Power Flower (5 of 5 finalists)
The voting period for the Design ReGeneration competion is now closed.
Iconic future concept to minimize components and use fuel cells to run the PC.
Description
The Power Flower is highly conceptual computing device. Initially conceived as a specialized videoconferencing device, it evolved into being a complete computer.
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Description (cont.)
The mental model of “the computer” was stripped to the bare minimum elements: input, processing, output, and a way to power it. It was made to be more natural, to appeal to the customer’s sensitivities towards environmental issues and also how the customer relates to technology semantically.
Input
Instead of using a keyboard and mouse, the person interacts gesturally on the desk surface as a camera captures the movements. A face camera, which also houses a microphone and speaker, is directed at the person’s face.
Processing
This is a complete computer concept. It should be noted that the form factor of the CPU reflects a practical approach to minimizing the components for the sake of material and power conservation.
Output
A small display device projects the image on a nearby surface, eliminating regular display technologies.
Power
The device runs on hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrogen mixes with oxygen to produce electricity. The only byproduct of this process is water. The cells can be recharged with more hydrogen, which will become more feasible as more manufacturers bring hydrogen fuel cell cars to market, such as Honda and their FCX Clarity slated to be introduced this year.
Semantics
The top is a green field. The components extend upward, like daises growing towards the sky. The clean, pure, white base of the CPU and fuel cell power supply screws into the bottom of the green field. The green field rests atop of the clear water container with the white base inset within it.
As power is generated, water drips out of the white base and is collected in the clear water container. The timing and placement of the drips are evenly distributed to represent random drops of rain falling from leaves after a downpour. There are no dependencies on other power sources or peripherals. There are no cables or physical sockets. However, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be integrated for connectivity.
Green Considerations
Stewardship
Metaphorically, a person might care for this computer much like they might care for a flower. There is one significant difference: this does not use water - it generates it. This concept encourages stewardship because it does not look at minimizing its energy problems.
The “waste” it generates is highly beneficial. It can be reused as drinking water, cooking, or even watering real flowers.
Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection
As previously stated, this would incorporate a hydrogen fuel cell power source, which is a clean, renewable energy source with water as the only byproduct.
Transportation and logistics
The primary improvements for this area are the reductions in size and weight. There are also no moving parts that would require additional packaging accommodations for protection during shipping.
Material Utilization, Recovery and Recycling
The elimination of a monitor, like the keyboard and mouse, results in significant material reduction. It also eliminates other sources of problems, such as the lead or mercury found in CRTs or LCD fluorescent backlighting systems, the power consumption, and heat.
Product Life Cycle
All components can be replaced independently and without requiring tools. At the end of life, approximately half of the materials can be recycled by the owner. The water container could become a cup and the white base could be a planter.
User Needs / Human Factors
A new model of interaction is an obvious facet of this concept. The gestural input is a unique means to an end. It can be controlled more intuitively. However, the ultimate goal is to increase the interaction among people. Besides all the technology, this device is intended to facilitate face-to-face interaction regardless of location, increasing the understanding and relationship potential among people from all walks of life.
So this competition has become an art design competition, huh?
Yes, use latest technologies to make this computer is remotely possible. Yes hydrogen fuel cell is possible. Even pool all these together, will it be a sustainable solutions? Or just looking good? Instead of using a keyboard, doesn’t it use more energy by constant scanning input area?
This may look nice, yet it’s not a sustainable solution at all.
by Tim / April 22, 2008
I thought this competition was to create solutions to the problems that we are facing. I am unsure how this is a good solution for sustainability or for computing.
Computers today are 100% input, processing, and output. There are ways to use less energy or parts, but I am confused at where you think that you can simplify this.
Hydrogen is produced using electricity. Like any reaction, it is inefficient. Turning electricity into hydrogen and then back is one of the worst ways to power anything. The only reason cars do it is because the hydrogen is transportable. Why not just plug it in and use existing infrastructure with better energy sources?
LED back lit displays have no mercury or lead, and use way less energy than a comparable projection display.
by Scott / April 22, 2008
I find this design very appealing. It further enhances the projected keyboard that you can purchase today. (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/)
I am not certain about the hydrogen, but it is a unique and innovative idea to bring the flower and water concept to a computer and its power source. Also, there is something to be said for conservation being strongly related to simplicity. And, this definitely demonstrates simplicity in its design. I would love to see this on a conference table in a board room, instead of all the polycom speaker phones, and laptop computers.
by Pete / April 23, 2008
IT’S A FREAKING FLOWER! (not pleased)
by Rico / April 23, 2008
I wish this concept was developed more. Nice idea, but it seems to lack a lot of crucial details to it’s story. For instance, how do the electronics connect to the cell? what makes it really feasible, beyond the initial idea? does it come in different colors, options, etc? details, details, details?
by mardi / April 23, 2008
Firstly, hydrogen is not a power source, but a way of storing power. Secondly, how clean it is is determined by how it was generated. Most hydrogen currently produced is produced from fossil fuels.
by Will / April 23, 2008
There is absolutely nothing to this project, it’s an empty shell. Dell, you make PCs right? Have your design team picked the winners? I sincerely doubt it.
by James / April 23, 2008
i like it, but those sketches need work. can’t tell what the hell is going on in there.
by joe / April 23, 2008
Besides being very blue sky and fairly unrealistic in terms of feasibility, it seem a bit kitschy.
by Brenden / April 23, 2008
I’m voting for this one, it’s the absolutely least practical and most magic oriented off all of these designs. Thats saying a lot if you really look at how dumb most of this is.
by Frustrated / April 23, 2008
Not a well thought out Design, even with grain of salt for being an abstract concept.
