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Yotel offers luxury airline comfort within Japanese capsule lodging

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:59 AM PST

Shivangi Mujumdar:

The concept

These days, the combination of hotel with capsule room called 'Yotel' has become popular. The two companies - New York studio Rockwell group and London architects Softroom - together started this concept. The rooms are in the capsule accommodation with first-class airline cabins.

Yotel New York
Yotel New York

The inspiration

The whole idea is focused on the concept of affordable luxury. The overall concept revolves around making the technology that gives vibrant and sophisticated look. This idea helps in delivering the optimum guest experience at affordable price. You can enjoy, spend great time with your family and have fun with your friends. This hotel was made by Founder of YO! named Simon Woodroffe OBE and CEO of Yotel named Gerard Greene. When first class of British Airways flight was upgraded, he decided to change the luxury of airline travel by adding a touch of Japanese influence in a small and luxurious cabin.

The design

The hotel is popular because of its capsule rooms. The New York Yotel have 669 full sized cabins which include VIP suites, first class and rotating beds. The beds are comfortable and are made of British-made natural wood. You also get the mattresses made of coconut fiber which promotes environment safety. The design of every room is made from the point of view of huge storage and extreme comfort along with modular furniture which you can arrange for every visitor's needs.

On the fourth floor, the entire floor comes with open space which is open to both hotel visitors and the public. This floor also features a club, lounges, restaurants, meeting rooms, bars along with panoramic views of Manhattan. The windows allow natural sunlight to pour into the space.

Do not miss to see the façade of hotel. It is covered in textured concrete cladding system that comes with a curving white sculpture that hovers over the street, and three stories. Surely this hotel is great piece of art in itself. The white LED lights highlight its appearance in better way.

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Yotel New York
Yotel New York by Softroom and Rockwell Group

The target

The hotel came into existence with the collaboration between Rockwell Group and UK-based design firm Softroom. The project was started considering comfort and flexibility at affordable price in mind. It is a great example of efficiency, forward-thinking technology of their London and Amsterdam airport which has been changed into an innovative and affordable urban hotel. Features like bars, guest rooms, LED lights, restrooms make this hotel look great. The hotel is the great example of enjoying luxury at affordable cost.

Related trends

1. Japan's 9-hours Capsule Hotel

9-hours Capsule Hotel
9-hours Capsule Hotel

Japan, one of the most efficient country in the world, has come up with the idea of capsule hotel which is called 9 hours. It is designed by Fumie Shibata of design studio. This capsule hotel offers luxury at affordable value and in a minimum living volume by placing the necessary elements required for minimal transit space for businessman, day-travelers or the people who have missed the last train or are looking for the fast place to crash.

The design is extremely sophisticated with minimalistic addition. It is white and black, representing the character through a series of typographies on floor and walls so that proper guidance can be given to you about the hotel. While entering you have to remove your shoes and place them in locker at the lobby till you reach to your capsule with facilities provided at luxurious level. The hotel is in Japan from 30 years and its first opening was in 1979 in Osaka. The idea of such luxurious place is however not started yet in London, Paris, or New York, but the designer is hoping to soon launch the elegance in design in other countries too.

2. Asakusa Capsule Hotel

Asakusa Capsule Hotel
Asakusa Capsule Hotel

This hotel is situated about 100 feet on the right of the exits side of subway station. It features TV/Radio speaker, some panic button. The Asakusa Capsule Hotel is located about 100 feet to the right of the #4 exit of the subway station, alarm clock, and volume knob. For changing the channels all you have to do is press the small black button. The TV comes in a good size which you can see inside the capsule.

3. China Capsule Hotel

China capsule hotel
China capsule hotel

As said, Japan is the leading country to promote the capsule type hotel. Another country following their idea is China which is competing with them in a great way. In china the first capsule was opened in Shanghai. This was surely a good time to start as there were hundreds of millions of people crisscross the country for celebrating the Lunar New Year with their loved ones. The hotel comes with 68 cabinet-sized rooms that are equipped with clock, PowerPoint, television, light and wireless internet.

4. Nakagin Capsule Tower

Nakagin Capsule Tower
Nakagin Capsule Tower

Another famous hotel is metabolist projects named The futuristic Nakagin Capsule Tower which is situated in Tokyo's busy place of Shimbashi. The building is 14-story tower which is very old. It was made in 1972 and includes 140 individual capsules that come with advanced features and functions. It also serves as a prototype for urban places like capsule hotels. The tower capsules are joint to the tower's central beam which you can replace or remove as well. You can modify the small space inside the capsule or join the the capsules by connecting them to each other.


