With exciting new technological advances, the prospects for what could be seem endless
There are so many exciting ventures and ideas out in the world that I boiled this post to 3 main trends:
Applying gamification to reality
Capitalizing on mobility
Creating and supplementing innovation through hidden interaction
Applying Gamification to Reality
Game Developer , Jane McGonigal, uses gamification as an approach to overcome personal and global issues such as obesity, depression, climate change, and hunger. She has developed, Superbetter, an app that implements qualities of gaming such as:
Blissful productivity (The idea of leveling up “+1 strength”)
Social fabric (The strong and trusting social network gamers make with one another)
Urgent Optimism (The positive belief that above all odds, success can be achieved)
Epic Meaning (An engrossing and inspiring reason for “why” action must be taken)
Ringbow, designed by Saar Shai and Efrat Barit, is a gaming accessory that makes interaction with touchscreen devices much more efficient. Woven is the first of its kind, creating a completely wearable gaming platform that allows the user to interact with their environment via bluetooth, Internet, body movement sensors, and heart rate sensors.
Capitalizing on Mobility
Our world seems to only get faster and the necessity of mobile technology to accommodate that speed will become even more important. Europe and Japan have been advocates of the smartphone, but the United States is pushing for innovation with data exchange while monetizing the idea of advertising on mobile devices without inhibiting the lifestyles of its users. Samuel Lee Kwon forsees a future with less screen space.
Mobility comes in a number of different forms if we think about not only the accessories we wear to look stylish, but the accessories we use to multitask throughout the day. Aftershokz has what they call an”open ear headphone” design to keep athletes and office workers “connected to their music and social life while remaining active.”
Innovators are looking at how current actions, lifestyles, and objectives that are accepted as they are can be improved through interactive and wearable products. Bleep Bleeps helps families get pregnant, give birth, look after their babies, and raise their children. Melon “helps users understand and improve focus across activities ranging from studying to exercise”.
Technology has been developed to not only support performance for swimmers but also enhance it. Nu Dolphin Lite is a 100% waterproof MP3 player that accommodates the rigors of swimming, while the Powerbreather uses a one way valve mechanism connected to swimmers mouth to keep constant, uninhibited airflow.
Probably the most compelling evidence of mobile and interactive design comes in its advancements in the health field making an undeniable argument of how we can improve and save lives through design. Lifestraw is a simple product that allows the user to filter and drink clean water anytime and anywhere. First Warning System has designed a bra that helps detect early signs of breast cancer. Scandu imagines and realizes a future where a person can know their health just as well as their doctor through the data collected on their body. What I found most exciting was a fingertip sensor still being developed to help doctors have an enhanced sense of touch or perhaps make incisions and cuts with just the touch of a finger.
Creating and supplementing innovation through hidden interaction
Coming from fashion I found this third trend I saw to be fun, playful, and exciting. The NoWhere NowHere Dress begins to move when the sensor in the dress detects eyes staring at it. It brings a whole new meaning to turning heads when you walk into a room. The No Place Like Home shoes “are embedded with GPS and switching devices; like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers in The Wizard of Oz, one click and the shoes will navigate the wearer to a desired destination through LED lights that signal the route.” Powerfelt is a material that produces electrical charges when the temperature changes. Imagine a future where simply having your mobile devices touching your clothing keeps you constantly connected without the worry of rationing your battery. An even more subtle innovation is produced by NanoSphere where fabric surfaces never absorb water or dirt. Imagine: adding anti-odor treatment to this fabric could render washers obsolete and combat the incredibly volatile amount of pollution fast fashion creates.
