Beautiful Gadgets
There's nothing that delights me more than a powerful and functional piece of technology seamlessly blended with a beautiful form. Form factor is nothing new, nor is the emphasis or desire for it. Still, many manufacturers seem to lean towards function over form, or erroneously capitalize on cliché design ideals, rather than truly thinking about the importance of design as it pertains to the function of their product. Not only can it be challenging to find a product that works reliably well, one that is successfully designed to appeal to our aesthetic senses is even rarer. Some of the following pieces transcend beyond beauty and into the realm of art. Enjoy!
From Left to Right:
The Apple iMac I would be remiss to create a post like this and not include an Apple product. Apple is a company noted for its devotion to form factor and user interface design. Blending a unique aesthetic with high-end materials, Apple is, if nothing else, a market innovator.
The Seiko Electronic Ink Watch This beautiful watch designed for women, is more of a bracelet than a conventional watch. These days, watches tend to be more of a statement about our status or aesthetic, rather than a functional tool for telling time. Indeed, watches have almost always been beautiful. So then what is the Seiko watch? Is it art that has become technologically innovative, or a beautiful twist on old technology? Either way, good luck getting your hands on it; Seiko has produced only 500 of the watches to date, and with a price tag of approximately $2000, it's an expensive addition to your wardrobe.
The O.R.B. by Hybra Whether the O.R.B. truly delivers on its many promises when it debuts next quarter, the concept is more than sufficient to earn it a spot on this list. Your ring vibrates to alert you to a call, look down and watch as E Ink caller ID text scrolls across the display. Simply remove the ring and twist it into an S shape that hooks over your ear as a bluetooth device.
LaCie Xtreme Key I fell in love with this device when I first saw it. Conventionally ugly or fragile USB keys are prevalent. As storage space grows cheaper, so too does the production of USB keys and their price tag. The LaCie Xtreme Key is different. Not only is it highly resistent to damage (water, freezing, impact, etc.), it's a beautiful art piece designed by Constance Guisset. With its sleek metal alloy and solid weight, it ceases to be simply a USB key, and becomes something more. Wear it as a necklace, use it as a keychain, or keep it at your desk. When set upright, it has a whimsical wobble to it, as its base is not flat.
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Jewelry and Fashion,Technology
apple, bluetooth, Computer, Desktop, E Ink, Electronic Ink, Flash Drive, Hybra, imac, lacie, O.R.B., ORB, Seiko, USB key, Watch, xtreme key
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