1. Re: hydrogen & projectors (above); not convinced it reduces energy use or uses greener energy. Major issue with design.
2. I could run with a flower concept in general, it’s a form, albeit one that’d annoy some users & is a bit small for the tech (shown & implied).
3. Stating that gestural input requires a new model is not enough. Show innovative user interfaces & interaction.
Interactive, light-based interface (gestural input) is not unique (at airport, mall, Disney and, per Business Week, restaurants) & seems hardware would be Bigger than a flower & consume Energy. Touch/drag interaction is popular (mouse, iPhone, Nintendo DS) as is turn/orient (Wii). If combining all these is the innovative part of the design, where is it? Based on the silhouette & grey blotches indicating usable fields, I see maybe webcam & (non-ergonomic) laser keyboard. Please show the unique (it’d be more meaningful than sketching cubes).
by Tori / April 24, 2008
Would appear to be selectively absorbing hydrogen out of the air — not enough surface area for any useful amount of transpiration… The volume of liquid (power cell exhaust?) implies a relatively larger “fuel tank” (for lower density fuel) but exceeds the rest of the volume depicted. And we have no projector technology (now or predicted) that would have an emitter head (available high-power bulbs or LEDs (not even considering the required modulator component(s))) even remotely small enough for this project.
This project fits in the category of “perpetual motion machine” — i.e. fanciful concept(s) with no significant connection to reality. The amount of energy being wasted by people VIEWING this is defeating the entire concept of the competition, actually…
by flared0ne / April 24, 2008
The concepts of the user interface, power source and projector are attractive to me on the surface (it is a flower after all). But the design does seem to lack detail, projection type?, CPU?, real advantages of Hydrogen?
by Paul / April 27, 2008
This project epitomizes my disappointment in this competition. Where are the “sustainable computing” ideas? There are no solutions for either computing or for sustainability. Green words seem to be thrown out with absolutely no research into what they mean. Hydrogen? How did you possibly pick the worst power option available for a non-mobile computer? None of the hardware in this computer is feasible, mostly because nobody would ever want it because it has no advantages. Gestural imputs? Why? Sure it CAN be more intuitive, but how are you using it? It only took one round for this competition to go the way of Microsoft’s NextGenPC. Good job to Evolve, but overall, disappointing.
by Confused / April 27, 2008
I am sooo tired of solutions that do not work. ANYONE can come up with a concept like this. Sorry, I am really peeved about this selection. You don’t even need the physical object at all…Why not embed it in your brain so that you become the device.
How is this sustainable? How is this related to what the contest was really about? It looks a lot like a million designs before…elitist and without substance.
by Peeved / April 28, 2008
I like it. so lovely
by 段鑫鑫 / April 28, 2008
Brilliant design. Has my vote by far.
by Molly / April 29, 2008
In an effort to strip down “to the bare minimum elements,” ergonomics and practicality seems to have been eliminated. The lack of an output device seems to assume that everyone has blank white walls and lots of space to project images. Unfortunately, I don’t even find the aesthetics appealing.
by Janet / April 29, 2008
“I am sooo tired of solutions that do not work. ANYONE can come up with a concept like this. Sorry, I am really peeved about this selection. You don’t even need the physical object at all…Why not embed it in your brain so that you become the device.
How is this sustainable? How is this related to what the contest was really about? It looks a lot like a million designs before…elitist and without substance.”
Quoted for Truth.
by Jeff / May 2, 2008
The only thing that could improve this design were if it were powered by real flowers. Which were brought to your house by magical pixie people. It’s about as likely.
Get with the program Dell
by Andrew R / May 3, 2008
It is very beautiful, I like it
by Jonah / May 3, 2008
Great Idea! A lot of negative comments from people with limited imagination. I’ve had similar ideas for future computers. NO screen. NO keyboard, and NO mouse, That is the future of computers. I like the hydrogen and flower ideas. Good job. But i think the future of computers will be more like a cell phone that fits in your pocket.
by taw / May 5, 2008
Lawn PC
by Danell Merren / May 6, 2008
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thanks, you made my day!
i bless you!
by e bye / July 17, 2009
Very negative feedback. Although, if you dont think about it before you judge it you would lose the whole concept instantly. LIKE, conserving energy, recycling, reusing the water and illiminating the monitor, keybord, etc.
I thought that was the whole concept. This was a very intellectual idea. MALAMA KA AINA. (Protect the lands)
by litlbet / November 29, 2009