Clampy Washy Device

Here is something you wont understand – how I could just wash a hand… sized spot. All’s I really need is that one spot cleaned on my shirt, right? I mean, the rest is clean, why not just get that big blob of goo out of there and continue on my way for the day? And I tell you what, while we’re at it, let’s make this adventure in tiny cleaning green as possible, using minimal water and the power of the sun! How about it?

This project goes by the name “Partial Washer” and is designed by super duo Rong Yong and Qian Jiang, Jiang of course being known on Yanko for his totally amazing collection of designs that basically everyone in the world loves.

This Partial Washer is made with travelers in mind. It’s small, has a thoughtfully placed handle, and packs up nice for storage. It uses a combination of solar energy and electric energy (through the cord there) to use maximum air and minimum water to cycle out stains from clothing materials. SANYO provides this new-world water cycle technique.

This reminds me of a Simpsons episode where a motorcycle gang plants themselves in the front yard of the S family abode. They become flabbergasted when they find Marge Simpson has washed their clothing with water:

Biker: Marge, how did you get my jacket so clean? I’ve tried everything to get those blood and puke stains out. I’ve tried hitting them; I’ve tried yelling at ‘em…

Marge: All it takes is the right cleanser and a little elbow grease.

Or, as the Marge of the present would say – just a little air and water!

Designer: Rong Yong and Qian Jiang

Yanko Design

Kitchen of 2050

As space becomes a commodity in 2050 will we have room for a “kitchen?” The Electrolux Alinea is not defined by a room and only takes up valuable space when necessary. Moving along the ceiling using advanced polymers, the Electrolux Alinea can travel anywhere in your environment adapting to the users needs.

Made of an amorphous silicon and plastics, the Alinea can adapt to individuals needs, presenting the user with the kitchen appliances and surfaces needed throughout the day. The ability to save space when not in use allows the Alinea blend into any environment. As needed the Electrolux Alinea will autonomously dock into a ceiling port to refresh its water and to recharge.

Designer: Patrick Short

Trimtab 3×3 recumbent trike

David Parrott is developing an interesting semi-enclosed recumbent trike for his Master’s thesis in Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati DAAP. I mentioned his Trimtab 3×3 concept briefly in a previous post, but it is worth a second mention to point out that David is currently building a functional prototype of the design at Losantiville Kunstwerkhaus, a collaborative design/fabrication studio that he started in Cincinnati with a low-impact mobility theme. Take a look at the Trimtab 3×3 Flickr set to see additional renderings of the vehicle and photos of the prototype that is currently under construction. You can also follow the Losantiville Kunstwerkhaus blog for updates on the project as the prototype progresses.

David explained that he designed the Trimtab as a transportation design project created through the lens of “Slow Design”. He points out that, “it’s a 3WD, electric-assisted, lean steered delta trike with seasonal fabric skins & seating (breathable, ripstop nylon for summer; therm-a-rest style inflatable skins for winter), an acrylic aircraft-style canopy, and flatbed storage.”

He went on to mention that his design “challenges some of the basic dogma of the bike design scene (Rear steer! Yikes!) as well as the “I can draw it but I can’t build it”, styling-driven methodology” that is increasingly common in the Industrial Design field these days. I have heard some very strong criticism of all rear steer bike or trike designs here on the blog, so I am curious to hear what you all think of David’s lean steer concept. Hopefully when the prototype is complete, he will post some video of it in action to prove the concept, so to speak. I am definitely anxious to see the results…and I wish I could ride it to see for myself.

Bicycle Design

Book Review: Vending Machines: Coined Consumerism, by Christopher Salyers

Despite the erudite and thoughtful historical introduction and the literally hundreds of context-rich photos of machines in-situ, fate, of course, would have the Core77 team first open Christopher Salyers new book to the full-bleed photo of a Japanese "used" panty vending machine. Attacking that subject with the academic rigor it deserves (?), Vending Machines: Coined Consumerism notes that Japanese law requires licensing for the sale of used goods, so a mango scent is substituted for the real thing. While the sale of used panties in a vending machine might be due primarily to cultural factors, what can't be denied is that Japan's demographic trends (urban population density and an aging populace coupled with technological sophistication and relative affluence) point toward where most First World countries may be headed in the near-future. So while cosplay costumes (Japan - page 17), gold coins (Germany - page 26) and an automated hair straightener (Scotland - page 30) may not be reaching the masses anytime soon, things like beach-adjacent board shorts dispensers (US - page 32) and cloudburst-ready umbrella dispensers (Britain - page 31) have a certain logic. Just don't expect walking vending machine robots (Japan, of course - page 40-41) to take over the world quite yet.

Salyers breaks the vending machines into several categories: "Weird World," "Japan is the Future," "Capsules Candies & Claws," "Retro Vending," and "In Soda We Trust." Each section is separated by essay content, including a rather thorough historical overview in the introduction. From there, the Weird World section is by far the most fascinating, with all of the quirky products listed above coming from that section. Photos vary from glossy professional shots of a "car vending machine booth" to the author's own more candid travel shots. Some of them, such as a pizza vending machine that purports to knead its own dough and make the pizza from scratch in 3 minutes promise a future that might actually be preferable to Sbarros and a heat-lamp. Most of the jobs that these vending machines replace aren't exactly jobs people love, and for some products (like the umbrellas), the vending machine fulfils its purpose during the rain, but won't be bored or dissatisfied on sunny days.

In its last sections, however, Vending Machines turns backward looking. The section on Capsules & Claws highlights curious products to be dispensed rather than fascinating mechanics. Retro vending highlights decaying lipstick dispensers and other oddities, with unbelievably deflated prices that hearken back to bygone days. Finally, the "In Soda We Trust" section documents the ubiquitous soda machine across a variety of cultures and locations. While the product is familiar, the form factors vary from utilitarian (Europe), garish (US), and busy (Japan).

Overall, Coined Consumerism is an odd book documenting a strange cross section of business. While the early sections present an almost voyeuristic insight into curious human behavior across cultures, the latter sections display a more kitsch sensibility or a Walker Evans style man-on-the-street journalism. From an industrial design standpoint, more emphasis on the mechanics and the early sections would have been greatly appreciated, but as a coffee table book of ephemera Salyers probably got the balance just about right.

Core77

Chiếc giày cổ 5500 tuổi

Đây là chiếc giày cổ nhất thế giới cho đến nay, nó được các nhà khảo cổ tì thấy trong một hang động ở Armenia. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho biết chiếc giày có tuổi thọ 5500 năm, được làm từ da bò với các lỗ xâu thô sơ.

Chiếc Nike này được cho là có niên đại khoảng 3.500 năm trước công nguyên, cùng thời điểm với chiếc xe đạp đầu tiên được phát minh. Có lẽ chiếc giày lúc ấy gắn liền với chiếc xe đạp, dùng để chống chân và đầy đi trong quá trình di chuyển vì chiếc xe đạp cổ lúc ấy dùng chân để chống và di chuyển.

Nhưng thật lạ lùng chiếc giày được bảo quản gần như hoàn hảo (do sự kết hợp giữa nhiệt độ hang động và một lớp phân cừu bám trên mặt giày) là một chiếc giày phải.

Quay ra phía sau hang động, việc thiếu chiếc giày trái không còn là ngạc nhiên khi ở đó có 3 cái chậu chứa đầy sọ trẻ em bị mất quai hàm. Trong có vẻ như những kẻ thảm sát cổ đại nhất thế giới này không thích đi những ai đi chân trần.

Theo Core77