Pebble navigation, Polstar smartphone, Design Using Light
Recently, Tesla laid off over 10% - more than 14,000 employees. The issue was the layoffs happened over the weekend, and the affected employees had no way of being contacted as their company emails were deleted. Many were left in the dark until around 4:30 AM when they realized their company email wasn't working, assuming it was an IT issue. By 6 AM, the internal network connection was down, and by the time most employees arrived at work around 8 AM, they received the termination news via text, causing widespread panic. Some of those already at work didn't even swipe their access cards and simply showed up, adding to the confusion.
From the email Elon Musk sent to employees, it seems the layoffs are part of efforts to cut costs and boost productivity. What efficiency means in this context seems closer to the ethos of "Did you try it?" advocated by the CEO, suggesting a tendency to avoid doing things if they might be bothersome after trying and failing. In the U.S., with its employment-at-will doctrine, employers can dismiss employees freely and without warning for any reason that isn't illegal, leading to lower job security compared to other countries. Consequently, employees might focus only on projects that raise their market value and act selfishly, potentially resulting in a lack of overall innovation.
While individual stories are heartbreaking, Musk's email seems necessary from a business perspective. However, it indicates a lack of a clear corporate culture, especially given Tesla's growing size post the successful launches of the Model 3 and Model Y.
There's a saying, though I'm not sure who coined it: "Employees work just enough not to get fired, and companies pay just enough not to make them quit." While investing in employment during good economic times is advocated, during downturns, it's seen as a burden, leading to a disappearing sense of job security for employees.(Bitter truth 🤐)
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Want to travel without screens and distractions? consider TERRA navigation
Handheld pebble that can be 3D printed using open-source technology.
For users looking to break away from the routine experience of mechanical navigation, TERRA Navigation presents a fresh and innovative concept. Instead of the conventional rigid arrows and mechanical sounds, it offers a handheld stone-shaped device with minimal visual interface, eliminating distractions like smartphone notifications during travel, catering to users who seek to truly feel the charm of their journey.
With TERRA, users can not only set their destination but also plan their itinerary considering activities they'd like to engage in, leisure time, and their desired arrival time. While the initial setup begins on a smartphone or computer, users can freely input details such as places they want to visit or activities they want to do using Google Maps and ChatGPT. For example, they can plan a route to enjoy a pizza and a show in Chicago for three hours and then take a leisurely stroll before returning home by 5 PM. The route information generated through Google Maps and ChatGPT is then transmitted to TERRA as messages, displaying only basic movement information to users. Even if they decide to change their route spontaneously, they won't be bothered by noisy alerts.
TERRA is a collaborative product between ModemWorks and Panter&Tourron, where every component of the product is designed to be 3D printable. They also provide all the information, from software code to every detail, as open source. The complete product is available for purchase at $100.
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[Jenna's Insight]
TERRA stands out as a tool showcasing innovative interaction between AI and users, unlike conventional chat-based models, it understands user intentions and presents results in easily understandable visualizations.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology while deliberately adopting a simplistic display approach, TERRA caters to users who seek highly personalized experiences and aim to minimize distractions. It encourages users to reduce dependency on their smartphones and not only achieve their goals but also freely explore new paths. It's a product that offers the best experience to users who pursue momentary happiness.
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"Truly Tailored?" The AI Phone unveiled by Polstar,
offers an authentic user experience, seamlessly integrated with Polstar cars. However, it's disappointing to note that its release has been limited to China |
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The AI Phone, led by the Polstar Design Center, has been unveiled. It boasts design elements reminiscent of Polstar's signature colors and metallic accents used in their vehicles, particularly emphasizing the specially crafted Polstar emblem on the rear, unmistakably highlighting its identity as a Polstar phone.
The Polstar design team endeavored to maintain consistency with the vehicle UI by applying their proprietary Polstar OS. They enhanced connectivity with the vehicle by adding features allowing users to monitor car status remotely via phone, as well as wirelessly update software for control. Notably, while utilizing driving assistance systems, the phone seamlessly syncs with the vehicle below a certain speed, enabling users to enjoy various content on the display.
