Two very interesting experiential devices are debuted as part of a special project by Sandeep Hoonjan and Xianzhi Zhang—students of the Royal College of Art in London, UK. Dubbed 'Feel the Conversation,' the emerging designers have developed the gadgets as a means to ease the mental stress of not experiencing genuine human connection over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hand-held experiential devices are geared toward allowing people "to physically experience conversations." The two design enhancements can connect to a phone and "translate the user's speech into a series of simple haptic patterns" that derive meaning from intonation and volume. One of the experiential devices is a brush-style silicone feeler, while the other is shaped like a tongue.
Physical Experience-Mimicking Devices
RCA Students Debut Two Experiential Devices During COVID-19
Trend Themes
1. Haptic Communication Devices - Opportunity to develop devices that enable physical communication through haptic feedback.
2. Experiential Gadgets - Opportunity to design experiential gadgets that can help ease mental stress during difficult situations.
3. Pandemic-inspired Design - Opportunity for designers to develop innovative products that address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics manufacturers can explore the development of haptic communication devices to enhance user experiences.
2. Healthcare - Healthcare providers can potentially use experiential gadgets to help patients cope with mental stress caused by isolation and other factors.
3. Design - The design industry can use the pandemic as an opportunity to create impactful and meaningful products that can help people in various aspects of life.