Posts filed under 'Inventions'
The Vento 3600 is a fashion-forward gaming chassis for high-performance gaming applications. It sports a stunning UV-paint coating (in green, red or blue), which gives off a shiny waxed look and prevents scratches that ruin the appearance of a PC. With its innovative, pivoting vertical front panel, users no longer have to worry about the media door slamming into their desk while giving complete access to the device it houses. The Vento&’s screw-less design also permits users to access the interior without the hassle of screws and screwdrivers. Superior air cooling is achieved with optimized placement of the front and rear fans and side ventilation holes with air ducts that pull in cool air to lower the CPU’s temperature.
ASUSTek Computer Inc., Taiwan
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February 18th, 2006
The New York Stock Exchange needed to upgrade the handheld wireless technology traders were using on the floor. Traders use these terminals intermittently throughout the day but need to keep the device with them at all times. The innovative solution deftly balances the client’s physical requirements (large touch-screen, powerful, long battery life) with the opposing needs of the user (highly mobile, unobtrusive profile, lightweight). A secure shoulder strap allows the handheld computer to dangle comfortably against the body when not in use. A sensor automatically turns off the touch-screen when the units are upside down, saving battery life and locking the touch screen from accidental inputs. When in use the computer’s narrow profile and curved back helps it fit more comfortably in the trader’s palm. The weight was reduced from existing equipment while the screen size was left unchanged.
IBM Corp.
February 18th, 2006
Harman Consumer Group
OnStage was designed to be the ultimate docking station for all iPods. It docks, charges and has a pass through connector that directly syncs to your computer. It is also a high-performance speaker system. Much research went into devising the means to generate high-performance sound from such a small device, including the placement of the radial driver as well as the interplay of the ring shape to the table, which specifically enhances the base. OnStage’s design language also complements all iPods. OnStage so far has increased JBL’s bottom line by 50 percent with a 50 percent market penetration.
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
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
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