Future Of Health: Philips Explores Transforming The Home To Benefit The Body And Mind

Philips recently debuted their latest Design Probe called ‘Metamorphosis’ which explores furniture and lighting concepts intended for the home which enhance personal well-being through a connection to the natural environment. Each concept aims to make the home more of an effective filter for unnatural elements like air pollution, electromagnetic smog, and industrial noise. The ideas use sensors to respond to disruptive or potentially harmful conditions and adapt to better suit the occupants.

Shimmer:
Shimmer is an architectural product concept designed to facilitate well-being through surprise, movement, natural noise management, air movement and natural light dispersion.
The ‘stripes’ are based on flexible elements that emit natural light and channel air. They can transform to change the interior characteristics of a space in response to people and the atmospheric/lighting conditions outside.

Healing Bed:
Insights gained from research about how people heal on the sunny side of the hospital inspired the concept of bringing natural light into the hospital room or home (light and warmth can improve the healing process) via a natural diffuser.
Through a fiber-optic bed canopy, natural light is transported from outside to the Healing Bed. Using UV, infra-red and other frequency spectrum filters, the canopy brings daylight and moonlight into the bedroom. Specific therapeutic light frequencies can be filtered for health benefits. The Healing Bed senses biometric signals and produces -, relaxing natural light effects and sound to enhance the waking experience.

Sun Beam:
Natural Light diffuser and reflectors and an array of reflective surfaces scatter natural light piped in via fibre-optic cable. By changing the angle of the reflective elements light can be directed to additional reflectors in the room or to solar powered appliances which are powered with daylight. The active filters change the level of diffusion to affect the ‘mood’ of the light.

Air Tree:
Air Tree is designed to ‘breathe’ in rhythm to the airflow outside, maintaining a healthy level of filtered air with subtle changes in humidity. Unlike an air-conditioner or fan that regulates air by channeling constant streams of air, this concept creates variation in the interior atmospheric condition. The movement of the ‘mobile’ relates to the weather outside and is intended to create a subliminal connection to nature. The mobile dispenses vapor over a large area in an a-rhythmic manner – much like the weather outside.

Solar Blobot:
The Solar Blowbot concept is based on unpredictable gusts of air and spontaneous natural movement – much like the wind rustling in the trees. The Blowbot is a solar powered robotic device that senses human presence and activity. It moves around the home generating breezes which are channeled through an inflatable textile bladder. It is powered by solar reflectors and has been designed to “visualize” air by dramatically inflating and deflating to create directional gusts and breezes. Unlike fans and air conditioning systems which are predictable, monotonous and rhythmic, Blowbot simulates the unpredictable and chaotic qualities of nature.

Sound Barrier:
Research shows how different sounds affect our mood and ability to heal. The Sound Barrier concepts are not speakers for audio systems – they are noise filters that show their activity by changing shape. The concepts are all based on the home, office or hospital space functioning as a filter that enables nature to enter our living space while external environmental pollution (noise, chemical, light etc) is filtered out.

Wave Daybed:
A sedentary lifestyle is a cause of serious health problems. The furniture in our spaces does not support the needs of our body. This results in poor postures and potentially long term health effects, such as joint pains, rheumatism and arthritis. Poor posture also results in sub-optimal breathing and effects our overall health and stress levels.
The Wave Daybed concept is an ever-changing bed based on the natural resting-positions, and transforms to compliment your posture and position. It takes the shape of your body, forming the shape until you change position again.

Philips
[via design.nl]

Over the next few weeks, PSFK is running a trends research and innovation project in association with UNICEF. We will be researching (with your help) the development of key trends that impact health and wellbeing and then using our findings to develop with partners concepts that UNICEF and likeminded organizations could consider deploying across the world.

Find out more here: PSFK presents the Future Of Health in association with UNICEF