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Automotive brand Nissan has unveiled the first smartwatch concept to communicate with a car, providing drivers with real-time information such as average speed and heart rate (+ movie).

The Nismo Watch will connect with Nissan‘s Nismo vehicle range, enabling drivers to keep track of their speed and fuel consumption to help improve efficiency.

Racing drivers will be able to use the watch to access performance statistics while on track. Data from the car and wearer will be transmitted to a smartphone app via bluetooth, where it will be stored.

The watch will also track and rate the user’s social media activity across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram via Nissan’s Social Speed software.

“Wearable technology is fast becoming the next big thing and we want to take advantage of this innovative technology to make our Nismo brand more accessible,” said Gareth Dunsmore, the brand’s Marketing Communications General Manager.

The interface will be controlled by two buttons on the smooth band, which will secure to the wrist with a snap-fit mechanism and come in black, white, or a combination of black and red.

A lithium battery will have a life of over seven days and charge by micro-USB. Packaging for the watch will be made using rubber from racetrack tyres.

Nissan has also set up a mobile laboratory to develop and test additional features for its wearable technology.

It is hoped these new features will be able to monitor biometrics including heart rhythm intervals to identify when drivers are becoming tired, brainwaves to track concentration levels and emotions, plus skin temperature to record core body temperature and hydration levels.

The concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this week, close behind electronics brand Samsung‘s announcement about its own smartwatch.

Google is set to launch its Google Glass augmented reality eyewear in 2014, which the UK government wants to ban for drivers amid safety concerns.

Apple is also rumoured to be working on a smartwatch that might take the form of a slap bracelet with a video display patented by the company earlier this year. See more wearable technology »

Here are more details from Nissan:

Nissan enters wearable technology space with the unveil of the Nismo watch concept

Nissan launches first smartwatch to connect car and driver performance.

First smartwatch concept to connect driver and car Nismo Watch showcases Nissan’s intent to deliver biometric data that enhances driver performance and efficiency Nissan is investigating heart and brain monitoring technologies for future wearable tech.

Nissan will become the first car manufacturer to create a smartwatch designed specifically for drivers of Nissan Nismo cars. The Nissan Nismo Concept Watch will be the first smartwatch to connect a driver to the car and will provide drivers with real-time biometric data.

The watch, unveiled today ahead of its display at the Frankfurt Motor Show (10-22 September 2013), is Nissan’s first step into wearable technology and epitomises its “fan first” approach to performance.

The Nissan Nismo Watch will allow drivers to: monitor the efficiency of their vehicle with average speed and fuel consumption readings; access vehicle telematics and performance data while on track; capture biometric data via a heart rate monitor; connect to the car using a smartphone app via Bluetooth Low Energy; receive tailored car messages from Nissan.

Gareth Dunsmore, Marketing Communications General Manager, Nissan in Europe, commented: “Wearable technology is fast becoming the next big thing and we want to take advantage of this innovative technology to make our Nismo Brand more accessible. On track, Nissan uses the latest biometric training technologies to improve the performance of our Nissan Nismo Athletes and it is this technology we want to bring to our fans to enhance their driving experience and Nismo ownership.”

Earlier this year, Nissan launched the Nismo Lab – a bespoke, mobile laboratory that features the latest, advanced biometric training tools such as brainwave technology and JukeRide – a cutting-edge performance analysis tool, that captures live biometric and telematics data from the race cars and Nissan Nismo Athletes during races. Nismo’s vision is to take these digital age technologies and make them available to athletes from other disciplines and to Nissan owners through future wearable tech.

Three key technologies have already identified for future development: ECG (Electrocardiogram) – to measure the intervals of the R-R rhythm of the heart, and identify early fatigue; EEG (Electroencephalogram) Brainwave – to monitor the drivers’ levels of concentration and emotions, and help athletes to get ‘In The Zone’; Skin Temperature – to record core body temperature and hydration levels; The Nismo Watch will also track and rate the user’s social performance across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram via Nissan’s proprietary Social Speed software.

The sleek Nismo Watch will be available in three colours – black, white and the flagship black and red. The watch design was inspired by the Nismo ring and is reflected in a seamless, futuristic and ergonomic design. The simple user interface can be controlled by two buttons and is secured onto the driver’s wrist via a simple snap-fit mechanism.

Even the packaging will have a unique Nismo identity. Dunsmore concluded: “We have brought the Nismo experience to life in every aspect of the watch, including its packaging, which will be made using tyres and rubber from the racetrack. As Nismo is the performance arm of Nissan, we wanted a way of integrating Nismo’s heritage in racing into this futuristic innovation.”

The Nismo Watch will use a lithium battery and will be charged by micro-USB, with a battery life of over seven days under normal usage conditions.

The post Nismo smartwatch
by Nissan appeared first on Dezeen.

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Situé en Islande dans le parc national de Thingvellir, patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO depuis 2004, le ION Hôtel est véritablement un lieu d’exception. Alliant un design ultra moderne avec un environnement naturel assez sauvage, le lieu est magnifique. Un endroit original à découvrir en images dans la suite.

Movie: Dutch designer Hella Jongerius explains why she enjoys working with colours and textiles rather than designing full pieces of furniture in the third video interview we filmed at her studio in Berlin. 

“It’s just one solution for design, making stuff,” says Jongerius, who works with Swiss furniture company Vitra as creative director of colours, textiles and surfaces. “You can do so much more with your talent and brains [as a designer].”

Jongerius has worked on refreshing the colour palette Swiss brand Vitra uses for its furniture, including famous designs by Charles and Ray Eames and Jean Prouvé.

“Vitra have great stuff,” she says. “Why do they need me to create another piece of furniture? They need me on another level.”

Jongerius says that she enjoys working with textiles for the same reason; they enable her to express her creativity without designing a new product from scratch.

“If you design a textile you don’t have to design a full new piece,” she says. “Just the skin can make the new design. That’s why I find textiles interesting and also a nice subject for the future. There are not many designers that are good in textiles.”

However, Jongerius says that many companies are resistant to using new colours or textiles in their products, valuing consistency and durability over quality of colour or texture.

“There are very many colours to choose from,” she says. “But [the colours manufacturers use] only come from a certain scheme in the whole colour world: colours that do not change due to daylight. That’s what they think consumers want, colours that stay the same from morning to the evening and I think that’s really a mistake.”

She continues: “Testing in the industrial world is really so outdated. It’s all about the functional level. If you ask people if they care that a colour changes during the day, or if a fabric wears out after some years, I think there are many consumers who will see that as a quality.”

“But still we are testing as if you are wearing velcro on your jeans all the time, or you [will] invite an elephant to sit on your armrest. A lot is lost because of the testing.”

Despite the difficulty in convincing manufacturers to change their approach to colours and materials, Jongerius believes it is a worthwhile pursuit.

“It’s very difficult to sell,” she says. “But it’s a topic where I can use my brains and talent to change something in the industrial world. If you design the skin you have a new product and you don’t have to have a whole new table or a whole new sofa.”

See our previous story about Vitra’s updated Prouvé range »
See all our stories about Hella Jongerius »

The post “Why create another piece of furniture?”
– Hella Jongerius appeared first on Dezeen.