industrial-design 6

Clocky. Clocky is, quite simply, for people who have trouble waking up. When the alarm clock goes off and the snooze button is pressed, Clocky will roll off the bedside table and wheel away, bumping mindlessly into objects on the floor until it eventually finds a spot to rest. Minutes later, when the alarm sounds again, the sleeper must get up out of bed and search for Clocky. This ensures that the person is fully awake before turning it off. Small wheels that are concealed by Clocky’s shag enable it to move and reposition itself, and an internal processor helps it find a new hiding spot every day. ...

Winners of The Future of Time contest by Timex. Showcases futuristic designs for watches. I liked the “nail watch”.

Toilets of the world. The page has a section on futuristic toilets. I’ve used something like those when I was at Honda in 1998. Really nifty devices :-)

Chess Set designed by Karim Rashid, next to the piece I photographed a couple of months ago. They’re identical. via Markose

Who invented cubicles? Herman Miller, 1950s. Now we know whom to blame! (However, I must admit to a secret liking for cubicles.) via MetaFilter Comments L K Tucker 21 Feb 2007 5:23 pm: Robert Propst is credited with the invention according to a bio on the Herman Miller Inc. site. He denied it. His open plan system was modified when workers using the first prototypes began having mental breaks. The human vision startle reflex had worked in the “special circumstances” those first close-spaced workstations created.

The new iMac was designed by Jonathan Ive. (Aside: Onion spoof.)