Swiss cheese-inspired Sound Masters speakers are simply yummy

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:54 AM PST

Asmita Prasad:

We're sure designer Akhil Thampuran had no intention of making this lovely set of speakers look like Swiss cheese, but that's exactly what the Sound Masters sound set appears to be like to us. Perhaps, it is because the writer of this piece is on a diet to shed the lbs acquired over a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, but that low-blood sugar-induced hallucination still doesn't take anything away from the sheer beauty of this marvelous creation that looks to put the funk back into the audio experience. A far cry from the boxy-looking audio systems that come in drab black/white/steel gray, the Sound Masters speakers will totally revolutionize the way you look at audio systems forever.

Sound masters
Sound masters

Styled more like desktop accessories than a set of speakers, the Sound Masters audio set comes with a mesmeric form that not only lends it the appearance of one of the most famous cheeses in the world but also allows it to rest in a leaned back position to provide users with the most optimum sound.

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Sound masters
Desktop speakers designed by Akhil thampuran

Since the speakers are designed to give the semblance of being half sunk into the surface they are stood on, they create a playful mirage for viewers while the angular placement allows the speakers to deliver sound aimed at the level of the listener's head rather than towards their midriff which is the case with ordinary linear speakers.

Via: Behance


Myles Toothbrush Buddy will teach your kids better dental hygiene

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:52 AM PST

Asmita Prasad:

For every parent, teaching kids how to maintain proper hygiene is one of the biggest challenges. Though bath time can always be made more pleasant by letting your kid play with rubber duckies, bubbles, and a handheld shower, getting them to brush their teeth regularly and properly needs constant guidance and even daily nagging. Though there are a lot of toothbrush brands that have cartoon characters printed on them and some even come with fun animal shapes on them but kids still need to be pushed to get into the bathroom and brush their teeth twice a day. The Myles Toothbrush Buddy is a fun new product that would not only keep track of how regularly your kids brush their teeth but also plays fun songs when synced to a computer to ensure that children brush their teeth for a full two and half minutes.

Myles
Myles

When a child is ready to brush his teeth, all he has to do is simply approach the product and take the toothbrush out of its hand. as they start brushing, they can push Myles' head down and a song chosen by their parents from their computer's music library will play for at least two and a half minutes.

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Myles
Myles designed by Max Basler

A row of seven LEDs on top of Myles' head indicates how many times a day a child has brushed his teeth. Myles is designed to help kids learn better brushing habits while its plain white body allows them to customize the character and bond with it as well.

Via: Behance


Solar OLED Watch conserves energy one touch at a time

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:49 AM PST

Asmita Prasad:

Though naysayers and pessimists will have you believe that the battle against global warming is a lost cause and that the planet has already been wrecked beyond repair by thoughtless exploitation of resources, a majority of us still believe that the situation though grim, is still redeemable and every little step in this collective fight counts. Perhaps, that was what motivated Beijing-based designer Guoyi AKA Jason Bourne, to come with the novel idea of having an energy-saving watch that is powered entirely by solar light!

Solar-Oled Watch
Solar-Oled Watch

The Solar OLED Watch may not be the most original idea ever, but we absolutely love the way that the designer intends for it to be used as a part of one's daily effort in conservation of energy. Crafted using organic light-emitting diodes i.e., OLEDs, the watch is relatively earth-friendly right from its construction. The next step in its Eco-friendliness is, of course, the fact that it bypasses the regular Li-Ion battery in favor of a solar-powered power-up option that ensures that the watch stays powered up without using any chemical batteries.

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Solar-Oled Watch
Solar-Oled Watch concept

The third step in the watch's energy saving design is the fact that the touch-enabled watch face only activates when the user touches it and shuts down when not in use. Though the function may appear to be of mot much consequence for an individual user, it does become pretty incredible when one considers the amount of energy saved and light pollution prevented with the function if every human being on the planet wore a watch like this!

The flexible design of the Solar OLED watch allows it to be worn on the wrist or on one's coats and jackets and it can just as easily be fitted to the body of any other fabric or equipment to fashion a clock for many people to use.

Source: Jason Design


Tetra Shed funks up the old cubicle for your home office

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:46 AM PST

Asmita Prasad:

Tired of the boring old cubicle you fashioned out of loose cardboard boxes to set up a make-shift office in your garage? Do you want your home office to look just as spectacular as the one you had in the company skyscraper before recession hit and they laid you off? Worry not, the Tetra Shred modular building system is just the answer to all your prayers and though it won't get you your high-paying job back, it will certainly make working out of your garage look a lot more glamorous. The project basically consists of an angular single module that looks totally out of whack on the outside, but when opened up, forms an unexpectedly cozy space which offers all the functionality of a full-blown office room.

