17 Ground Breaking Concept Gadgets That You Wish Were in Production
The minds of inventors and designers never cease to amaze us with the concepts that they create. Especially those that find their way into the reality of production.
A majority of the most popular concepts involve future computing and communication technologies. From cell phones to mobile computers with amazingly intelligent, creative, and portable technology. But there are also many great designs that have functionality and practicality outside of computing and communications. Even though functionality and practicality drive many designs, entertainment value and the idea of the product being just plain fun sometimes takes over.
This list, which is part 1 of this series, shows just a glimpse into some of those amazingly creative concept gadgets.
With the cell phone market saturated with different styles, colors, and functionality truly original concepts are a pleasant change from the standard. The Nokia Morph is one of those concepts. It takes advantage of nanoscale technologies to create a mobile device made with flexible and transparent materials that are extremely strong. The flexibility allows it to change shape and can serve different functions depending on the configuration. The nanotechnology can be self-cleaning, improving the lifespan of the device in several ways. It also incorporates surfaces that naturally repel water, dirt, and fingerprints.
The Morph could also take advantage of solar power converted from the surface of the device allowing for smaller batteries that quickly recharge with a longer lifespan. One other new capability is the ability to sense the environment. For example, analyzing air pollution, or telling you if the produce that you are about to eat should be cleaned before consumption. It will be interesting to see if a concept such as this will come to market and if it happens any time soon (in concept years, that is).
2. The Sony Portable Fuel Cell Charger
I constantly have the problem of my gadgets running low on power or dying at times when I don’t have a charger or plug-in. I use them quite frequently and it would be nice to have a fuel cell to replace the old and over used plug-in charger. I hate to be tethered to a wall if I need to use them and honestly they rarely leave my side, to some sad, to others necessity. This is where Sony’s concept portable fuel cell comes in.
Sony’s concept is a portable fuel cell that can be attached to a key ring. The fuel cell powers and/or recharges devices using standard USB ports. It contains a replaceable methanol fuel cell with a backup rechargable lithium-ion battery, providing charges when the fuel cell cannot be immediately replaced. I think that the market for such a gadget would be huge considering the sheer number of portable devices in play.
Often behind in terms of affordable, mainstream technology. The handicapped often have to spend more money than others to get somewhat comparible or equal technology. Visually impaired people have to read braille books which leaves them out of the conversion of physical text to digital.
The concept for the Braille E-Book was designed by Seon-Keun Park, Byung-Min Woo, Sun-Hye Woo, & Jin-Sun Park. This e-book, waiting for venture capital, uses technology called EAP (electroactive polymers) to alter the surface, recreating each page in braille as the page is turned. The problem with physical braille books is that the translation consideribly thickens the book itself. A braille e-book could be a saving grace. If the Braille E-Book was made available and caught on like the Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader there is the possiblility that translation costs for a braille book would fall as demand increases with the ease of access and convenience of use of the Braille E-Book.
Mentors are a wonderful thing for anyone. Imagine a digital one for your child providing for their curiosity and need to learn new things. The Tribons wearable computer concept gives a kid emotional support while increasing their knowledge and skills. In addition, adding to the wearers experience not available in their actual life.
The Tribons would be worn as a head piece and controlled by a 3D user interface, projecting the informational material. It would also have a built in safety feature that lets parents track their children. With an add-on module parents can also monitor the childs health.
The Elio Linear Scale watch is a sleek and modern remake of the traditional dial-faced watch. The Elio uses ‘progress bars’ to display the time, similar to a download status bar. The way the watch displays the time you can visualize “the time spent and the time remaining.”
6. Link – Urban Modular Scooter System
Scooters offer an affordable and eco-friendly mode of transportation. The concept for the Link Urban Modular Scooter System was developed with Sydney, Australia in mind. Sydney plans to make the city more pedestrian centered by reducing the number of cars on the road.
A modular system can be retrofitted using present Streetscape Smart Poles, which light poles that combine power and telecommunications. The system would have a charging hub for the scooters that are rentable from hub to hub. The zero emissions scooters provide excellent on-demand, eco-friendly transportation perfectly suited for shorter-distance city commutes.
7. Zoybar
For the musicians who like customization or want more personalization than the standard assortment of pre-built stringed instruments, the Zoybar fills the need. The Zoybar is an instrument platform that allows for expansion and modification to the players taste, allowing for different controllers and effects. Each configuration makes for different instrument each time.
Although the technology for the projection of 3D holograms in open space as seen in Star Wars and Vanilla Sky is physically impossible…at the moment. The Trou Hologram Mobile Phone provides a glimpse into what may be if the technology emerges. With this concept a physical screen isn’t used. Instead a 3D image would be projected by very small projectors which are run along the inner surface of the area where a physical screen would normally be located. Imagine a 3D map of the city streets that you are walking or driving, or a hologram of the person that you are talking to. That is the reality that this concept wishes upon the mobile phone market in which there “will be no war amongst manufacturers with regards to display…”
This concept serves two functions. ‘Light’ is a simple map with some more complex features. The features come alive in the dark when the map can light itself up, making it readable with zero ambient light, or be rolled into a flashlight. This would be a light-weight alternative for a flashlight for the outdoorsman, with whom the weight of their packs makes much difference, while giving a simple way to read a map in the darkness when needed.
