Hasta La Ideas

While working as a supply chain manager in her native Sweden, stress and exhaustion forced Thorunn Widö to take a period of sick leave. After returning to work, she found she had difficulty focusing. “It quickly became clear that it was not the work that was most demanding, but all the visual impressions my brain was forced to process.”

In search of a solution, Widö teamed up with entrepreneur Mia Skoog, and the two contacted Stockholm-based industrial design consultancy Myra to design a pair of “visual noise canceling” eyewear for their new company, AmbiCare.

Research showed that “60-80% of the information processed by our brains is visual,” Myra writes, “and by reducing this input, the brain can relax, leading to improved focus. Our task was to create a product based on these complex findings.” The result are these QuietFrames, billed as “visual noise-cancelling glasses.”

“With QuietFrames, you can create your own ‘bubble’ in the middle of a lively office environment. The soft shielding on QuietFrames eliminates peripheral distractions and minimizes flickering from overhead lights. Part of the lenses are nearly opaque to provide maximum shielding without making the user feel too enclosed. To ensure maximum comfort, the hinges are flexible, with soft and adjustable temple tips and nose pads. They have a comfort filter that reduces blue light and are perfect for use as terminal glasses.”

I’ve no idea if these work, but admit I’m curious.