Fourteen years ago, we covered a brilliantly-designed pair of eyeglasses with water-filled lenses. Created for users in developing nations by British inventor and Oxford professor Joshua Silver, the glasses obviate the need for opticians (who are in short supply in poor countries), as the user can tune their own prescription.
The way the glasses work is, a water-filled syringe is temporarily mounted on each stem and plugged into the lenses:
The user rotates the syringes back and forth, which adjusts the amount of water within each lens, until they can see perfectly.
Once the user’s got their prescription dialed in, the syringes are removed, and the user’s got 20-20.
It looks pretty cool in action:
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Today Silver runs an organization called the Centre for Vision in the Developing World, which has provided 100,000 pairs of his adaptive glasses to people in over 30 countries. They reckon they will have to multiply that a bit, as “More than 2 billion people in the world today need glasses but don’t have them.” They also cite that “100 million school-aged children cannot read the blackboard in class.”
CVDW ran a crowdfunding campaign in 2017 to raise the funds to distribute 50,000 pairs of glasses to children in developing nations. The funding target was $67,971, but they wound up with a paltry $4,671–just 6% of their goal.
According to CBC Radio, the adaptable glasses cost just $1 to produce. So I’m wondering:
Might a retooled campaign succeed if they appealed to people’s selfishness, rather than just the ability to donate? What if it was “Buy a pair for yourself, pay enough to send some multiple of pairs to children”?
For instance, I would happily buy a pair of these glasses to use as reading glasses at home or in my shop, where I need to wear a different prescription in order to do woodworking, and I’d pay for an extra 50 or 100 pairs to send to the countries that need it. (I might even leave the syringes on, to fine-tune for detailed work.)
Similarly, I bet you could get people to pay anywhere from $20 to $100 for a pair of these to use as a backup/emergency set of eyeglasses. Target disaster preppers.
I personally wouldn’t wear these out in public, for fear of drawing attention (I’m a minority and I live in a rural area where let’s just say, there is no one who looks like me). But if you could give these glasses a hash-taggable name and get Kanye to wear a pair, perhaps people more carefree in their appearance would find them hip enough to wear outside of the house, and buy themselves a pair and pay for many multiples.
I do hope that Silver re-tools the campaign and re-launches it at some point.
Speaking of crowdfunding, don’t forget that this week Craighton Berman, serial crowdfund-ee, is giving a free crash course in how designers can tackle it. It’s on Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 2pm EST and you can sign up here. Professor Silver, if by some chance you’re reading this, do tune in–I can guarantee the information will be worth your time, and your invention is too good to not fulfill its ambition.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Lasse Virén stumbled and fell midway through the grueling 10,000m race. Few had heard of Virén; he was a 23-year-old policeman from Finland, not exactly cover material for Runner’s World magazine.
But by the end of the race, all of the spectators knew his name. Following the fall, Virén clambered quickly to his feet, resumed running, then grindingly overtook everyone to cross the finish line first. In addition to winning the Gold Medal, he broke the 10,000m world record in the process.
Fifty years later Fortum, a Finnish energy and waste management company, has developed a “self-rising” piece of furniture called the Virén Chair. It was designed both to honor Virén and to showcase the company’s recycling abilities, being made from recycled post-consumer plastic waste.
The chair’s trick, if you haven’t guessed, is that if it gets knocked over, it rights itself:
In addition to honoring Virén, Fortum is trying to draw attention to Circo, the recycled plastic the chair is made from. The company points out that plastic isn’t going away anytime soon; it’s “in many ways a superior material that is hard to substitute.” However, they also point out that plastic recycling rates are poor, and thus driving demand for recycled plastic is critical.
“The consumption of plastic is growing globally all the time; the discussion around plastics should instead focus on how to increase recycling. We should make sure that the value of the material is preserved by recycling the plastic and converting the waste into reusable material whenever possible.
“Fortum wants to expand the use of recycled plastics by developing recycled plastic compounds. In this process the qualities of the recycled plastic are enhanced so that the compounds can be used for products that are more technical and challenging in terms of production, of which the Virén Chair is a good example.
