The Design blog |
- SOCCKET soccer ball shaped electricity generator to power the dreams of third world kids
- Egg shaped treehouse Dream Hatcher is a great vacation retreat
- Crutch to walk hands free even on icy terrain
- Smart Tap keeps the user updated about the daily usage of water
- While in urban traffic, ride into the 'slope' of safety
- The Space can cocoon people away into private bliss
- Gizmo that saves energy at the blink of an eye
- The timekeeper shows time as it actually works, celestially
- Tree Well BR, a bike parking system to support needs of sustainable cities
- Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station blends innovative engineering with architectural designing
| SOCCKET soccer ball shaped electricity generator to power the dreams of third world kids Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:23 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: Soccer is undoubtedly the most played sport on the face of the planet. The fact that it only requires an inflated ball and a patch of level land to be played makes it one of the most easily embraced games around the world allowing people with very limited resources to indulge in team sports. These aspects of the game have allowed innovators to dream up other uses for the soccer ball including light fixtures like the Powered by Sports Desk Lamp. The SOCCKET is also a similar device which is basically an eco friendly portable generator that is made to look and functions like a regular a soccer ball.
 Soccket The design came into being as a class project by Harvard-based social scientists Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman who founded the social enterprise Unchartered Play to try and popularize the product as a viable means of mass individualized electricity generation. Since the SOCCKET is designed to be used like a soccer ball and generates electricity with usage, it can serve as a means of entertainment for the kids as well as a really simply motion-powered generator that can be used to power a number of small appliances like mobile phones, water purifiers, hot plates, speakers, fans and even cellphones. This makes it an ideal source of supply for regions in the developing world that experience infrequent power supply and shortage of grid power. The SOCCKET ball requires no inflation and its water resistant shell protects the patented internal mechanism. Made from highly durable materials, the lightweight ball is perfect for play with bare feet as well. Source: Unchartered Play
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| Egg shaped treehouse Dream Hatcher is a great vacation retreat Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:13 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: This egg shaped dwelling amidst tall trees is one of the best tree houses ever. Crafted by hand, this marvelous tree house has been built by a software engineer, Joel Allen. The 200 square foot cubicle looks amazing dangling from a hemlock tree. So, how did Allen build such an amazing habitat without a formal education in architecture? The savvy engineer did have quite a task at hand, and therefore he consulted some friends and also his fiancee, all of whom willingly contributed towards the design and development of the project.
 Dream Hatcher
To bring down the budget, second hand and salvaged materials were used to construct the abode, which incidentally gave it an eco friendly tag. Allen spent hours hunting through Craigslist to look for the right supplies. The cedar used to build the house was sourced from the interiors of a sauna and so was in a good condition. There was one drawback though. Its surface was shattered when it was split out using a crowbar. But Allan worked a way out by breaking it down further. Things like a discarded double pane door and broken glass from cabinet windows were reused in the building.
Also, it wasn't easy to find the right spot in Whistler woods for the dwelling. Ultimately, a hemlock standing on a 20 feet tall crag was narrowed down. The tree house is literally in the heart of the woods. So, people who enjoy long walks, will like this abode that is constructed at a substantial distance from roadways and electric sources. The egg shape for the tree house was also quite a break through. The best thing about the shape was that you can hide the structure inside the form. So, there is no massive support structure at the bottom like other tree houses. First, the initial scaffolding as well as the deck to store the building materials was constructed. Separate platforms for waste and building materials were created. To construct the strut, eighteen feet long ribs that joined the two extreme ends were used. A triangular shape is created where the floor meets the ribs. This made the house structurally robust. The finishing came out to be top notch and the space inside is well managed. The clean cut abode looks like a dream. Enter inside and you will be left mesmerized. The compact arrangement has all basic amenities that you need. The sleeping quarters are on the loft and there is an outer deck. A small work area with a desk has also been chalked out. In fact, the space right behind the stairs, which is often neglected, has been used to build this work zone. All furniture is built into the structure. Loose and independent pieces would have been too bulky and would have easily taken over the compact space. Outside the house flat treads that look like stepping stones have been lined up. Via: Dwell
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| Crutch to walk hands free even on icy terrain Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:12 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Crutches help people out when they are going through a knee, foot or ankle injury. But one setback with most is that you have to hold on to them while you are walking. This can strain your hand considerably. Moreover, they can even bring about soreness or pain and do not provide very good support either. So, a USA based industrial designer has improvised the design by altering it a bit.