Tetra Shed
Tetra Shed

With loads of extra storage space in the overhead compartments and windows opening up the front of your work station/work counters to a magnificent view of your garden or home, the Tetra Shed is the perfect small space that can be used as a den, an outdoor office, a play area, a relaxation zone, a private backyard spa, and what have you!

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Tetra Shed
Tetra Shed concept

The unit is created to serve as a designer space that can be used for both work as well as pleasure and the best thing about it is the fact that many single modules can be combined to make a bigger building that can be used as retail space, tourism & leisure facilities, corporate events, exhibition space, and even classrooms.

Internally lined in a choice of plasterboard or birch faced plywood, the Tetra Shed is offered in marine plywood, corten steel, zinc and copper finishes as well as any color from RalColor.

Source: Tetra Shed


Move-it delivery strolley is made entirely from recyclable cardboard

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:31 PM PST

Asmita Prasad:

One of the biggest challenges that people face when shopping for electronics and items that need to be delivered in boxes is the fact that they are packaged in a way that best safeguards them against damage but provides negligible assistance when it comes to carrying them manually. As a result, most users prefer to have such goods delivered to them which is not only time consuming, but also incurs unwarranted delivery charges that can only be avoided if the buyer decides to deliver the box themselves in case they have a car. Even then, carrying the box out to the parking lot can be quite a hassle and lifting heavy boxes has been identified as one of the major causes of lower back problems around the world! To make the process of carrying and delivering boxed goods simpler and more efficient for buyers, designer David Warwick Graham has come up with an innovative cardboard boxing strolley called the Move-it.

Move-it
Move-it

Designed to fit around packaging boxes, the Move-it strolley basically consists of easy-to-assemble kit with self-adhesive cardboard parts that can be fitted onto any box to turn it into an easy-to-drag strolley that can be tugged along like a regular luggage strolley. With a set of stick-on-wheels and two types of handles, the Move-it system was built around the users' needs and comes geared to cope with rain, pavements, and even cobblestone roads with ease. The Move-it can be easily used with boxed goods weighing up to 20 kg and allows users the freedom to deliver the goods themselves without having to struggle with carrying the box out to a car or a taxi and then into the house, or having to pay the store to have the box delivered at home.

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Move-it
Move-it is a simple kit of self-adhesive cardboard parts, which the user sticks on to a cardboard package, turning it into a lightweight, easy-to-use trolley

The Move-it kit is created entirely from recycled cardboard, including the wheels. Designed to disperse harmlessly in water, the wheel, handle, axle and chassis, and every other component of the Move-it can be harmlessly and effortlessly recycled and made into new cardboard products. Even the special repulpable contact adhesive used in the kit is soluble in water which allows the glued on bits to be effortlessly recycled as well. The Move-it is created to cope with rain and wet pavements and designed for a typical trip across the city via public transport. The lightweight, easy-to-use trolley can be assembled by workers at the store in under a minute which makes the system efficient for both store owners as well as buyers.

Source: James Dyson Award


Braille handrail system to help visually impaired ‘see’ animals at the zoo

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:23 PM PST

Asmita Prasad:

People with visual disabilities have to go through life not only with the incredible challenge of having to work and live in a world that is often not too accommodating to their ailment, and with the public infrastructure traditionally being developed for the sighted, it is often even more debilitating for the blind to navigate through public spaces with ease and on their own. What's even more disheartening is that though there has been a conscious effort on part of public agencies to try and make public spaces more accessible to the blind, places like museums and zoos are still off-limits for people with visual disabilities. Ahmedabad, India-based exhibition and space designer Akanksha Jain has some up with a system that would allow the immensely popular Sundervan Zoo in Ahmedabad more accessible to the blind.

Zoo Experiences for the Visually Impaired
Zoo Experiences for the Visually Impaired

To compensate for the lack of sight of the visually disabled, the system promises to heighten sensory perceptions and make visiting the zoo a more engaging experience. The core of the system comprises of a handrail that runs through the length of the zoo with special buttons that can deliver special voice messages and giving out information to the blind visitors. The same can also be obtained via the Braille messages that are inscribed on the handrail and visitors can read them as they move along the zoo.

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Zoo for the Visually Impaired
Zoo for the Blind by Akanksha Jain

To allow the blind to visualize the area and understand the scale of the space of the zoo and its layout, the railing would be fitted with tactile maps of the zoo. Also installed along the railing would be touch sensitive animal models that would allow visitors to understand the true size and shape of the animals, its physicality, habitat and eating habits, etc. installed at two suitable heights to suit children and adults as well as visually disables people of all statures, the railing would also allow the blind to navigate through the zoo on their own.


Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse makes computer peripherals chic

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:21 PM PST

Asmita Prasad:

Computer accessories have evolved in their functionality over the years though their drab exterior remains unaltered with the exception of a few gaming mice that come in exciting colors and shapes. Forest Grove, Oregon-based designer Jason Giddings, however, wants to change the way we look at computer peripherals forever with this stunning new concept called the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse which takes the genre of computer peripherals to the next level. Fitted with the next generation in peripheral tech, the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse is crafted from the finest components with a solid metal base and quality tempered glass construction. With no moving parts, the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse is made using simple technology currently in existence which ensures that manufacturing costs of these devices can be kept super low.

Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse
Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse

Totally wireless, the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse runs on Lithium Polymer batteries that are fully rechargeable which allows user to maximize the batteries on their systems. Users can also easily turn the tactile sounds and lighting on and off which adds a nice touch to the versatility and playfulness of the devices. Completely coffee and doughnut-stain resistant, the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse is perfect for professionals that live, eat and sleep on their workstation, and do not wan to ensure having to live in a depressing monochromatic environment.

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Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse
Multi-Touch keyboards and mice are the next generation in computer peripherals.

The Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse are made using open source software which allows the keyboard to be customized for users with different needs. For example, if a user uses their PC extensively for video-editing, they can re-assign the number keys to video-editing functions. Similarly, the mouse can also be reassigned different levels of functionality that can offer it the same level of sophistication as the touch-enabled pointer of the iPads.

Using infrared LEDs placed at the edge of the glass cleverly hidden inside perforations which connect the metal base to the glass mount, the Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse manipulates the internal glass surface and the light impact that the low angle allow it frustrates the reflection of the light and diffuses the infrared light below which in turn beams to the camera and allows the software to send the appropriate information to your computer by determining the location of the touch. Known as FTIR or Frustrated Total Internal Reflection, the touch screen technology offers a much more sophisticated level of functionality to the computer peripherals allowing user to use them more effectively and more efficiently.

Via: Kickstarter


"Presence" XL Speakers take high-fidelity to high-fashion

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:17 PM PST

Asmita Prasad:

Ever since the days of the gramophone, music players have been monopolized by monochromatic color themes and anything even slightly colorful is deemed funky or feminine. Though that hasn't stopped men from going all out and buying all-black home entertainment systems no matter how much they clash with the interior schemes of their bachelor pads (or their wives'/girlfriends' meticulously hand-picked home décor), there remains a wide gap in the market when it comes to music systems that can look as good as they sound. The “Presence” XL Speakers by Bodor Audio+ looks to rectify that situation by presenting a set of detailed hand-made equipment that is made to cater to each individual's taste and décor theme.

XL Speakers
XL Speakers

Created to reflect its owner's personality and outlook in life, the “Presence” XL Speakers by Bodor Audio+ is perhaps the ultimate and only example of a music system being customized to fit the interior décor of its owner. By offering incredible personalization options, the “Presence” XL Speakers by Bodor Audio+ not only moulds itself to the lifestyle of the person that purchases it but also allows them to blend in their high-end electronics into their décor as they please without having to worry about getting cabinets and entertainment units built to house them and store them out of sight.

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XL Speakers
Presence XL Speakers

Via: Behance


OKKA Food Measurement System makes cooking a precise science

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:15 PM PST

Asmita Prasad:

For ages, cooking has been an art that one could only perfect with persistence, patience and experience. And though your grandma's recipe still calls for you to "season to taste" you know that you'd rather have her tell you the amount of salt and pepper in exact grams measures. For people who don't want to leave the outcome of their daily cooking to chance, the OKKA Food Measurement System is the perfect kitchen tool. Created by Turkish designer Can Guvenir, the system allows people to measure out ingredients precisely and produce a perfect dish every time.

Okka_Sensitive Weigher Set
Okka_Sensitive Weigher Set

The OKKA Food Measurement System is essentially a compact food scale and measurement cup in one that allows users to scoop out a measure of flour right of the box and allows the user to check the weight of the flour on the digital display in its base. This allows users to bypass having to crowd the counter with a food scale and different measurement cups and bowls. The user can also enter the desired weight or quantity needed and the system will flash a message if the ingredient is over or under weight.

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Okka_Sensitive Weigher Set
The user canget the material in desired unit by using recharge hand-weighing unit.

Crafted using injection-molded HDPE, the OKKA Food Measurement System serves as a preparation bowl, a measurement cup and a weighing scale all in one which makes it perfect for smaller urban kitchens.

Via: Behance


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