenient to take with you everywhere and use as much as possible to reduce single use cups. The cup is made from food grade silicone and can be 3D printed.
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Product Design- Making Air Conditioners Less Functional and More Home Friendly
Credit Fresco Design
This case study was focused on a breakthrough cooling technology from Transaera being translated into a functional yet symbiotic unit that fit into our everyday homes. We’ve all seen the monstrosities that are AC units, the trend of bland, lacklustre design penetrating our loungerooms, bedrooms and homes. It is wonderful to see this exploration of how we can design better AC units to become one with our home space. The design team ensured elements such as air sealing, vibration isolation and heat/moisture resistance were well thought out and addressed to ensure a high quality product design that embodies a mid-century modern style striving far beyond what AC units have traditionally been.