Product Design in collaboration with Bernhard Ranner, funded by aws Creative Industries Voucher.

Introduction

The existing consumerist society, and its accompanying production structure, has been shaping our relationships with electronic products: We buy a product, only to throw it away after a couple of years. This fast renewal of our daily electronic tools removes the ground for us to grow deeper relationships with them.

But how would such a digital product be? What can be the traits in the future digital products, that would enable symbolic associations? How to design habits and rituals, for a deeper experience with such products? And what would be the technology behind, to enable operability for a lifetime?

CUOR tries to seek answers for these questions, by focusing on a simple but deeply symbolic human property: the heartbeat. The form of a magical stone hides the existing technology behind, whereas the functionality of an accessoire makes it a product that would accompany its user at all times so that habits and rituals develop.

The Concept

The Process

The first version was based on a solenoid based linear actuator, with a rough 3D printed heart shape.

Fluid sinusoidal wave generation algorithm:

Imagining the body of the necklace as a fluid hold together in the shape of a heart, this model generates waves as the heart beats. The wavelength is equal to heart rate. Including several sources of wave generation creates different fused aesthetics.

Vortex based deformation algorithm:

Electronics Integration

The first version was based on a solenoid based linear actuator, with a rough 3D printed heart shape.

Presentation at Maker Faire

The first working prototype was demonstrated at Maker Faire Vienna.

Here is a radio interview from Radio Froheim:

https://cba.fro.at/314407

Go to timecode 1.17.55 for the part on Cuor!