“The Virén Chair is made from Fortum Circo® recycled plastic compound reinforced with cellulose fibre to strengthen the material and reduce its carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of Fortum Circo® recycled plastic is about half that of virgin plastics. The added cellulose fibre, originating from renewable sources, also absorbs carbon, further reducing the carbon footprint of the material.”
Here’s the chair’s video, featuring present-day Virén himself:
Home video projectors are becoming more popular again, especially with more models being released at moderate prices. Back in the day, projectors cost a lot and they were not as clear and hi-res as the devices available today. In recent years, we have seen a number of forms and innovations and we can expect more will be imagined.
Most projectors are designed similarly. The idea is for a projection device to be placed at a distance to properly project to a surface. That is the common setup but it becomes problematic when something suddenly enters the area between the surface and the projector. The view is blocked or skewed if the projector is suddenly moved.
Designer: Gaon Park
A fixed projector can be a solution but it’s not always possible for most homes. An installed one can still be the best projector but it has to be more useful and convenient. The Video Bubble Projector works best as images are projected in the same place as the area of projection.
The Video Bubble Projector is small so it doesn’t take much space. You install it on the wall where you want to project. When not in use for projection, you can use it as a clock or a smart speaker. It features a small screen and comes with a remote control that can be attached magnetically.
You can hang this projector but you can also use it as a regular standing projector as made possible by the collapsible legs underneath. The lenses are located on the upper right corner which means you need to place this on the lower left side of a surface where you want the images projected. The short distance of projection is what makes this a smart solution. No more objects will get in the way especially if you place the projector on the wall.
The Video Bubble Projector was named after the idea that the image projected looks like a speech bubble. You know those bubbles you see in comics when a person is expressing or saying something? That’s the inspiration for this projector.
This device has a rounded rectangular shape and the projector lens is positioned on the upper right portion, looking like an ear. The surface of the device appears to be a fabric that is usually used on speakers. There is a small screen in the center front that shows what is playing. It comes with a remote that is the same share as the screen, working as a cover when not in use.
On the rear, you will see a recessed portion for the USB-C ports. This keeps the silhouette of the projector so the cable is not in the way. There are magnetic parts that allow the device to be attached to the wall so the projector is more stable. A cradle is fixed to the wall with screws and it’s where the device is magnetically attached.
The screen cover-slash-remote control is used to control the device. You can change the size, volume, projection mode with it. You can also access the menu and power on/off the device using the remote control. The color of the Video Bubble Projector’s body and fabric appears to be orange here but we’re imaging more colors can be made.
At the New Museum, the first full retrospective of the artist pays tribute to her resistance and celebrates her radical joy
Revolutionary, painter, writer, educator, activist, sculptor and feminist are just some of the words that begin to describe Faith Ringgold, a visionary from Harlem, whose artwork since the 1960s laid bare the racist and patriarchal underpinnings of the United States. Unafraid to fight for the representation of Black women during the Civil Rights era (in art museums and the country at large) Ringgold not only exposed the true state of oppression, she also opened doors for those to come. For the first time, the true breadth of her work is being honored with a comprehensive retrospective at NYC’s New Museum. On view now until 5 June, Faith Ringgold: American People is an overdue tribute to the impactful artist.
Faith Ringgold, “American People Series #20: Die,” (1967); courtesy ACA Galleries, New York 2022. Image by The Museum of Modern Art; Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource, NY
The exhibition—which stretches over three gallery floors—begins on the second level of the museum with Ringgold’s critical paintings from the 1960s and 1970s. This includes one of her most famous paintings “American People Series #20: Die”—an evocative, grisly portrait of the surmounting conflict between racial and class divides—as well as the mural from the same series, “The Flag is Bleeding,” in which Ringgold uses the American flag as a means of revealing the facade of national unity and democracy. “The first strong statement of the exhibit is Faith Ringgold is an amazing painter,” Massimiliano Gioni, the New Museum’s Edlis Neeson Artistic Director and curator for the exhibit, says. “Look at this work from the 1960s and early 1970s, simply incredible—and so important to understand the Civil Rights movement, Black Power and Black Panther movements.” Seen today, the paintings, including those in her Black Light Series, particularly resonate with the country’s present state.
