With the increasing demand for simplification, personalization and convenience of life and work, from furniture to IT products, designers in various industries have begun to introduce new products and designs on modular products, using new and practical products again and again. Design breaks our perception and lights our lives.
This article will look at the modular IT products that are closely related to our lives and work. It can be said that modularization makes the IT world quite different.
Modular camera
Ricoh Corporation in Japan invented a modular imaging system called Cambits. The entire system consists of a number of colored plastic modules, including sensors, light sources, actuators, lenses, and optical accessories. They can be freely paired together to capture panoramas, kaleidoscope images, Even microscopic images.
Each small module is magnetically connected and electrically connected via a spring pin. Each small module has its own label. When connected together, the host can identify the current configuration and provide the corresponding visual menu options for the user to perform. With one-step selection, the novel structure can configure a wide variety of cameras to bring a new artistic experience.
Modular phone
Google's Ara Project modular mobile phone, camera, microphone, stand, speaker and other accessories can be replaced, the new module interface, support for hot-swappable modules, so that the mobile phone does not need to switch frequently, at the same time a wealth of modules Choose so that consumers can DIY their own mobile phone according to preferences.
Modular smart watch
Blocks Wearables introduces its first modular smartwatch with six different module options: battery module, programmable button module, flash module, GPS module, heart rate sensor module, and advanced module, while the advanced module Integrated humidity, air pressure, temperature sensor.
Modular smart sofa
Smart homes have come of age in recent years. Carlo Ratti Associate has launched a smart sofa called lift-bit. It is actually a vertically adjustable hexagonal module that can be used as a chair or lounge in different combinations. , beds and other functional furniture or office appliances.
It is also equipped with a mobile phone APP, connected via Wi-Fi, moving fingers on the APP, you can freely change the height of each of the seats, from the sofa into a bed.
Modular controller
LUXROBO, the Korean smart module studio, introduced a modular product MODI that is very similar to the building blocks. Each MODI module has magnetic contacts around it that can be connected to each other. MODI has a wide range of functions and functions, such as driving automatic cars, feeding cats remotely, using mobile phones to turn off TVs or voice-activated switch lights.
MODI's input and output modules are very rich. Light, distance, and orientation sensors are available. Buttons, scale dials, microphones, motors, display screens, speakers, LED lights, etc. In addition, MODI has battery, network, and other modules. These small modules can create many functions.
MODI-specific components have their own custom programming modules. Users can input specific parameters such as speed and angle to program specific objects. Through programming and module combination, MODI can accomplish many tasks.
Modular robot
CellRobot is a robot composed of a module. People can use their own imagination to assemble modules into different shapes to achieve different functions and use different purposes.
There are three types of modules that make up CellRobot: Heart, Cell, and X-Cell. Heart is the heart of the robot. It has built-in computing, Wi-Fi, and battery modules for command and communication. Heart's spherical surface has eight connections in total. Each side can be connected to two other functional cells.
The Cell module also has eight different connection planes. The difference is that the Cell itself does not provide power for itself. It needs the Heart to supply power and give action instructions. X-Cell is a functional module. To make CellRobot more versatile, X-Cell can provide modules with different functions such as wheels, light sources, brackets and even cameras.
Modular server
"In the "box" of computing, network, storage and management, etc., a large part of this sentence reflects the integration characteristics of the modular server. In the design of Tsinghua Tongfang’s Modular Server, each component is individually designed as a separate “moduleâ€, such as a calculation module, a storage module, a cooling module, a management switching module, a power supply module, a network module, and so on.
All the components are hot-swappable. Whether they are adding computing modules or storage function modules, they only need to insert the relevant expansion modules into the chassis. Fans, CPU heat sinks, hard disks, power supplies, and other components can be independently plugged in and replaced. Disassembly and assembly are extremely simple and convenient. The modular design also allows some modules to fail. It will not involve other components to stop the service. The manager can replace the failed module in just a few minutes.
Modular unmanned vehicle
Russia will use the modular design of Matreshka, an unmanned electric vehicle that will serve the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It is divided into a drive module, a chassis, and a function module for the main body.
Different main modules can produce three kinds of vehicles with different functions. The most common is a small bus that can carry 8 to 12 passengers. It can be used for efficient operation in scenic spots, communities, or places like the Olympic Village.
After changing the front line, Matreshka immediately became a special function transport vehicle, such as a mobile clinic, mobile fire pump, emergency power supply, etc., acting as a temporary hospital, fire alarm processing, and temporary power supply bureau to bring more rapid life The convenience.
In addition, Matreshka can also be set up as an open freight vehicle, providing 3 cubic meters of load space, providing simple and safe transport functions for large-scale workshops or factories.
With the development of social life, whether it is life or work, modularity will certainly become a trend and trend, bringing more convenience to our life and work.