Hasta La Ideas

Last week, the so-called “Porscheberry” generated quite a bit of (mostly negative) discussion as to whether or not it could save Research in Motion. As one commenter pointed out, the sunset wallpaper was an apt metaphor for what most regarded as what might well be RIM’s swan song. (I, for one, saw the P’9981, with shallow curves and sleek gunmetal finish, as a belated echo of Yves Behar’s iconic Jawbone… which, of course, dates back to late 2006.)

But you don’t need to be Porsche or fuseproject to come up with a buzzworthy comms device (though an internship at IDEO doesn’t hurt): recent interaction design grad Michael Harboun—a runner-up for the Speculative / Conceptual category of the first annual Core77 Design Awards—recently collaborated with fellow students Thomas Chabrier and Antoine Coubronne on “Angle,” a clever new take on the Bluetooth headset.

People protect their phones with cases but only a few think about protecting their ears with headsets. With Angle, fixing a bluetooth headset gets as intuitive as picking up a phone…

Everything lies in the move. In an easy gesture, you activate the conversation by sliding the phone on your ear. The movement naturally lays down Angle on your ear and you can now benefit from the hands-free communication.

Angle proposes a new move—quick and easy—for a new, safer attitude.

So yes, it’s essentially a Bluetooth headset that’s been integrated into a charging case… and if the form factor isn’t quite as elegant as, say, the Jawbone, the user-friendly design might just represent the sort of subtle behavioral shift that makes a big difference. Instead of fumbling with headphone cables or fishing for elusive earpieces, the “Angle” is more like a natural extension of a smartphone case—specifically (and tellingly) for the iPhone.

The gesture itself looks a bit absurd at first—something like leaving your coffee mug on top of your car and driving away—but who knows, maybe the “Angle” will set a new standard for the Bluetooth earpiece. After all, we’ve now come to assume that anyone who seems to be mindlessly chattering into thin air is actually attached to a discreet hands-free device and, in turn, a similarly-equipped conversation partner on the other end.

(more…)

The PorscheBerry is here. In an effort to reclaim lost marketshare, Research in Motion has hearteningly sought to invest in design, tapping Porsche Design to develop their new P’9981 smartphone in the latter company’s striking, signature style.

The question is, will it be enough to get RIM back on the map?

In the ’90s, when all cell phones did was make phone calls, I was living in Japan. Several times I’d gone cell phone shopping with friends in Tokyo and the selection was staggering. The only thing to distinguish one phone from another was its physical design as the features were all largely the same—the most complicated thing you’d need to do was retrieve voicemail, and if I remember correctly, my phone only held three messages at a time so there wasn’t a lot of futzing to be done.

(more…)

Today marks the launch of Silicon Valley startup Nest Labs‘ Learning Thermostat, a device that is exactly what it sounds like and much more: a thermostat that learns from user behavior to create a custom heating and cooling schedule. Company founders Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers—who spearheaded the design and engineering of the iPod, respectively—found it “unacceptable… that the device that controls 10 percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. hadn’t kept up with advancements in technology and design.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the annual energy bill for a typical single-family home is approximately $2,200, with heating and cooling (HVAC) accounting for approximately half of the bill. The programmable thermostat, developed in the 1970s, promised to help people conserve energy, but 89 percent of owners rarely or never set a program (source: ACEEE, 2010). The devices are simply too complicated. In fact, Energy Star revoked its certification of all thermostats in 2009 when it became apparent that people weren’t actually engaging with programmable thermostats to reach their proper functionality.

Nest addresses the programming problem through a combination of sensors, algorithms, machine learning, and cloud computing. Nest learns behaviors and preferences and adjusts the temperature up or down accordingly, making you comfortable when you’re home and saving energy while you’re away. Nest also provides people with tips and information to help them make energy-saving choices.

Thus, the Nest Learning Thermostat sets new standard for climate control: while the device learns continuously throughout its lifetime, the first week of operation is purely a schedule acquisition period. The UI/UX is vaguely iPod-like in its intuitiveness: rotate the (brushed aluminum) outer ring in either direction to adjust the temperature.

Wi-Fi connectivity allows for remote control via network devices—i.e. laptop, smartphone or tablet—as well as metrics and syncing with weather.

Along with requisite temperature sensors, the Nest is also equipped with activity and ambient light detectors so it knows when you’re home, so a (secure) mobile app also allows for even remoter control.

(more…)

HJC Design’s innovative concept aims to connect the city through its rich architectural heritage

Designed to embody Prague’s renowned architectural past in a decidedly modern silhouette, the new Prague taxi concept offers a look at the possible future of city transportation inspired by its historical tram network. The creative concept, dubbed Praha, was done by U.K.-based product design and manufacture consultancy HJC Design, known for combining innovative technology and striking aesthetics. Technologically speaking, the unique taxi concept features high-intensity LED lights in the front and rear and a fully-integrated augmented-reality display that allows users to select their route—including virtual city tours on a central console modeled after the floral-motif ceiling of Prague’s Great Hall.

Numerous local elements have influenced the taxi’s overall design, drawing on the city and its rich architectural history in nearly every detail. Bench seating that fits up to five adults is composed of 18 wooden strips to symbolize Prague’s 18 bridges (the LED rear lights are also bunched in clusters of 18 bulbs to reference the rivers), while the dashboard, styled after the city’s skyline, is textured with 100 individual dimples to denote the “City of 100 Spires.” The floor’s hexagonal blueprint design represents Prague University’s solar cell technology while the taxi’s fluid curvature aims to follow that of the Vltava river.

For riders more interested in the surrounding city than the augmented-reality experience inside, a glass roof offers a panoramic view of the city, something often lost in transit. The red and white color scheme is also reminiscent of the Czech Republic’s flag as well as the city’s original tram design. For more information on Praha, check out HJC Design online .

Keep track of places with an app designed for bookmarking on the go

Every day, we walk by countless restaurants, shops, galleries and general curiosities whose interior ambiance we mentally bookmark, telling ourselves we must go back. And yet, when it comes time to pick a place for a group dinner, entertain a date or simply recommend the perfect place for a friend, we draw a complete blank.

Referencing the age-old practice of grabbing a restaurant’s branded matches on the way out, Matchbook allows users to “bookmark a place to remember it later” using the location information from Foursquare. Through the iPhone’s built-in GPS capabilities, you can either type in the name of a place you’d like to save or tag it as you’re walking by, organizing fleeting intentions into a solid list of where to go around town.

If you’re ready to streamline from a desktop crammed with Post-it notes, ink-smudged jottings on your hand or a jar of actual matchbooks, the app can help keep you organized and on your way. Matchbook is free and available for download from iTunes.