 Hands-Free Crutch
The upper end of the new Hands-Free crutch device can actually be strapped on to your thigh. There is a pad connect that holds just above the knee and can be easily adjusted. Velcro straps have been attached to the piece so even patients can take it off and put it on easily. Also, the equipment is very lightweight and carrying its weight around will be a snap. You can say that the new design works like a prosthetic leg. The leg actually dangles at the bottom of the device above the contact cylinder. Walking on any type of terrain will be really easy with this crutch. There is no need to worry even if you are in icy or slippery conditions. Just slip the high friction sleeves onto the contact cylinder and are ready to go. Furthermore, the size as well as the height of this crutch can be altered. Hence, different people can use it easily. The piece can be disbanded and stored when it is not in use. Hospitals and health care institutions will find these traits of the crutch to be very useful. All these nifty features will not cost you a lot as its price is comparable to other ordinary crutches in the market.
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| Smart Tap keeps the user updated about the daily usage of water Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:04 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Clean water is precious and one needs to keep a check on the amount of water used every single day to avoid any kind of wastage that can lead to its scarcity in the near future. At times keeping a check tends to get a little difficult, which means a lot of clean water goes down the drain without being used properly. This is where Smart Tap designed by Mohit Yadav fits in, as the green design vows to make the user aware about the usage.
 Smart tap
Smart Tap comprises of a display that will put on show the usage and in turn help control output quantity. It can be used in two modes: fixed quantity water output and unlimited water output. When the disc is rotated to a fixed number, the same amount of water will be delivered that too in full flow. On the other hand, in case someone needs continuous water supply then unlimited water output the water will flow at lower pressure or slow rate when then disc is lifted upwards. In case the set limit of water usage exceeds, a red colored light will start glowing on the disc to warn a user. The disc is activated when a user touches it and displays the reading of water in liters, which can be chosen as per the requirement. The display changes to an info graphic screen once the counter is set. It puts on show the image of earth with a lot of greenery and oceans filled with water. The same image starts drying out as the water is used and turns completely dry when the set amount of water gets consumed. The tap gets turned off and the knob comes to the original position, which is made possible because of a compression coil spring arrangement. The tap can be turned off by the user if water is not required, which will display the amount of water saved.
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| While in urban traffic, ride into the 'slope' of safety Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:03 AM PDT Shallu Sharma: Though bicycles are a sustainable and economical source of commuting, especially in urban areas, but this easy mode of commuting brings along safety hazards as well. Bicycles are best for congested roads and expensive cities but at the same time bicycle riders are more prone to accidents and injuries. A better solution christened as Slop3 has been proposed keeping urban traffic and safety measures in mind. It combines advantages of both two wheelers as well as four wheelers into a single mode of commuting.
 Slop3 urban vehicle
Slop 3 guarantees all time stability even when the vehicle inclines towards the curves, provides protection from other vehicles, is intuitive and compact, provides storage space at the front, making it a reliable and safe mode of transportation. The vehicle comes with a pinion transmission system channel. With respect to direction, it is something else. The change in direction occurs very naturally and smoothly as the rider tilts.
 Slop3 urban vehicle The variable geometry design of the bike is such that it easily allows the tilting movements of the rider to influence the front wheels at any point during riding, at any speed. This enables the bike to negotiate curves in every condition and circumstance. Slop3 offers an efficient and easy mode of urban communication and ensures safety in the middle of other hefty vehicles. Source: Vincent Dauphin
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| The Space can cocoon people away into private bliss Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:02 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: Even though most people living in the cities in the developed world are leading increasingly isolated lives, those living in the developing world are still living in crowded apartments with multiple inhabitants and want a secluded space to get some private down time. The Space by Bandung, Indonesia-based designer Cecep Hermawan is one such piece of furniture that provides users with the ability to escape into a private sanctum without having to leave their home or go too far away from their roommates or families.
 Space
The cylindrical piece of furniture defies categorization though it can be amply defined as a mini room that serves as a cocoon for the user. The Space comes fitted with a padded mattress a wall-mounted table and Wi-Fi connectivity that allows the user sitting inside to enjoy surfing the net, hang out with friends, make phone calls, read newspapers and magazines or even leave their gadgets to charge without worrying about someone messing with them while their owner is away. The Space also serves as a private music room where the user can listen to their favorite tracks without bothering anyone else. The mini room is a great way to escape the chaos and confusion of multiple inhabitant living accommodations and can be set up in a garden, balcony, terrace or even a big hall and requires a single cord of electric cable to power its lighting, audio and connectivity features. Source: Jieunstudio
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| Gizmo that saves energy at the blink of an eye Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:57 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Do you need light in the room if you have closed your eyes? Didn't think you would. After all, we do switch off the lights every day before going off to sleep. A new gizmo takes this principle a step further by shutting off the lights every time you blink your eyes! Energy saving appliances are getting creative by the minute and this one will definitely leave you amused.