Faith Ringgold, “American People Series #2: For Members oNly,” (1963); courtesy of the artist and ACA Galleries
Paintings give way to flyers, posters and other documents from protests that Ringgold supported, especially movements that advocated for space dedicated to Black art and Black women in museums. “This was another strand in our research that we wanted to highlight,” Gioni continues. “Ringgold advocated for reforming museums so that they could reflect the complexity and richness of American culture. This is really portentous because it proves the force of an artist who has changed the history of art, not only with her own work, but with her own presence. It is no exaggeration to say that Ringgold transformed institutions—from the inside and outside.”
Faith Ringgold, “The Wake and Resurrection of the Bicentennial Negro,” (1975-89); courtesy the artist and ACA Galleries. Photo by Ron Amstutz; courtesy Glenstone Museum
On the third floor and second level of the retrospective, the artist’s sculptures, quilts and illustrations from her children’s books show how Ringgold constantly subverted art conventions. The floor opens with some of her sculptures, which she created after two trips to Africa. African costumes, masks and traditions of storytelling influenced her figures—which she referred to as “soft sculptures.” It’s a “gently subversive use of terminology, if compared with the ‘hard’ and obtuse sculptures of mostly male artists of minimalism in the same years,” says Gioni. “It’s a prime example of feminist art, determined to deconstruct ideas around craft and hierarchies of taste and power.”
Faith Ringgold, “Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach,” (1988), courtesy of courtesy ACA Galleries
Through quilting and canvases with sewn fabric borders, the artist also deconstructed Western notions of craft, sometimes turning toward Tibetan thangkas as inspiration. Transcending white art traditions enabled Ringgold to use more liberating mediums to convey the complexities of her experiences and, in doing so, she “completely disregarded, transgressed and reinvented traditional definitions of taste, completely reconfiguring artificial distinctions between high and low culture,” Gioni adds. In her story quilts, namely “Tar Beach #2” and “Church Picnic,” scenes of familial joy and community resist the oppressive gender and racial disparities that dominate the other artworks.
Faith Ringgold, “Matisse’s Model: The French Collection Part I, #5,” (1991); courtesy of ACA Galleries
Ringgold’s legacy continues into the corner of the third floor, where the drawings from her children’s book Tar Beach hang. The empowering book tells the story of a young girl called Cassie Louise Lightfoot who, on a warm summer’s night, flies over Harlem’s George Washington bridge. Ringgold uses flight to represent freedom, reclamation and self-possession, enabling the women in her stories—and the women beyond it—to soar above everything that seeks to repress them.
Faith Ringgold, “Dancing at the Louvre: The French Collection Part I, #1,” (1991); courtesy of ACA Galleries
While liberating throughout, the retrospective perhaps feels the most hopeful and galvanizing on the last level, the fourth floor. Here, Ringgold’s The French Collection quilted series is brought together in its entirety for the first time in nearly 25 years. As Gioni tells us, this was an integral inclusion because it “was another way to present Ringgold as a consummate storyteller, one who had anticipated many contemporary conversations around modernity and colonialism.”
Stories using acrylic and printed and tie-dyed pieced fabric reclaimed the Western art cannon and Eurocentric spaces. In “Dancing at the Louvre,” for instance, a fictional character (and Ringgold’s alter-ego) Willia Marie Simone is traveling through Paris. Her narrative draws from Ringgold’s own experiences with struggling to find recognition in the industry, but rather than coming up against rejection and bias like Ringgold, Simone meets Pablo Picasso and Josephine Baker, rewriting personal and general history. At the Louvre, Simone dances in front of the “Mona Lisa,” evoking radical joy and freedom.
Faith Ringgold, “Black Light Series #1: Big Black,” (1967); courtesy of ACA Galleries
This collection of Ringgold’s work is a journey that begins with the exposure of the systemic oppression that shaped the United States to eventually ascend (quite literally, as it’s on the fourth floor) and overcome. Walking the full gallery of the retrospective is to be immersed in the faith Ringgold has in fighting higher institutional powers and flipping the script.
