BMind Smart Mirror, Virtual Reality and Holotile, Macan EV #230 / January 26, 2024 / Confidential |
|
|
In the Kia Design Center in the United States, there's a digital modeler who enjoys adventure, innovation, and challenges. Let me briefly introduce the weekend story of Bryce, the son who closely mirrors the adventurous spirit of his father, Mark Rumsey, who used to commute to work on a non-motorized flying craft and has a passion for diverse hobbies and motorsports.
Bryce, who has been friends with his buddy since childhood, loves driving and rebuilding desert toys. Riding a Sandrail (a specially designed lightweight off-road vehicle for traversing sand terrain) he acquired from a friend, Bryce, along with his father Mark and sister Beth, recently embarked on an off-roading trip to Ocotillo Wells.
The Sandrail, exclusively built for off-roading without the need for license plates and not suitable for regular roads, provides a safer lightweight vehicle equipped with a 4-point harness from the shoulders to the chest. Unlike a Side by Side, which requires wearing a helmet, the Sandrail offers more convenience due to not needing a helmet. Since it's not registered for regular road use, they transported the Sandrail to the desert using a large 25-foot trailer.
This Sandrail, purchased by Bryce from a friend for about $7,000, underwent upgrades to its Honda 6-cylinder engine, fuel system, and electrical components, transforming it into a more powerful machine. |
|
|
Like many off-road enthusiasts, Bryce finds joy not only in off-roading but also in the process of upgrading and restoring vehicles. He shared that half of the fun lies in enhancing and rejuvenating the off-road experience. He recently had the exhilarating experience of tackling the steep sand dunes of Ocotillo Wells, covering up to 70 miles just outside Seoul. Engaging in true speed and communing with nature on the challenging terrain, he felt a deep connection, prompting him to reserve the next riding adventure right away. |
|
|
[ Contents of This Week ]
01 Consumer Trend: BMind Mirror - Subtly Boosting Daily Health and Well-being
02 Tech Trend: Holotile Floor - Transporting You into the Virtual Reality Realm
03 Automotive Weekly: 2024 Macan EV (4 & Turbo)
|
|
|
01 Consumer Trend: BMind Mirror - Elevating Health and Well-being in Daily Life
Unveiled at CES 2024 by the digital healthcare company Barracoda, the BMind smart mirror transforms the everyday bathroom mirror into a new dimension. With facial recognition and conversational capabilities, it reads user expressions, offering stress management solutions, reducing anxiety, and promoting better sleep through AI and NLP technology.
By collecting and analyzing user voice and images via microphone and camera, BMind assesses emotions, providing encouragement for emotional stability. It adjusts mirror lighting color and brightness to help maintain a positive emotional state. Additionally, it examines users' skin conditions, quantifies skin health, and recommends skincare products and routines based on the analysis of factors like redness, oiliness, and dark spots.
BMind goes further by displaying daily schedules and weather information through its display. It ensures privacy with facial recognition technology and offers mirror locking functionality. The mirror also supports contactless operation through gesture recognition and voice commands.
The BMind mirror received the Smart Home Innovation Award at CES 2024 and is set to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. CEO Thomas Serval emphasized the potential of technology to detect subtle health changes, stating that technology has the potential to improve the quality of millions of lives and recognizing the significant impact of mental well-being on physical happiness.
|
|
|
[Jenna's Insight]
BMind utilizes the everyday item 'mirror' to seamlessly assist users in enhancing self-management based on their morning and evening routines, all in an unobtrusive manner. Unlike typical mental health apps, it minimizes on-screen distractions, providing an immersive experience that allows users to focus on their health.
Using technology, BMind works to uplift users' moods, reduce anticipated stress levels, and automatically adjust the environment or recommend specific activities in response to mental states. By learning external factors such as user behavior, weather, schedule, and events, it subtly integrates health indices into routines in a way that is not noticeable, aiming to elevate well-being and seamlessly integrate it into daily life. How can we incorporate elements into our product to achieve this 'unobtrusive' enhancement of health indices and well-being within routines? |
|
|
02 Tech Trend : Holotile Floor - Transporting You into the Virtual Reality Realm
In pursuit of Disney's goal to envision a limitless future, Larry Smoot, an engineer and living craftsman at Disney, created the Holotile Floor. While it may seem confined within a room, standing on the Holotile Floor allows individuals to virtually walk or run through infinite spaces. For Star Trek fans, it's akin to the concept of a holodeck, a small room where crew members can go to any desired location for leisure and entertainment.
