This Device Turns Smartphones Into Small Robotic Assistants
Mishal Omar — August 4, 2016 — Tech
References: takefumihiraki & fastcodesign
This device gives a user's smartphone wheels in order to turn it into a robotic assistant.
Designed by Takefumi Hiraki and Koya Narumi from the University of Japan, the 'Phone on Wheels' is limited in its functions but could certainly be helpful for small tasks. The device works by encasing the user's phone in its 3D-printed case, which is attached to mounted heels. The device has an "embedded motor," which is controlled by the phone upon set up, making the smartphone wheels capable of providing assistance for menial tasks. For now, the device can approach the user when their phone is notified of a phone or call and the designers hope for it to one day serve other functions -- including wheeling away when the user tries to hit snooze on their alarm clocks.
This device is certainly not a necessity, but shows the ingenuity of the designers as well as the endless possibilities that are now available in tech.
Designed by Takefumi Hiraki and Koya Narumi from the University of Japan, the 'Phone on Wheels' is limited in its functions but could certainly be helpful for small tasks. The device works by encasing the user's phone in its 3D-printed case, which is attached to mounted heels. The device has an "embedded motor," which is controlled by the phone upon set up, making the smartphone wheels capable of providing assistance for menial tasks. For now, the device can approach the user when their phone is notified of a phone or call and the designers hope for it to one day serve other functions -- including wheeling away when the user tries to hit snooze on their alarm clocks.
This device is certainly not a necessity, but shows the ingenuity of the designers as well as the endless possibilities that are now available in tech.
Trend Themes
1. Smartphone Robotics - The 'Phone on Wheels' device shows the potential of integrating phone technology with robotic functions, opening opportunities for further development in hybrid smartphone devices.
2. Personal Robotics - The 'Phone on Wheels' device highlights the growing trend of personal robotics and the potential for people to integrate robotic assistants in their everyday lives.
3. 3D Printing Technology - The 3D-printed case for the 'Phone on Wheels' device demonstrates the growing potential for 3D printing technology as a platform for innovative product development.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Technology - The 'Phone on Wheels' device opens up new possibilities for the mobile technology industry in developing hybrid smartphone-robotic devices for personal use.
2. Consumer Electronics - The growing trend of personal robotics, as demonstrated by the 'Phone on Wheels' device, presents opportunities for the consumer electronics industry to explore the potential of robotic assistants for everyday use.
3. 3D Printing Industry - The 'Phone on Wheels' device showcases the potential of 3D printing technology as an innovative platform for product design and development, particularly in robotics and mobile technology.
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