For Gioni, this was one of the compelling reasons that demanded the retrospective. “I think very few artists have reached well beyond the art world as Ringgold has, writing a parallel history of art and America. What makes her contribution even more remarkable is that every time she was confronted with an obstacle or with refusal and exclusion, not only did she continue to do her work, but she reinvented the very system in which she was working. She always says that ‘anyone can fly,’ and by looking at her work, one really can not help but believe her.”
Hero image is Faith Ringgold, “American People Series #18: The Flag Is Bleeding,” (1967), courtesy ACA Galleries, New York 2022
Everything old is new again, as they say, and one designer envisions the possibility of a Macintosh that tastefully blends the old and the new in a way that could make even Apple interested.
Nostalgia is a very strong emotion, as shown by the number of successful retro consoles and crowdfunded projects launched in the past few years. Going down memory lane is quite effective for people who were there to witness events first-hand, but it also serves a different function for those who weren’t around back then. It gives them an insight into the minds of the past and the thinking that lead to the products of yesteryears. More importantly, they also serve as inspiration for new ideas, like this Macintosh concept that brings the past to the present in some interesting ways.
Even back in its earliest days, way before the iPhone or even the iPod, Apple was already turning the consumer electronics market on its head. Although it unsurprisingly looks dated by today’s standards, the original Macintosh already prefigured what would become Apple’s forte. It offered something that wasn’t just a tool but a well-designed, thoughtful, beautiful, and more human product.
Ian Zelbo wasn’t around when Apple launched the first-ever Macintosh in 1984, but he was well aware of how that product sent ripples that would be felt even decades later. Likewise, what started out as an almost tongue-in-cheek joke and homage to the landmark product ended up sparking interest and discussion over the Internet. After all, nothing fuels the imagination more than something Apple would never do yet still remained within the realm of what is possible if it ever decided to do so.
From the front, the Retro Macintosh clearly looks like a blast from the past. The screen extrudes forward from the body just like the original Macintosh with the array of ports sitting below it. The rainbow Apple logo, something that the company would never use today, also sits in the original place on the lower-left corner of the display. And while Apple has wholeheartedly embraced white for many of its products, the off-white hue is a clear nod to the computers of the past.
At the same time, this concept isn’t just the 1984 Macintosh with a colored screen and USB ports. Unlike the hulking boxes of the 80s and 90s, this retro concept chops off most of the body, leaving only a comparatively slim chassis to hold the electronics. It is pretty much like a modern all-in-one iMac, albeit a bit thicker. It doesn’t have a slim stand that keeps the computer afloat, but there is a “foot” that extends toward the back to balance the Retro Mac while keeping in line with the computer’s unibody design.
It isn’t all praise for Apple’s design, though, at least not for some people. Zelbo didn’t miss the opportunity to include what is perhaps one of the most controversial new features in the latest MacBook Pros. There is a wide notch on the screen, something that Apple might also implement in future iMacs. Ironically, this small detail is the one thing that truly sets this concept apart from being a mere recreation of the original Macintosh, embracing Apple’s design language throughout the decades. After all, nothing says “modern” than having a notch on your screen.
There is, however, one aspect that conflicts between the two generations of Apple computers. While the iMac and even the Mac Pros hide their ports, this retro concept puts them up front, just like the original Macintosh. While this isn’t as clean and tidy as current Macs, this “old” design has the benefit of providing easy and immediate access to those ports.
“While I was not born in time for the launch of the Macintosh, I can appreciate how influential it was,” says the designer. “I wanted to see what the Macintosh would look like today by blending the nostalgic design with Apple’s current design trends. While it started out as a play on Apple’s recycling of past designs, I truly love the result.”
Apple will most likely never make such a product, of course, not even to celebrate the Macintosh’s anniversary and its significance in history. The concept, however, is still a fruitful exercise in testing how Apple’s designs can actually stand the test of time and how different aesthetics can blend together, even if they’re decades apart. Fortunately, we live in a time when it’s possible and feasible to actually make something like it, and it might only be a matter of time before someone does try to hack together a Retro Macintosh that actually works, unofficially, of course.
