Hasta La Ideas

The need for a mouse will never go away, even with all the innovative trackpads and keyboards available. Such a mouse still has numerous advantages, including ease of use and quicker to work with. Using a mouse may also be best to draw graphics and do digital art on the computer.

The tiny tool that sits on your desk has an essential purpose: to help you be more productive and get things done fast, whether for work, school, business, or leisure. A mouse should not slow you down or hurt your wrist; instead, it should allow you to work fast, productively, and without any pain. Industrial designer Arshad Asaaf knows first-hand the importance of an ergonomic mouse, so he came up with one that delivers intuitiveness and practicality.

Designer: Arshad Asaaf

Asaaf knows that both horizontal and vertical mice have benefits, so he attempted to combine them into one product. PALM is only a conceptual mouse, but Microsoft should consider checking out. The designer has decribed this as an “intuitive wonder that fits your palm.” The description fits because your hand really can fit right into the oddly shaped mouse.

Some people may prefer a vertical mouse, but your wrist can hurt after some time. Others find it slippery, so quick motion may be more challenging, especially for those with big hands. A mouse with the right size and angle is what people need as it will perfectly fit your palm.

To develop the perfect shape for the Palm Mouse, the designer implemented several 3D development techniques. With a simple use of CAD and clay, Arshad Asaaf was able to form the ideal shape of the mouse. Several models were made before the correct surface and 45-degree angle were achieved.

At first glance, you may think this is like any other vertical mouse in the market. It may be inspired by Microsoft, but this one comes with a subtle angled curved in front. The shape of the rest of the mouse follows the horizontal design, but this one still acts like a vertical mouse.

Unlike the usual mouse options we see or own, the mouse does not feature a scroll wheel. You can rest your hand free and over the mouse more comfortably. There are touch-sensitive buttons that perform what the scroll wheel usually does. It has a trackpad function requiring two-finger action to work and avoid unintended registrations or clicks. The mouse’s S-curve will hold the rest of your palm while the middle part can support your fingers. The wireless mouse works over Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, so you know it can be fast. A reliable connection is promised as long as two devices are paired. You can turn it off/on and it won’t have any problem recognizing your device.

The Microsoft Palm is only a concept design, but we can imagine it in different colors like Poppy Red, Pastel Popsicle, Ice Blue, and Silver Bullet. Each color version is intended for a purpose like Ice Blue to inspire calmness. Poppy Red develops a sense of energy and confidence—traits you need to get going. The Pastel Popsicle is not a boring option despite the gray shade because the bottom parts show a colorful gradient for an added punch.

The Silver Bullet boasts a more sophisticated look but may only be released in limited pieces. It has a clean upper look that shows a more elegant form. There is also a stainless steel Microsoft logo to give the mouse a more timeless appearance. The Silver Bullet appears to be unique with the combination of materials and colors. It is the most minimalist-looking version that may be the best choice for professional environments.

The post Microsoft Palm concept mouse combines manoeuvrability and ergonomics first appeared on Yanko Design.

One first look this revolutionary bicycle seems like the ride of a future world, too ahead of its time for the current era to even think of hopping on to. But then it proves us all wrong with the mechanics working behind to make it possible. An all-wheel-drive system and a construction element – wherein the whole bike is a modern marvel of engineering.

Created by Stuttgart-based designer Stephan Henrich, the uniquely shaped bicycle is an out-of-the-box automotive design by a long way. The all-wheel beach and city cruiser is propelled forward by a monotyre-clip chain system which automatically forms a temporary rim in the wheel sections, as well as a dented belt drive in the interior groove. The monotyre is powered via the central wheel as the crank generates the force required to churn the wheels. The bicycle sets into motion with the help of the short-chain, and an 8-speed gearbox which is nothing like we have seen thus far.

Designer: Stephan Henrich

The name infinity is obviously derived from the shape of the bicycle which in fact is perfect for a sci-fi flick plot. Independent suspension systems on the front and the rear provide the ride with enough dampening to take on the rugged and uneven roads. It’s more like a hubless bike concept that keeps intriguing us from time to time. That said, seeing it on a bicycle is an altogether different ball game – as the Infinity impresses with the one construction element that fluidly changes between functions.

