|
What are Design Probes?
Philips Design Probes is a dedicated 'far-future' research initiative to track trends
and developments that may ultimately evolve into mainstream issues that have a significant
impact on business.
The Probes generate insights from research in five main areas; politics, economic,
culture, environments and technology futures.
With the aim of understanding 'lifestyle' post 2020, the program aims to identify
probable systemic shifts in the social and economic domains likely to affect our
business and create intellectual property in new areas. It challenges conventional
ways of thinking to come up with concepts to stimulate debate. Deliverables range
from scenarios and narratives to the creation of experience prototypes and IP fortressing.
Project Showcase 1 - SKIN: Dresses
One of this year's Probe project areas is SKIN, which examines the future integration
of sensitive materials in the area of emotional sensing – the shift from ' intelligent'
to 'sensitive' products and technologies.
As part of SKIN, we have developed two 'Soft Technology' outfits to identify the
future for high tech materials and Electronic Textile Development in the area's
of skin and emotional sensing.
The dresses show emotive technology and how the body and the near environment can
use pattern and color change to interact and predict the emotional state.
Project Showcase 2 - Skintile: Electronic Sensing Jewelry
Electronic Sensing Jewelry has been conceived alongside a European project, STELLA,
(www.stella-project.de)
developing stretchable, flexible electronic substrates that
integrate energy supply, sensors, actuators, and display.
Skintile the Electronic Sensing Jewelry further explores emotional and physiological
sensing. It is a new genre of product; a generation of wireless, stick-on body sensors
that re-define traditional body adornment.
It explores a range of functionalities in new product forms that are playful, sensual,
mood affected, bio activity stimulated, and arousal enhancing. It is a semi disposable,
bio compatible, non-allergenic, breathable, mass customizable, self contained body
worn accessory.
Source: Philips Design Probes
|