The ‘Light’ concept uses a paper-thin battery, sandwiched between two sheets of paper, with multiple LEDs that turn on when the paper is rolled and two electrodes on the reverse side of the paper are touched together making the map a flashlight. While most gadgets seem to come to market combining features not always in-sync or unnecessarily, this concept gadget makes sense for those that wish to light up a map, which obviously needs light in the darkness, and use the same map as a flashlight. Thus allieviating the need for two seperate items that would instead work harmoniously as one.
10. D-Roll Laptop
The D-Roll laptop takes portability to a level beyond netbooks, with a futuristic aesthetic and built-in carrying portability. The laptop is constructed in a tube shape. The screen and keyboard roll-up and are stored in the tube. When in full functionality mode the tube is the main componenent of the laptop which houses all of the computing power. There is no need to set up in full functionality mode when you only need a quick check of your email. The tube has a smaller built-in screen perfect for reading and sending emails when the full functionality of a laptop isn’t required. The strap on the D-Roll not only acts as a carrying strap but also, a lock and USB hub. This concept looks exciting for those of us that want a unique look with extreme portability and full functionality.
11. Swatch Infinity
The Swatch Infinity concept watch goes in the opposite direction of the Elio Linear Scale concept. Where the Elio stays single function the Swatch Infinity encompasses four functions. In addition to being a watch the Swatch Infinity contains an MP3 player, a video recorder/player, and a photo album feature. The watch uses a magnetic clasp and the sleek, smooth black body detaches to be recharged.
This bonsai isn’t typical. You don’t have to prune, shape, or water it. You don’t work for it, it works for you. The solar powered bonsai incorporates solar panels as the leaves of the tree, converting sunlight into electricity for your power hungry gadgets. This eco-friendly concept, devised by Vivian Muller, charges your electronic gadgets by plugging them into a universal or USB plug.
13. KRE8
Most love music, some more than others. To the point that, even if they aren’t professionals, they have to create their own. Creativity doesn’t always come at the most convenient times. That is what designer Jose Tomas DeLuna’s concept remedies. The KRE8 has three modes (Instrument Mode, Mix Mode, and Record Mode) that respond to gesture movements through sensors and accelerometers. The KRE8 utilizes a touch screen alleviating the need for traditional knobs, sliders, and switches.
The output produced is a MIDI signal that you can broadcast publicly or privately through 3G networks. The concept also includes the option of storing the mix on the wireless network allowing others to access it when they arrive at the location that the mix was created. Others have the option to listen or add to the mix creating new based on someone elses previous work. I’m not sure if the network mixes could be marked anonymous but an originally-created entertaining communte would ensue for all those interested.
14. Papyrus E-Book
E-book concepts are currently quite common but the Papyrus E-Book concept has a uniqueness that makes it stand out. Greener Grass, the designers of Papyrus, have students in mind with this e-book. The device would allow students to take notes with handwriting recognition and interact with teachers through built-in networking. The designers don’t expect their concept to come to production as much as to be a “catalyst for discussion about improving the classroom experience.” They would like the e-book, and not necessarily thier specific concept, to become a cheaper alternative to bags full of expensive textbooks. Greener Grass would like to see a price point of $100.
15. emotivEpoc
Controlling objects with thought alone is not as far off as many would believe, although those objects will be in a computer. The emotiveEpoc stirred up quite a frenzy as people discovered that the possibility of mind controlled game-play was within reach. The concept was developed and tested with only slight success. The folks at Emotive Systems have held off on producing and releasing this concept come-to-life until the system is perfected. The concept is a great advance and maybe with some patience from fans of the idea and some more hard work from the developers the product will see market release.
The emotivEpoc is a headset that contains electrodes which read electric signals in the brain, detecting thought, feeling, and facial expressions. It connects to the PC wirelessly with a USB Dongle which doesn’t require any special drivers. The planned release price is $299.
Designer Miika Mahonen brings the Nokia Pocket Projector concept. This concept gadget is a multimedia device combining an image projector and Dolby NXT-speaker to create a multimedia player that uses a mobile phone as an interactive remote. The gadget projects images at a resolution of 1280 x 768 in sizes from 15 inches to 60 inches from approximately 8 feet away. The included LED light technology produces 1000 lumens of brightness with 16.7 million colors. This device would lend itself well for those who are on-the-go and want to watch a movie on a screen bigger than that on their mobile device or to display a business presentation.
17. Q-Sound Solar Bluetooth Headphones
Shepeleff Stephen developed a set of concept headphones which use solar power to alleviate the need to constantly recharge a pair of Bluetooth headphones under normal use. The Q-Sound Solar headphones will give the wearer 40 hours of use on a full charge. In one hour of sunlight the concept headphones will gain about 2.5 hours of maximum volume useage. The rechargable batteries are removable to be replaced when and if needed.
The looks of the concept Q-Sound’s are a stylish silver and black with blue solar panels across the headband of the over-ear headphones. In addition to being wireless there is an optional 3.5mm jack to plug in the headphones if necessary.
This list is a short sample of some of the exciting new concepts and technology on the horizon. As we continue to move at the speed of tech exaustingly long lists of concepts will always be abundant. If you find any concepts that you feel should have made this list leave a comment and feel free to include URLs for us to see what you’ve found.
