Archive for February 18th, 2006
The design of the Zire 72 successfully addresses the convergence of the digital camera, portable music player and PDA. The media components (camera, speaker, Bluetooth) are highlighted by a perforated metal area that clearly communicates to the user that this PDA is different from others in the marketplace. The overall design was kept thin due to the localized surfacing around the media controls. The soft touch paint over the metallic finish provides a pleasant tactile feedback while maintaining a sophisticated appearance. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, with the onslaught of digital convergence, the design of the Zire 72 has helped palmOne maintain the lead in the PDA marketplace.
February 18th, 2006
Wacom Europe GmbH, Germany
The Intuos3 pen/tablet system is a state-of-the-art family of integrated, plug-and-play cordless and battery-free computer graphics tools for professional use. Wacom wanted an innovative, approachable and ergonomic design that would visually convey ease of use and regain market share lost to competitors. Extensive user observation and ergonomic research identified many opportunities for product innovation, such as workspace flexibility, intuitive functionality, a streamlined aesthetic and realistic drawing and painting simulation. The new design gives users the control, precision and flexibility they need to capture their creativity and its ergonomics allow them to draw or paint for extended periods of time without experiencing discomfort. Since its launch in 2004, the Intuos3 has surpassed initial sales expectations, outselling its nearest competitor two-to-one and helping to drive the company profits up almost 11 percent.
February 18th, 2006
For their line of modular networking products Netgear was seeking a new look that expresses innovation and sophistication while still providing a link to their previous family of products. The design includes a mirror that wraps around the unit’s periphery, which enhances the glow of the controls, giving it a “halo effect” while simultaneously reflecting the surrounding environment and engaging the device with its environment. Folding rubber feet provide the option of an attractive vertical position and hide screw holes. The device’s underside maintains a clean aesthetic when placed in its adjustable stand. The designers also achieved a 30 percent savings both in product cost and assembly time by reducing the part-count from 24 to 8, demonstrating that design innovation doesn’t need to be costly.
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February 18th, 2006
With their new line of industrial safety eyewear, Uvex wanted to accommodate the widest range of users possible with a single product. The revolutionary frame adjusts to any face shape, and the pioneering nosepiece rotates, pivots and slants to provide face-contouring comfort all day. The designers also recognized the need for appealing aesthetics. They understood that customers are wearing protective eyewear eight to ten hours a day and would be less inclined to wear clunky and unappealing glasses even if they provided superior adjustability. Manufacturing cost reductions enabled a more attractive price point and kept production in the US.
February 18th, 2006
Samsung asked designers for a digital conference presentation tool that would visually embody their new video capture technology. The design team succeeded in developing a bold new concept that represents both aesthetic and functional innovation. The Techwin UF-80 can capture images of both flat objects (such as documents) or 3-D objects and relay them to an LCD projector or via the Internet to a remote audience.
The engaging, graceful arc shape of the support arm and the circular base increase both the perceived and actual available space beneath the camera, allowing plenty of room for large objects. In addition, the interface is easily operated, especially in low-light conditions.
February 18th, 2006
This product family of commercial HVAC sensors and room controllers was designed in response to the company’s identified need for a new product line that conveys quality, reliability and accuracy and is suitable for use in both the American and European markets and a wide array of commercial applications.
Following extensive research, the design team succeeded in developing an innovative new line that offers greater accuracy, improved response times, a simpler and more intuitive user interface, quicker installation times, backwards compatibility, improved reliability and a thinner form factor. For users, the large analog-style adjustment dial provides greater accessibility and ease of use than the keypad-style controls and is one of the factors that differentiates it from competitors. That, along with its low maintenance requirements and the improved response time to adjustments, will be a key market success factor.
February 18th, 2006
The TOPTURN X is a self-propelled turning machine for composting biogenic waste. The design innovation is particularly obvious in the attention to user needs. For instance, its ergonomic cabin offers 360 degrees of visibility and is easily accessible without climbing any ladders: you enter directly from the ground through the front windshield, which also serves as a frameless door. For transport, the machine folds into a compact form that easily fits on a flat bed trailer and does not require a special permit.
