The fast company 50.
This year’s Fast Company 50. [PR]
This year’s Fast Company 50. [PR]
Energy is something that is all around us. The challenging part is finding a way to harness this energy.
ReCycle targets the wasted energy that is generated while riding a bicycle and empowers consumers to not only consume, but produce.
This concept effectively takes you of “the grid” to power and recharge your electronics gadgets.
How Recycle works:
It captures kinetic energy from the subtle rocking back and forth while pedaling, bumpy terrain the user may travel over and any other movements that take place during a bike ride. ReCycle contains three micro generators and a lithium ion battery. These micro generators create an electric charge during any movement of the bicycle. When this electric charge is generated, it is stored in a lithium ion battery. This battery is attached to the charging unit while the user is riding their bike. After the ride, the battery can be easily removed and used to power any number of electronics. At one end of the battery there is a basic wall outlet.
Imagine having a cell phone that has never been plugged into the wall!
This technology is currently being developed to create self charged batteries for cell phones and other electronic devices at m2e power
Designer: Evan Grant. USA
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CONCEPT? — comment below.
It’s been a year. Where are the 2009 Plagiarius Award winners? We are eagerly waiting. (more…)
Description:
A comfortable pedal powered bicycle with weather protection.
Emphasis is made on automotive qualities in the design, to attract non-previous cyclists used to cars and motorcycles.
Another selling point to attract more people riding a bike (particularly here in Europe) is weather protection – ThisWay has a roof.
Built in composite materials (carbon or flax fiber) and some hydro-formed aluminum, this vehicle is very lightweight (approximately 11-12kg). It has built-in LED lights front and rear, powered by a rechargeable battery obtaining its power from roof mounted solar cells. For minimum maintenance ThisWay’s built-in belt drive is well protected and all cables are hidden within the frame.
The car-like ergonomics offers a riding position lower than a traditional bike to keep a low center of gravity and optimal aerodynamics.
The design has simple controls for ease of use; single hand brake lever and hub gears type Torpedo Duomatic providing Low and Hi gear.
The rear of the frame has a “luggage connector”, where the user plugs-in his/her luggage (e g briefcase, helmet box or rack for shopping bags). The design also benefits from flexibility and comfort for riders of different sizes, as the crankset and seat is adjustable in length/height.
A “hybrid” version (pedal power/electric motor) is possible and additional battery pack plugged-in into the luggage connector will extend the range further.
Although this design is more expensive to manufacture compared to its traditional rivals, it is still just a fraction of the price of a car and virtually zero in running costs…
Motivation:
There are roofed bikes out there on the market already such as rickshaws, recumbents, HPVs (Human Powered Vehicles)/velomobiles etc., so covered bikes do exist since a long time but the challenge is to design a functional and desirable bicycle that even appeals to non-previous cyclists.
It makes sense for a commuter bike here in Central and Northern Europe to offer some degree of weather protection for improved comfort. Instead of creating a totally enclosed design similar to other HPVs/velomobiles risking the user to feel isolated, a more open design will allow a higher degree of interaction with the surroundings.
Winner Bicycle Design “commuter bike for masses” design competition. See the Bicycle Design list of finalists .
Designer: Torkel Dohmers
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CONCEPT? — comment below.
Designers are invited to explore the concept of “Greener Gadgets.” Designs should seek to minimize the environmental impact of consumer electronic devices at any stage in the product lifecycle. Areas of sustainability to consider include energy, materials/lifecycle/recycling, social impact, and educational development. Designers can focus on a particular area of human enterprise (learning, playing, communicating, etc.), or a particular context (work, home, school, etc.), a particular material, or a specific device. Entries may also seek to create new paradigms for products and services.
This year, the top 50 entries will be published on the web for voting and commenting, and top finalists will be showcased live at the Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City on February 27th for judging by an expert panel.
For more information: Design a greener gadget. Last year’s winners. via Core77
Every year, Cooper-Hewitt gives out design awards chosen by a jury of distinguished design gurus—
but do you agree with the experts? First place: Zon hearing aid Second place: Design Observer Third place: Bennington Bookmarks. There are 276 listed winners!
Extended deadline: November 7, 2008. Architects. Designers. Interiors. Fashion. Graphics. International Design Awards Call to Entry
With cold weather just around the corner, tea anyone?
Gems Teastick
The Teastick GEMS bring new light to your cup of tea. Now with two brilliant colors so sparkling clear you can see the steeping tea bloom.
With classic “scoop it, slide it, steep it” functionality The Teastick GEMS are as useful as they are beautiful in your cup. With The Teastick GEMS, a fine stainless mesh enables the steeping of herbal teas that often have smaller particles than traditional teas—all while continuing to be convenient and easy for one-cup brewing. Constructed of the highest standard FDA-approved polycarbonate. Designed for use in a 10-14 oz cup.
The Original Teastick
The ultimate infuser for tea enthusiasts features intuitive “scoop-slide-steep” functionality while it reflects the aesthetic of traditional loose tea service.
Durable enough for industrial use, it has no breakable mechanisms and is constructed entirely of 304L stainless steel with holes small enough to infuse the finest of teas. The innovative design provides optimum flow for perfect steeping and incorporates a fill-line.
The Teastick fits nicely into glasses and mugs and is ideal for a 10-14 oz perfect cup of tea.
via Gamila Company
This cool coffee maker offers up a smart industrial design which cleanly integrates a ceramic mug in place of a carafe.
The WMF1 Coffee Pad takes a single portioned coffee filter and can brew up a fresh cup of Java in about 1 minute. The compact coffee maker features a clean white design, with a choice of four accent colors: kiwi (green), mango (yellow), berry (red) and stone (dark grey). And yes, it includes the perfectly-fitted ceramic mug. The brilliantly minimal design even won a 2007 red dot award for its creators.
At this point, the Coffee Pad is only available in a European 220-volt configuration, so you’ll need a power converter to use it here in the States.
Product: WMF 1
Producer: WMF
Designer:
via technabob
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