If you’re an independent millennial who recently moved out of their family home and into their own, then a major issue that you may be dealing with almost every day…is space constraint! Our modern millennial homes have many virtues, but one thing they lack is space! Space constraint is something most of us end up dealing with every day. Smart storage solutions can be lifesavers in such tricky and compact situations. And to make your lives easier, we’ve curated a whole collection of storage solutions that come in the form of furniture designs that, to be honest, are going to completely organize your home! Not only do these products comfortably store your belongings, but they’re also perfect for displaying those special items that you don’t feel like shutting away in a dusty cabinet. From a crafty bed with an overhead storage space to a tree-inspired bamboo bookcase – these innovative storage and display solutions are the additions your home needs!
1. The COBBO Bed
The COBBO bed, designed for furniture manufacturer OTTO, comes with a simple Nordic-inspired design with solid oak legs and white storage cabinets that are located above the sleeping area. The bed’s slightly tapered design serves two purposes, it gives the piece of furniture both visual and physical lightness, since the cabinet above the bed is significantly slimmer than the bed itself. This allowed Hilgers to use slim wooden pillars instead of metal ones since the cabinet above the bed wouldn’t end up being overly heavy. The slim cabinet/shelf comes with four doors (two on either side) that open to reveal a perfectly slim nook to store items like books, quilts, throws, and cushions.
2. The Wall-it
Rather than limiting what you can hang on your wall to the manufacturer’s specifications, Wall-it lets owners decide where and how to hold different kinds of objects. This modular capability is thanks to the power of strong magnets that not only let you decide which containers to attach but also which boards to use. This is also where the aesthetic and decorative aspect of Wall-it comes in. The concept has room for over a dozen different accessories that can be used for different kinds of objects, like a hook for headphones and a box for smartphones. Users can mix and match not only the types of containers themselves but also the colors of the board and the accessories.
3. Lightray
Meant to remind us of what we hold most dear to our hearts, Lightray merges the practicality of a light fixture with the nostalgia of a coffer. Built like a simple lantern, the wireless light fixture is defined by a ribbed glass encasement, which hosts the appliance’s light device. Inside, the light is warm like that emitted from 40W vintage-style lightbulbs and the ribbed glass helps subdue it further, making it an ideal night light for people of all ages. Jeongyeon explains, “Lightray is a light that has a tray. It was designed inspired by a treasure box. Put something you like or something always with you. Even on a dark night when you can’t see anything, they shine brightly.”
4. ARTIFOX Solid Hardwood Bench
The ARTIFOX Solid Hardwood Bench is an interesting piece of furniture that you can place in your living room, office or bedroom! The cool storage solution features a scroll to store your laptop, books, magazines, and other knick-knacks. You can even place your tech gadgets and devices in the removable steel tray. It also tactfully holds all your charging cables. The storage piece also doubles up as a bench! Created from hardwood, oak, and aluminum, you can sit on the minimal yet durable bench and enjoy a cup of coffee, read your favorite book, or chit-chat with a loved one.
5. The Stair Cubby
Staircase bins need to take into account the particular shape of stairs, but not all stairs are made equal, so they have to be a bit more flexible or at least configurable. Given how in-demand these storage solutions might be, they also need to be durable and sustainable. These two product design students from Nottingham Trent University in the UK hit both birds with one sheet of plywood. The Stair Cubby, as it was christened, can be assembled without the use of tools, with tabs simply going into slots and held down with pegs. The cubby is designed to sit on two steps of stairs, but the panel on the back can slide up and down to adjust to different stair heights. The storage has five open-access cubbies for shoes, books, and any other item that can fit inside, keeping things organized and out of harm’s way.
6. The UNICOO Bamboo Tree Bookcase
The UNICOO Bamboo Tree Bookcase is an innovative storage rack that’s shaped like a tree! The unique branches of the bookcase can be used to store and display your favorite books. It features nine shelves, as well as four foot pads to prevent it from scratching the floor. Created from natural bamboo, the UNICOO bookshelf is an aesthetically pleasing and minimally designed storage solution that would add a calming element to any living space. The bamboo is put through a patented fossilized process to ensure it is twice as dense as hardwood!