Stephan strongly believes the all-wheel-drive bicycle design here has great potential to shake up the market. Given the requisite funds and strategic partners for manufacturing can give able support, the ride could soon take shape from a concept to a prototype, and then to a commercially viable product for the masses.

The post The revolutionary infinity all-wheel drive bicycle breaks the norms of automotive design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Once my headphones are in, the rest of the world is out. I scroll through my playlist and deep dive into my favorite musical tunes. And then I’m in my own little audio world, where everything is peaceful, my favorite singers are my best friends, and they just know the right things to say. If you’re a music fanatic as well, you know how important and sacred your personal music time can be, and how holy your relationship with your headphones is. After all, these are the resourceful little things that transport us into our beloved audio world. And, one of the most popular headphones these days are the Apple AirPods Max. But hey! Let’s remember that great headphones go beyond Apple as well. And this nifty list includes all of them – from sustainable cork headphones to sleek headphones that transform into a spiral-shaped speaker. Headphones designs these days are at an all-time high, and I’m sure you can’t wait to introduce your ears to them!

1. The Yamaha L700A

Coming from a company that has a reputation for making ‘serious’ audio equipment for serious musicians and audio professionals, the Yamaha L700A looks to treat a balance between being pro-gear and consumer-worthy. It sports a gray design, finished with fabric trims on the headband as well as on the earpieces themselves, making them look like condenser microphones from afar. The wireless headphones fold flat like the AirPods Max, for easy traveling, and instead of touch-sensitive panels or rotary knobs, the earphones actually come with buttons on the right earpiece for that reliable tactile experience.

2. Anis Jabloun’s Bang & Olufsen Concept

This concept design almost looks similar to B&O’s first wireless on-ear headphones, the BeoPlay H8 that launched way back in 2015. A key difference, visually speaking at least, is that the inner part of the cups is completely transparent. In theory, this has no effect on the quality of the audio the speakers put out, but it does send a clear (pun intended) message to anyone who sees it. Just like the cups, the sound you should expect from a B&O-branded headphone is crystal clear and unadulterated.

3. The Samsung Galaxy Level

While the Samsung Galaxy Buds are named because of their ‘bud’-shaped design (they look like kidney beans, personally), the Level headphones are named the way they are more because of how calibrated their sound is. The headphones have a slick outer design that comes with buttons located on the rim around the leather ear-cups, although touch-sensitive surfaces on the sides allow you to better interact with your multimedia, doing things like increasing or decreasing volume, answering/rejecting calls, cycling through music, or invoking Bixby or your phone’s own Voice Assistant.

4. Helix

These sleek and futuristic headphones have a hidden secret – they transform into a speaker! Usually, once you’re done listening to your favorite tunes, you simply place your headphones on your desk or any other preferred spot, however, Helix’s soft headband and ball joint arm, allow you to easily twist and mold the headphones, enabling them to transform into a spiral-shaped speaker. In their speaker form, the headphones also look like a cool little sculpture, something you can place in your room, and are sure to be asked questions about! The headphones come amped with an accessible dial that allows you to control the volume, and change the songs, by lightly adjusting the dial. The dial also works perfectly when Helix is in its speaker form.

5. The Noveto N1

What the Noveto N1 does is different. Rather than pressing speakers against each ear, the N1 sits on your desk and ‘beams’ audio towards your ear just like a regular Bluetooth speaker… but what it also does is make sure the audio doesn’t go anywhere beyond your ear. It doesn’t travel sideways to someone sitting beside you, doesn’t travel behind your ear either to your partner standing right behind you. It just travels exactly to both your ears, creating ‘invisible pockets of sound’, or invisible headphones.

6. The Beoplay HX

Feature-for-feature, the Beoplay HX seems like they were designed to compete with the AirPods Max… and probably even win. The wireless over-ear headphones have the highest battery-life in their category (with the AirPods Max falling short by 10 hours, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 by 5). They’re outfitted with ANC (active noise-canceling) on the inside, and when the feature’s switched off, the headphones last well beyond 40 hours on a single charge. The headphones come in black (with an all-white variant launching in a month), featuring a body made from recycled plastic, capped off with a radial-brushed aluminum disc.