In addition to various AI features, the AI voice assistant function facilitates convenient conversational interactions based on natural language. It directly responds to user requests and intervenes in editing or reprocessing stored photos, as well as offering the capability to generate various images. With a waterproof and dustproof rating and a 5050mAh battery, durability is reinforced, and operating time is maximized.
As someone who relies on the navigation of their phone rather than a laptop-sized screen, the seamless connectivity between the phone and IP is a highly satisfying aspect. For consumers who constantly struggle to find cables to use Android Auto, meeting a phone perfectly integrated with car apps and having the same OS as the car would indeed be a true tailor-made experience.
Suddenly, the concept of the MIX.X Desk Speaker comes to mind.
The MIX.X Desk Speaker not only functions as a speaker combined with a phone but also continuously monitors the user's facial expressions using a camera. By utilizing vision, machine learning, and algorithms, it discerns the user's mood and plays appropriate songs accordingly. While the Polstar phone seems to be available only in the Chinese market, it's a highly intriguing concept.
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Introducing the magical world of audio: Tiles - Connecting with your music collection. |
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In today's world where music players are often controlled by clicks, swipes, or touches, the Tile Audio team felt that tactile and auditory feedback were relatively lacking. To address this, they created a prototype combining sound and graphic interfaces, along with physical feedback, to create an immersive experience, and the results exceeded expectations.
This product, comprised of six CD-jacket-sized tiles, features a knob dial resembling volume control at the bottom right. In the middle is the currently playing song, while on the left, details of the playing song are presented in an e-book-like style. Stacked on top are images of CD jackets from my collection, providing a tactile sensation of actually choosing one using the touch sensor at the top. Once the desired CD is selected, pressing and holding the top center tile downwards initiates play, reminiscent of inserting a coin into a jukebox to listen to music.
With its analog feel reminiscent of 80s hi-fi audio sets, a touch of Bang & Olufsen vibe, and a minimalist design, it seems like Tile Audio is for those who appreciate a slightly manual shift, akin to driving an automatic car after being accustomed to a manual shift, where your hands forget what to do.
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CMF - Design Enhanced by Light |
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By 2025, the most energy-efficient LED lighting options are projected to capture 76% of the global lighting market. They serve functional and aesthetic purposes across various applications, from automobiles to IoT devices. Lighting plays a crucial role in achieving emotional well-being, providing a multi-sensory experience, especially as we transition beyond the era of COVID-19.
In particular, the use of lighting as trim to enhance visual sophistication has become increasingly common. Not only does lighting serve to elevate trim into a more refined element, but it also widely communicates a sense of futuristic, high-tech, and luxurious aesthetics.
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The main circular knob of the Victrola: Stream Carbon Turntable incorporates lighting, adding volume control functionality and elegant aesthetic details. |
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Incorporating bathroom design and technology into the ECA: Serel Passion Smart Washbasin, sensor buttons are inserted for controlling water flow, temperature, and LED lighting. |
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The Lincoln L100 introduces an aerodynamic style featuring lighting details that emphasize motion while on the move. |
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Evercharge draws inspiration from architectural lighting and finishes to evoke a premium feel for residential chargers, giving them a high-end aesthetic. |
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Benjamin Fryc integrates lighting within physical switches to imply functionality implicitly. |
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LEDs, fiber optics, and OLEDs can be crucial approaches to achieving elegant and sophisticated lighting effects. This innovative approach has the potential to elevate functional lighting into aesthetic design elements, with possibilities and potentials steadily increasing. |
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The Easy Handle, developed by designers at an electronics company who realized that even small tasks like opening a refrigerator door could be challenging for some, has resulted in a positive outcome that makes life easier for people with disabilities and enhances leisure activities. This attention to detail and consideration serves as a good starting point not only for household appliances but also for various services and products. Even small ideas—rather than thinking, "Could this really make a difference?"—can lead to unexpectedly significant results, so it's worth boldly putting them into action. |
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Kia Design America / Jenna Chwee / jchwee@hatci.com101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606 714-472-1188수신거부 Unsubscribe |
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