7. Gradient Space
The furniture/sculpture looks like it is cascading down the wall like a waterfall! The multifunctional design features multiple ‘gradients’ that can be used in various ways. This mesmerizing sculpture has been equipped with plenty of storage space! Hidden cabinets in the stairs, large drawers artfully placed underneath the bed, and built-in storage sections under the television set all function as smart storage facilities! In fact, you can lift up the bed to reveal a small hidden storeroom as well.
8. Tenement H
Tenement H is a modular cubby storage system that reflects the exhibition’s ‘domestic’ theme. Inspired by the multifaceted facades of Bangkok shophouses, Tenement H features customizable barriers that range from scissor gates to accordion doors, shutters, and railings. Constructed from aluminum, Tenement H is modular and versatile by design, allowing access to the storage units from all sides and multifunctional as a semi-partition for your room as well. Coated in glossy optic white, scarlet red, and light blue, the modules of Tenement H mimic the color scheme of Bangkok’s city storefronts. Each unit can be configured according to what your space allows–for smaller spaces, Tenement H can be built up vertically while larger spaces would allow for a wider base.
9. LAPOD
Whether you’re a digital nomad or a remote worker, LAPOD allows you to easily and comfortably work from anywhere. The lap desk holds all accessories such as chargers, cables, portable drives, without adding clutter to your ouch or side tables. The storage pod is also cushioned to make it comfortable when it is on your lap. No more balancing your laptop on your knee, battery indicator flashing, juggling charger, and plug while searching your bag for your earbuds to take that incoming video call!
10. Tomás Alonso’s Storage System
Designed by Tomás Alonso, this wooden wall system is inspired by ‘Kamoi’. Kamoi is a wooden rail that is placed around the perimeter of rooms in Japanese homes. The minimal and soft storage system can hold a variety of products – from personal items to even kitchen utensils. It all depends on where you position the versatile storage system! The storage solution’s Japanese aesthetics add a warm and clean element to whichever room it is placed into.
Created by Hijiri Endo, Théodore Famery and Agoston Palinko, Carne Bollente is an independent apparel and home textile brand that celebrates sex positivity, the body and kink. From their maximalist, provocative line comes the Orange Wet Summer Towel, a French terry accessory decked with an orange, a sun and nude graphic. Measuring 52 by 26 inches, this bold, lush and titillating towel easily captures the liberating satisfaction of the erotic.
Basé à Dubai, Mo Eid a eu une bonne idée durant le confinement. Alors qu’il était impossible de sortir de chez soi, ce dernier a créé des paysages digitaux apaisants aux couleurs douces afin de pouvoir s’aérer l’esprit, sans avoir besoin de se déplacer. On y voit par exemple un lit deux places au milieu d’un champs qui a l’air tout aussi douillet. Pour les amateurs d’eau, l’artiste a créé un lac avec un ponton en bois où deux fauteuils trônent dans une douce lumière dorée.
The rise of smartphones has made almost anyone an aspiring filmmaker, trying to capture precious moments in an almost dramatic fashion. Some of these budding creatives graduate from phones to more sophisticated cameras, but the amount of extra equipment they need can be a bit overwhelming. What if you could replace a gimbal, a drone, and a dolly track with just a single piece of equipment. That’s the proposition that the Snoppa Rover is making, allowing cinematographers to roll the camera, even on the roughest of roads.
The Rover is a cinema dolly that boasts an advanced electronic stabilizer, a simple yet vague phrase that belies the true power this unassuming filmmaking tool really offers. What gives the Rover its ability to shoot stably on uneven ground is the fact that each of its three wheels can work independently of each other while also working in harmony together. Each wheel has its own damping system, sensors, and steering system that allows it to perform tricks that few dollies can do with ease. For example, each wheel can turn 360-degrees on its own, making it possible to do zero-radius turns in place without breaking a sweat.
Three wheels each with independent power control and steering system via three electric stabilizer arms.
That stabilization gives the Snoppa Rover almost unmatched flexibility, allowing cameras to roll on anything from concrete to rocky roads to uphill paths. In fact, flexibility might actually be the cinema dolly’s biggest superpower, allowing you to replace some equipment or remove the need to hire an extra person on your team. Need an extremely low-angle shot? Simply hang the camera upside down at the bottom of the Rover’s pole. If you do already have those other pieces of equipment around, you can also use them in tandem with the dolly, like using a tripod head or gimbal to control the tilt of the camera.
