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SpeedStudio Design introduces the LG Tag mobile phone concept. Tag is a refreshingly simple mobile phone that clips to the ear for ultimate portability and nearly hands-free use, shattering the paradigm of the handheld "brick". It is a bare-bones phone with basic calling functions and few frills, allowing an amazingly compact size and light weight. You may have noticed some of my early sketches posted previously on the blog. Check out our Products page for more details!
Source: Autoblog Green
Volkswagen introduced a new concept at Auto China of the 2-wheeled kind: an electric bike capable of folding into the spare wheel well of your car. It's called the Bik.E, and although it's already been all over the blogs I feel it's a significant acheivement in elegant design. More importantly, however, it signifies a trend in more automakers pursuing light electric vehicles that integrate into conventional cars for enhanced urban mobility. Ulike an electric-assist bicycle, Bik.E has no pedals or chain, relying on pure battery power and contributing to its refreshing simplicity. Because it is designed specifically to augment the car, it only needs a 12 mile range, permitting an extremely small and lightweight battery. Another great example of a "personal mobility product." Check out the recent article on Autoblog Green which includes a video.
Honda has also been experimenting with enhanced mobility using LEVS, incorporating a version of its U3-X personal mobility vehicle into the door panel of one of its recent concept cars, the EV-N. Beyond this, folding bikes make a lot of sense in many situations where parking on-site is difficult or cost prohibitive.
Source: Autoblog Green
Velomobiles are pure speed forms...which makes them so much fun to sketch! No rules except absolute aerodynamic efficiency.
Autoblog Green reported today that Aptera is moving ahead with plans to produce the 2e electric vehicle, unveiling a new, more production-ready prototype in Carlsbad, CA. The Aptera is something I've been watching for awhile now, because it represents a fundamental shift in the way cars can be designed and built. Unlike the Tesla Roadster and many other electric cars that merely modify the traditional automotive architecture, the Aptera is designed from the ground up to take full advantage of the opportunities that electric vehicles have to offer. It's a true synergy of form and function, utilizing pure aerodynamics, light weight and low rolling resistance. Read the article to find out more.
I'm adding a new section to the Speed Studio Blog. It's my Sketch Pad, where you'll see all of my rough ideas and concepts as they come into my head. You can follow me as I develop these ideas, and hopefully get a better understanding of my design process. This time, it's mobile phones!
Amy Stoddard and I were brainstorming ideas on cell phones for a design competition coming up. We wanted to come up with a refreshingly simple design that shatters the handheld "brick" paradigm. What we came up with is something that can be clipped to the ear, about the size of an Ipod Shuffle. Since more people are wearing their Bluetooth headsets all the time now, why not just wear the phone itself?
It's bare-bones phone with basic calling functions, able to stand alone as a phone or linked to an Iphone. It's operated by a simple multi-touch screen and using simple scrolling and tapping functions to navigate the menus, even while it's being worn. Voice activation is another way to navigate. Data entry and other more complex tasks can be handled via Bluetooth to a PC or other mobile device. The best part is, no more unexpected rings at the wrong moment!
Refreshingly simple and hands-free...A simple phone that works! Scroll down to see more...