7. Cork Headphones

These cork headphones are another great addition to that list and show us that gadgets can also go green – you would be surprised to know how much plastic goes into making a simple pair of headphones. Weighing only 64 grams  (0.14 lbs) these headphones are super light! Cork is a versatile material that is being explored to design sustainable products. It is non-allergic, resilient, sound insulating, moisture-proof, and soft to touch. If you are an everyday headphone user, you know that there is a lot of wear and tear that happens and instead of repairing, we usually just upgrade which increases our plastic consumption.

8. The Apple AirPods Max Light

Titled the Apple AirPods Max Light (a bit of a word-salad there), these conceptual headphones take Apple’s high-end audio experience and make them more accessible. The headphones come with a plastic body, while constantly maintaining the original silhouette. The headband is retained from the AirPods Max, although the cans themselves are made from plastic as opposed to anodized aluminum… that would help eliminate that condensation problem some of the AirPods Max headphones have been having. The band extends all the way to the sides, intersecting with the individual ear-cups.

9. Ordi

Dubbed Ordi, the stylish wearable gadget aims towards lifting the self-esteem of people with cochlear implants. The idea takes inspiration from the bone conduction headphones that transmit the sound by vibrating the head and jawbones. This tech bypasses the need to relay the sound to the eardrum and the inner ear. The designers combined the bone conduction technology and the features of the cochlear implant into a sound processor for a musical experience shared via smartphones or any other portable audio device. Unlike standard headphones, the Ordi is designed to automatically adjust the left and right ear balance by placing sound processing transmitters on both sides.

10. The Level X3

What’s better than one audio device? A two-in-one! No?! A three-in-one!! I’ve officially hit crazy with the Level x3 Headphones. Just like the Matryoshka dolls, these babies are one big bag of surprises. Designed to be your everything-audio solution, the Level X3 is a pair of in-ear earphones, that fit into headphones. Audio synchronization allows your headphones to continue what you were listening to on your earphones. The only way to top off that awesome idea is to step it up with the Cradle, a docking device for the headphones that not only charges them but acts as an all-in-one speaker.

The post Top 10 headphone designs of 2022 that are even better than the Apple AirPods Max first appeared on Yanko Design.

Carefol is a helmet case for electric city scooters with an integrated UV sanitization hub to ensure hygienic use amongst different riders.

For people without cars who live in big cities, electric scooters are a godsend. Whether you use them to reduce your personal carbon footprint for the day or you just like the feeling of riding a two-wheeler alongside Mack trucks and SUVs, electric scooters help you get to your destination fast, but they’re not always the safest option.

Designers: Jueun Lee and SooA Choi

Besides needing a helmet just to dodge the scooters left on sidewalks, city scooters don’t typically come with accompanying helmets, so it’s generally an “at-your-own-risk,” form of transportation. Despite efforts to bring helmets to city scooters, hygienic and storage problems complicated things. Carefol, a PVC helmet case with an integrated UV sanitizing system, designed by Jueun Lee and SooA Choi presents a solution.

Incorporating PVC waste into the very build of the helmet case, Carefol is built from a mix of recycled material and conventional helmet straps. Built with rounded edges and an overall geometric shape, Carefol’s build is simple to ensure intuitive use.

In their 3D renderings, Lee and Choi envisioned Carefol being strapped on the main support bar where users can easily access the UV sanitization hub and use the external hooks as supplemental storage components. When the helmet is out of its storage bin, users can use the empty compartment to store their commuting goods in addition to an external hook to hang grocery or tote bags.

The helmet essentially creates its own enclosed bin by merging with the sanitization station. The bottom of the helmet, where the user’s head would go, inserts into the raised UV platform to be sanitized, while the top of the helmet gives a rounded top to the Carefol helmet case. Then, a glass covering doubly protects the helmet. When needed, users can then easily dislodge the helmet from its case by tugging on its top strap.

The helmet case remains out of the way during rides to ensure safety.

The team of designers worked dot make Carefol’s shape and size as convenient as possible. 

Riders can even use the helmet case as a supplemental storage unit during their commute.

When not in use, Carefol can be charged via an integrated USB port. 

A glass covering protects the top of the helmet and ensures sanitization.