The Holotile Floor can move objects and even enable people to walk or move on it. Similar technology is already employed in smart conveyor belt systems, and envisioning its application in a floor, coupled with VR and Vision Pro, could result in a remarkable product offering an incredible experience and impact.
|
|
|
[Jenna's Insight]
The operational principle enabling all of this involves a circular rotating disk making up the tiles, creating angles in a specific direction to give orientation to objects on top of it. While the intensity remains uncertain, it seems like using it barefoot might not be challenging. When combined with VR, it undoubtedly appears that the impact would be heightened, but I believe the optimal scenario would be its use in specific areas rather than the entire space, allowing for seamless transitions to a regular floor when needed. (The image of the microbots from Disney's movie Big Hero 6 suddenly comes to mind.) If this concept becomes a reality, it could evolve into an impressive rail system that provides an incredible sensation even with closed eyes. |
|
|
03 Automotive Weekly : 2024 Macan EV (4 & Turbo)
The electric version of the already-revealed Macan has been officially unveiled, and let's highlight some key information:
- Utilizes the PPE platform for efficient and fast charging.
- Macan 4 with 402hp, Macan Turbo with a total output of 630hp.
- Dimensions: Length 4726mm/Width 1932mm/Height 1620mm/Wheelbase 2890mm, similar in size to the Model Y.
- Coefficient of resistance: ICE version 0.35CD, electric version 0.25CD.
- Prices: Macan 4 in the U.S. starts at $78,800, while the Turbo version is priced at $105,300.
|
|
|
After watching the unveiling, I noted some interesting aspects:
1. Front Lighting
The quad-lighting with a 4-position design surprisingly doesn't handle the lighting design itself. Instead, it condenses headlights, main beam, high beam, and cornering lights into the rectangular area below. The quad lights showcase a unique lighting scenario, emphasizing a character-like role, resembling that of a robot. |
|
|
2. Frunk and Charge Port Door: Setting New Standards for Convenience
The frunk, with a storage capacity of 80 liters, may not be overly spacious, but it provides a small compartment for organizing cables and various accessories. It can be conveniently opened using a gesture that scans the front hood area, eliminating the need for using a key fob. The closing mechanism, similar to Tesla, allows for closing up to 95% with a one-handed press to connect the latch. The charge port door, when lightly pressed by hand, slides open and automatically closes after 2 minutes of non-use.
|
|
|
3. Key Fob: Enhanced Functionality and Robust Texture
The Key Fob has undergone a textured transformation for a more rugged feel. While it can perform functions like frunk opening, door unlocking, and trunk unlocking, the placement of the frunk unlock feature at the part where the thumb naturally closes might require a button repositioning to avoid unintentional presses, preventing accidental closure of the frunk throughout the day.
4. Suspension Adjustment Feature: Enhancing Driving Performance by Minimizing Wheel Gap
Pressing a button located in the rear of the second-row seats allows lowering the suspension height, minimizing the gap between the wheels and wheel arches to enhance driving performance.
5. Built-in Seating: Lower Seating Position for Improved Driving Performance
The Macan EV is optimized for enhanced driving performance with a built-in seating position that is 28mm lower than ICE vehicles. |
|
|
6.Augmented Reality HUD
The current market offers HUDs with the largest displays, claiming to be incredibly spacious while minimizing distraction during driving. Depending on the actual perceived size, subsequent models might explore design directions such as simplifying the dashboard or even eliminating it altogether. This is a feature I'd like to evaluate in a real vehicle! |
|
|
Kia Design America
Written by Jenna Chwee jchwee@hatci.com101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606 714-472-1188수신거부 Unsubscribe |
|
|
|
|