 Energy-Saving Light
Wondering how much energy can be saved by shutting off a device whenever you blink? Well, here are some relevant statistics. On an average, every adult blinks at least 10 times every minute. This means you blink 600 times in an hour and about 9600 times during the sixteen hours that you are awake each day. As a blink lasts anywhere between 100 to 400 milliseconds, the time period your eyes remain closed due to blinking amounts to about 8 hours every month! Saving that much energy every month doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. If saving energy seems like a far out concept, then cut the chase and think about your energy bill. Surely, a light that shuts off more often is going to expend lesser energy. You know what this means. Your energy bill will go down now. Surely, you could do with some cost cutting during these trying economic times. Moreover, applying this technology to any light piece is really simple. Just fix an EMG sensor to the light and you're all set. Also, the gag this gadget wields will definitely put a smile on many people's face. Kids will love it and teenagers will be swept over. It definitely adds a fun vibe to any room and makes the owner look like a thousand times cooler. And you should consider the larger perspective. If a technology like this can be applied to other devices like televisions and computers also, then even more energy can be saved. One would be minimizing the carbon footprint of humankind globally with a small technological innovation.
Energy-Saving LightLight saves energy by shutting off when you blink Via: Dvice/ Instructables
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| The timekeeper shows time as it actually works, celestially Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:47 AM PDT Shallu Sharma: Throw in the three hands of time, a dial and timekeeping mechanism. Cluster it all into an elegant case and you have yourself a nice little wrist watch. Yes, a nice wrist-watch which would suffice the need of timekeeping for most…for most, not for all. There are few who like to see things besides the mundane, who appreciate the integration of something special even in the most ordinary. Call it an eccentricity, but hey, history has taught us that even the most brilliant minds of our time had their own precious little quirks. Designer Alexander Sorokin has come up with a novel little wrist watch which would do nicely in appeasing the rummage for an unorthodox and not to mentions striking timepiece.
 Earth and Moon watch
The wrist digital clock is cased in a decorous stainless steel casing. The watch utilizes a shock resistant sapphire crystal under which is embedded the Vysokontrastny color display. The other side of the planet and your currently inhabited site are pointed out by the integrated GPS. The hour hand is depicted by the moon and the amount of shadow corresponds to the minutes. For example if it's 12:30 noon time, then the moon shall be at 12 and shadow would be falling on the right half of the dial. The more the shadow, more are the minutes. The time is extricated from the satellite itself to always be precise. Source: Alexsas
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| Tree Well BR, a bike parking system to support needs of sustainable cities Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:46 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: The world is becoming eco conscious and this is evident from the clean and green products that are flooding the globe like never before. In an attempt to make cities all the more sustainable people are opting for rides that won't pollute the environment further. So, may are switching to bicycles and electric bikes that don't add harmful fumes to the atmosphere. This means that new type of parking spaces is required to keep these modes of transportation safe and secure. Eliel Cabrera has designed a parking bike solution, named Tree-well BR, which will blend perfectly with the contemporary feel of a city.
 Tree-well BR
The designer came up with a brilliantly designed tree well that has been given a square shape and can be easily swapped in place of old ones. It will comprise of rectangular shaped profile that will be used to keep the bike in place. The best part being that this profile can be returned to the ground level via a simple mechanism when not in use. Such an ingenious arrangement makes sure that it does not come in one’s way, which can also make pedestrians trip and fall if it is dark around. Tree-well BR has been crafted out of cast iron and comprises of two pieces that have been formed from the same mold. It will be placed around the base of a tree where people can park their bikes easily. There will be two rectangular profiles that will be made from bent iron and will be attached with a shaft. The design is quite user friendly and will inject a sense of sustainability while triggering ecological awareness.
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| Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station blends innovative engineering with architectural designing Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:20 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Dumping grounds mostly come tagged with an ugly look, the reason why these are positioned on the outskirts of city area. Nicole Robertson and Richard Garber from GRO Architects have come up with the Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station and Environmental Center that will handle the ever increasing quantities of recyclable materials, which includes glass, plastic and metal. This will make the city space all the more proficient when it comes to handling large amounts of materials that can be recycled later.
 Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station
Picture Gallery  Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station & Environmental Center The roof of this amazing construction will attract migratory birds and will also shelter the dumping area in an eye appealing manner. The roof has been given an undulating form, which will put on show the overall the process and transfer of recyclable materials from the trucks to the barge. This will in turn unfurl an educational experience that will encourage people to recycle things and not throw them without thinking much. The design is such that will make transferring recyclable stuff from the truck to the barge pretty smooth. The trucks won't block the streets as a dumping schedule will be implemented to make sure that a specific number of trucks queue up at a time. This will also keep a check on noise and air pollution, while keeping the neighboring area in a pristine state. The surrounding area of the dumping ground will see a lot of greenery in the form of various kinds of plants giving it a serene and fresh appearance. Via: Sucker Punch Daily
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