Stride Senze: A Hi-Tech Cane Concept for the Elderly by Rain Noe

I'm a little skeptical of a central element of this design, but I admire the initiative. Industrial design consultancy NextOfKin Creatives worked up this Stride Senze concept, a cane for the elderly that would use sensors and a motor to assist the user. In theory it would reduce the amount of force required to move it, and its Segway-like motion correction would keep it stable when weight is applied to it.

The part I'm skeptical about is the smooth sphere. Should be fine for shopping malls, freshly-paved parking lots and tiled surfaces; but when I think of my elderly neighbor who uses a cane, when she arrives home she must navigate a gravel driveway, then a flagstone path laid over grass to get to the house. Unsurprisingly, she uses one of those canes that terminates in four little legs with rubber caps.

I wonder if a more effective motorized cane could utilize an outside-of-the-box locomotive/balancing element, like those mecha tanks that you see in anime:

Of course, this wouldn't solve the problem of weight; a cane, at least in my neighbor's case, has to be light enough for her to get it into the car.

I do hope NOK develops the concept further.

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Two Industrial Design Firms Collaborate on Modular Fire Engine Design by Rain Noe

The layperson may hear "fire engine" and think of a single vehicle type. In actuality the term refers to a variety of truck forms holding different types of equipment, each ordered according to a specific department's needs and customized by the manufacturer. That takes time, and time costs money.

In an effort to streamline both the manufacturing process and the end-user experience, Swiss fire engine manufacturer Brändle contracted not one, but two industrial design firms. Milan Rohrer and Shibuleru, both Zurich-based, collaborated on the design of Brändle's modular Neorosso vehicle.

"The new design is modular and allows individual equipment and configuration for each customer," writes Milan Rohrer Studio, with Shibuleru adding that they developed together "a more systemic and modular build process."

In terms of improving the user experience, both firms worked on "the overall design including the light installations, the introduction of the world's first on board hygiene station, all tactile interaction elements and the complete overhaul of the pump user interaction."

ANALOG/DIGITAL USER INTERACTION DESIGN

"Physical switches and buttons are a core requirement from commanders and machinists operating the pump. A graphic design treatment that is clear and immediately illustrates the water flow by the means of animated LED's integrated in the control panel renders the system volunteer proof.""The panel design is modular itself so it can display any possible configuration of inlets, outlets and mixtures."

"The fire teams can fully customize their vehicle while the manufacturing complexity of the command center is not impacted."

THE WORLD'S FIRST ON-BOARD HYGIENE STATION

"We designed the on-board hygiene station including touch-free water faucet, hand dryer integrated in the pull-out handle, air hose, mirror, eye rinsing pump and storage for gloves and towels."

 

"The station stores flush inside the truck and can be pulled-out fully within seconds for easy use."

"With the modular and user-oriented design," MRS concludes, "Brändle is one of the few companies that can respond very individually to customer needs and still compete with international competitors."

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Industrial Design Student Work: A Portable Motorcycle Jack by Rain Noe

Motorcycle jacks come in different varieties…

…but what they have in common is that they're not easy to transport. Marine Fondin, an Industrial Design student at Switzerland's ECAL, tackled this problem for her recent U-Lift project.

"The workshop stand is a product that is systematically found in the workshops or garages of people who wish and who like to maintain their motorcycle at home. U-Lift is the innovation and the redesign of this massive and bulky object, in order to make it practical and compact to take it into the world of motorcycle travel."

"Lubricating a chain or checking an oil level are essential maintenance that must be carried out regularly on a motorcycle, especially during long trips. These actions are not always easy to do when you don't have any equipment."

"This product has been designed and adapted to offer the user the opportunity to carry out his maintenance, alone, in a simple and secure way."

Fondin scored an "Excellent" grade for the project. You can see more of her work here.

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