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Living in your dream house can be pretty exciting. However, when you are already there inside the house you just built or purchased, it can be a pretty overwhelming feeling to finally achieve what you have been working hard for all your life. A big house may usually mean you are successful in your career or business, but it’s not always true.

Some people have a big house and yet are not successful. On the other hand, some highly successful people choose to live in more modest or smaller homes. We have lost count of how many people we have read about that switched to tiny home living. With all the tiny home options available in the market, it can be easy to make that decision.

Tiny home living is becoming more popular, especially during this pandemic, but we believe it will go beyond being just a trend. Many couples and families have already embraced this lifestyle for its many advantages. Unfortunately, it also has many disadvantages, but it will be up to you to decide if you are going ahead with living in such tiny homes.

PROS

1. Less Space, Less Clutter

Smart Lucia

The bigger the house, the messier it will be. On the contrary, the smaller the house, the less space to make a mess. There’s not much floor area to clean and you have less stuff so it may only take a few minutes each day to tidy up a tiny home. Deep cleaning may not be required frequently or if you have to, you will only need a few hours or so.

2. Eco-efficiency

Planedenning by Baluchon

Most tiny homes are eco-efficient and the small size means a smaller footprint. The house is also tight, so heat is kept inside. As a result, the need for heating or cooling will be less depending on the season.

3. Lower Cost of Living

Minima

With everything tinier, the cost of living can also be lower. You can still be buying a tiny luxury home, but charges for upkeep will still be lower in the long run because it is energy-efficient. In addition, utility bills are lower and less expensive because of the size of the home.

4. Modern Living

Lola

A small home is easier to build. You can buy a tiny prefab home and customize it according to your taste. You may need to be smarter with your purchases of home appliances, so everything is efficient and comfortable. This means you may need to opt for more modern appliances that are usually more efficient.

5. Travel-Friendly

Draper

Most tiny homes are attached to vehicles, so you can travel whenever and wherever. This is why many families are switching to tiny home living because they can go anywhere they like. They can bring their school, work, and home to a new place. It is like camping but made more modern, hi-tech, and fun.

CONS

1. Issues with the Law

Elsa

Tiny home laws are different depending on the state. You can travel with your tiny home, but it’s not always a guarantee you will be allowed to say long or relocate. Even if you only need a parking space, some cities may be strict. You need to make sure you check the zoning regulation and safety.

The problem usually starts with the size of the tiny home. Some are too small that they may not be considered as a residence. It may be difficult to gain permits, but they are usually classified as recreational vehicles (RVs) so you can still park.

2. Low Resale Value

Microhaus

You can have the most luxurious tiny home your money can buy, but its value can still depreciate. If you are getting a loan to purchase a tiny home, it may be a challenge to get one. If you sell your tiny home, it may also be challenging. Improvements and upgrades to the house may increase the value, but it may not be enough.

3. Tricky Tiny Home Cooking

Cover

Cooking inside a tiny home can be a challenge. You have a small kitchen which means the counter is small, and you can’t be the home chef you’re meant to be with a small cooking area. Also, the small fridge means you can’t store much, so you may be forced to go to the grocery more often. If not, you may always be tempted to call food delivery.

4. Not Enough Space

House Tokyo

Not having enough storage is a big problem for those living in tiny homes. That is why it is good to always declutter and Marie Kondo your stuff; however, this can be difficult for hoarders. You need to check your things and remove what you don’t need because you have to stay within the weight limit of the house.

5. The Toilet Situation

Permanent Camping II

The discussion about bathrooms and toilets is usually complicated. Most tiny homes don’t have proper plumbing, so you need to learn how to compost. There are systems for the waste you need to eliminate, but they’re just there. You need to take them out regularly and wish they don’t overflow when you’re traveling. They usually won’t, but you know, accidents can happen, and we don’t want that.

Wrap-Up

Living with less can be satisfying, but tiny home living is not for everyone. Before deciding if you’re ready to move from a spacious home to a tiny one, you need to think hard and weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, you will have to decide, so it is okay to take time to think about your future home situation. Tiny home living can be scary, but it can also be very liberating.

The post Pros and Cons of Tiny Home Living first appeared on Yanko Design.