Active Damping System – Has built-in gyroscopes and acceleration sensors in each of its three stabilizer arms.
Steering System – The angle sensor (Hall sensor) at the joint between the stabilizer arm and the wheels of the Rover, the electric steering mechanism can be rotated 360.
Power System – The built-in gyroscope detects wheel speed in real-time, and the intelligent algorithm can distribute the power of each wheel individually.
You can control the Rover whichever way you prefer, whether from a phone or tablet, a dedicated transmitter control, or even manually. You can also pre-program the path that the dolly will take or have it lock on to a subject and follow that around. Hyperlapse is a piece of cake for the Rover, especially since it can “walk” at a steady pace and path, no matter the terrain. Even the best-planned paths fail, however, and you might have to change some points along the way. Fortunately, this dolly is smart enough to memorize the path it did take and replay that exact same route when you need to re-shoot later.
Arc Mode – Rover keeps the lens and the subject always equidistant, rotating one/half turn at the same rotation speed.
Lock Mode – Whether you are manually or remotely manipulating the Rover’s movement, the lens orientation will always remain the same.
Follow Mode – The lens will smoothly follow the movement of Rover. For use when a moving subject or a different subject needs to be shot, etc.
Target Mode – No matter how Rover moves, the subject is always in the center of the frame. This mode is only suitable for use when shooting fixed / still objects.
Smart Object Tracking – If you want to do a self-tracking shot, you can leave it to Rover to perform the tracking while saving manpower.
The Snoppa Rover is built for flexibility to cater to the varied needs of filmmakers, including the need for long hours of work. The dolly’s dual battery system allows it to continue working even when one battery dies out. Simply swap in an extra pack and watch the hours go by. And when it comes time to leave or change locations, simply fold the Rover up and roll out without missing a beat.
Hewing Haus is a prefabricated tiny home company that uses clean construction to build small-footprint tiny homes from sustainable materials.
As our cities face urbanization and densification, residents are leaving the crowds and heading to the country. Providing the functionality and versatility that ex-urbanites are looking for, prefabricated tiny homes run the gamut to provide all that one might need to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Responding to the demand for additional residences across global cities, the tiny home builders with Hewing Haus “leverage clean construction to build beautiful, small-footprint dwellings with the world’s strongest and most sustainable materials.”
Four basic units comprise Hewing Haus’ prefabricated tiny home catalog, ranging in size from 200sqf to 600sqf. Expanding on their commitment to sustainability, Hewing Haus constructs their tiny homes form cross-laminated timber (CLT), large-scale, prefabricated, solid engineered wood panels that “sequesters carbon making constructions fast, quiet and less costly,” as Hewing Haus builders describe.
Each residence as part of the Hewing Haus collection is modular by design, allowing residents to combines houses together to create larger interior spaces. The interior layout of Hewing Haus is also carefully planned out to optimize floor space and maximize living, helping residents feel like their homes are much larger than their parameters might suggest.
Depending on the size of the tiny home, the interior layout will change only slightly. Taking the smallest, 200sqf model as the general marker, residents can enter Hewing Haus from the exterior deck that traces the entire length of the home’s rear.
Connected to the spacious living room are a small kitchen and an enclosed bedroom if a larger model is chosen. On the other side of the house, residents can enjoy a bathroom with a full shower. While the layouts change with each model’s size, the larger they get, the more amenities are integrated into the build.
Like most tiny homes on the market today, Hewing Haus also comes with the option of off-grid living, equipping the home with full solar solution, a wood stove, propane stove, composting toilet, roof water collection, and an additional generator. Additionally, each model comes with Highly efficient European tilt and turn windows, sustainable exterior insulation, and electric heating capabilities.
Warm CLT panels merge with the natural sunlight to create bright interiors.
Floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the barrier between outdoor and interior spaces.
Hewing Haus furnishes the home with multifunctional furniture, like a sofa that transforms into a bed.
The exterior deck traces the entire length of Hewing Haus’ rear side.
The bathroom comes with a composting toilet and shower.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
Warm CLT panels merge with the natural sunlight to create bright interiors. 