The TOPTURN X achieves a significantly higher compost quality than the traditional flat rick composting method and, with its high turning capacity and compact space needs, provides an efficient solution for domestic as well as garden-waste composting plants.
“Heavy machines can be graceful, intelligent and ergonomically correct. The Topturn Compost Turner goes beyond. It’s extremely elegant and the idea to lower the cabin to the ground so that the operator may enter and then swivel back to the top, allowing an overview of 360�, is fantastic. This operation could be performed in any local theater with success!” -Celso Santos, I/IDSA, President, Rio 21 Design
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February 18th, 2006
The Nike CommVest was designed specifically for mountain search and rescue operations with a focus on pure function. The designers worked extensively with rescuers to understand their needs and the problems with existing equipment. As a result, the CommVest is the first such product to fully accomodate the actual activity of the user and how they interact with technology. In addition to cutting-edge waterproof/breathable materials, the designers utilized conductive fibers and smart fabrics in order to integrate essential radio functions into the vest.
The placement of the speaker and microphone near the collar maintains high audio quality at all times, and the oversized controls mean rescuers don’t have to remove their gloves or unzip their jackets during use. The fitted form also keeps the heavy radio close to the body and positions it out of the way of other equipment. Since its release, the vest has seen immediate success among professional rescuers, and a consumer collection of jackets and bags using the same technology has followed.
“After decades of claiming that its clothing and gear improves performance, NIKE finally has a chance to take that challenge to extremes. The Search and Rescue CommVEST is designed to help teams working in the midst of calamity and chaos function with confidence, safety, and security. For smoke jumpers battling forest fires, rescue teams searching for survivors after earthquakes or tsunamis, this is apparel that can save your life-and the lives of many victims too. This is an impressive new design direction for NIKE and one they appear to be tackling with relish.” –Larry Keeley, IDSA, President, Doblin Inc.
February 18th, 2006
The Terabeam is a solution to the common high-speed data transmission bottleneck that occurs in cities as a result of the speed and cost limitations of copper and fiber optic cables. The transceiver uses lasers to transmit and receive data at fiber optic speed and bandwidth levels without any costly infrastructure alterations. In the latest evolution of the Terabeam, designers responded to user feedback about previous models and minimized the device’s impact on the office environment by significantly reducing its footprint and mounting it to the window pane. Within this reduced shell designers also needed to develop a new optical layout and aligning mechanism in order to provide a broad enough field of view to ensure a stable data link. The design’s zoomorphic aesthetic is non-threatening to users and differentiates it from the competition. The 3200i also represents a substantial cost saving over its predecessors, which has enabled Terabeam to market the product to a larger target.
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February 18th, 2006
Rifts is a classic 15-year old pen and paper roleplaying game from Palladium Books Inc. that’s been hugely successful among millions of gamers for more than a decade. We’re immensely proud to present the exclusive digital debut of the title, co-developed by the author of the series, Kevin Siembieda. Rifts: Promise of Power features over 40 hours of immersive gameplay, dedicated to staying true to the original characteristics of the game.
Assemble your party from an intriguing selection of characters and explore countries like North America, Scotland, China and the New German Republic. Gameplay in the Rifts world consists of two different styles: real-time movement and turn-based combat. You will need strategic knowledge of the locations, special magic, psychic skills, and high technology to achieve your goals!
Let the deep and detailed story take you to a multi-dimensional world of supernatural beings, gods, time travelers, dragons, cyborgs, psionics, automatic weapons, and much, much more…
Over 12 playable character classes, from the metal behemoth; Glitter Boy; to the psychic; Mind Melter; and the chemically enhanced; Juicer;
Over 40 hours of gameplay, including over 100 weapons, armours and cybernetics, as well as more than 50 enemies
Amazing graphics with a 360 camera angle in an impressive 3D world!
February 18th, 2006
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