Lover's Cups

Here's an interesting product concept from Jackie Lee and Hyemin Chung at the MIT Media Labs: the Lover's Cup. This is an LED-enhanced, wi-fi enabled pair of cups meant for sharing the experience of drinking from afar. An example usage scenario - say my lovah and I are in separate locations and I wish to connect with him. All I need to do is pick up my cup and take a sip. My lovah will then see his own cup light up, which tells him I wish to share a drinking moment with him.

But wait - the Lover's Cup does more than act as a virtual toasting gimmick. With a sip or a shake of the cup, users are communicating their affinity towards one another. The soft beacon of light reminds the user that their special someone is thinking of them.

(Now if only I'd known of these cups sooner...they could have been useful in past long-distance relationships that ended up on the cutting room floor...)

Zink, pocket-sized camera + printer

With the Zink, print mini (2x3) photos straight from your digital camera or camera phone. By using a patented technology, Zink produces instant results without using ink, ribbons, or toner. Zink uses special patented paper with embedded crystals inside. In the printing process, heat activates these crystals, which are colorless before printing.

Zink imagines their technology being applied to "printers in your pocket, on your desktop, embedded in your TV or PC, or even hanging on the wall...photographs of all sizes, posters, ID cards, and labels."

If this is a product that can truly offer quality photos and novelty, then I see Zink potentially gaining approval. By whom? Tweens, teens/GenY, and GenX would appreciate a product that gives them convenience, portability (to the extreme), a bit of flash, and tech-credibility. Who doesn't want to look tech-savvy these days? (Ok, some people could care less, but a lot of people fall over themselves trying to obtain the latest consumer technology product. I.e. long lines before Apple's iPhone went on sale.)

Part of Zink's tag is "Zero Ink. Zero Boundaries." I believe they created their name from the former, while the latter defines their company's vision and product capabilities. I'll be eager to see if Zink forges ahead and makes a sizeable impact on the digital imaging and printing world in the next 5 years.

Form & Function: Amadana handset

This leather-backed, walnut and acrylic based Japanese-designed handset is a stunner. Unfortunately, the Amadana DU-119, is only available in Europe and Japan until its U.S. debut. Bang & Olufsen, Apple, watch out.

Form & Function: FLIQLO flip-clock screensaver

What is good design? Is it pretty, strong, harsh, cool, weird, functional? The most intriguing and useful design is the kind that helps solve a problem - even if it's a seemingly small one. I like useful design because form works with function and enhances my every day experiences.

Here's my first example of good design found in for + function:
Graphic designer Yuji Adachi created this screensaver at www.9031.com/downloads. There is something going on here when I find this download just plain cool and get even more excited when I see it work on my new white MacBook. The idea of retro making its way back into current pop culture isn't anything new, but it's always fun to discover another application of a current trend.