Our smartphones, computers, smart watches, and all of the other electronics we’re surrounded with daily are indisputably helpful. But they also cause an effect that we probably didn’t anticipate at the beginning of the technology age: technology overload. You know the feeling you get when you find yourself picking up your phone out of habit, then you’re not sure why you’re holding it? The separation anxiety you feel when you can’t check your email? The complete horror that wells up inside of you when your internet service is down for a few hours? That’s a bona fide tech addiction, and a surprising number of us are afflicted with it.

Greater Than is a concept from marketing and design company Code and Theory. It was developed in response to a request from Co.Design to come up with a wearable device that moves beyond the current generation of smart watches and other wearables we suddenly find ourselves immersed in. The small object starts out looking like a stick made of rubber and aluminum. Its shape, according to Code and Theory, is reminiscent of a candy bar to symbolize its ability to provide “a moment of indulgence.”

When you feel yourself getting a bit overwhelmed by the world around you, you twist the top portion of the bar until it forms a right angle (tipped to the side, it forms a “>” or “greater than” sign). The device fits on your ear, where only the rubber portion actually touches your skin. It isn’t overly designed, and it certainly doesn’t try to blend in or disappear into your physiology. It’s a statement piece that tells other people you’re taking a break from them and everything else for a few minutes.

But what does the odd object actually do? The device contains a tiny EEG sensor that measures your brainwaves and a bone-conduction speaker plays an appropriate music loop to bring your mind to a calm state. The sounds are meant to induce theta brain rhythms, those deliciously meditative brainwaves that occur when you are exceptionally relaxed or drowsy. Greater Than is meant to be worn for just a few minutes at a time, in contrast to our other gadgets which we are expected to have attached to our bodies at all times. When you’ve had your 10 to 30 minutes of velvety deep-brain relaxation, the device twists back into a stick and charges in a cup on your desk, getting ready for the next time your brain needs a micro-vacation.

(via: Co.Design)

The post The Anti-Gadget Gadget: Put it On and Tune the World Out first appeared on Gajitz.

Riding around in a convertible with the top down is a great way to enjoy the nice weather. French artist Benedetto Bufalino takes the concept to a whole new level with the Seat Ibiza hot tub.

Made from a formerly-functioning Seat Ibiza sedan, the car has been modified to create a jacuzzi tub. The roof, windshield, and windows have all been removed to open up the vehicle and make it into more of a container.

The seats, steering wheel, and all other controls were also removed and a watertight liner was inserted to complete the transformation.

Bubbles of warm water swirl around to remove your stress while you soak up the sun. Like any other outdoor hot tub, this one looks like it would be an amazing way to spend a few luxurious hours.

As a car, the Ibiza probably held four or five people. As a hot tub, you could probably squeeze in that many – but having it all to yourself would be even nicer.

The post Hot Rollin’: Car Becomes Artsy but Functional Jacuzzi Tub first appeared on Gajitz.

How many times have you been walking along a river or riding your bike and suddenly felt the need for a quick sauna? Well, apparently some people do – and that’s why this bike-towed sauna was created. Designed by Prague-based architectural group H3T, the towable sauna brings relaxation to nearly any location.

The sauna is wood-fired and built of lightweight but tough materials. It’s designed to be as easy to tow as possible while still providing room for six people to kick back and get steamy. The architects have taken it on a tour around Prague visiting various bike events and even a parade. If you’re tempted to give it a try, just don’t forget to bring an industrial-size bottle of hand sanitizer.

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Could a “re-birthing” experience be the future of weird recreational activities? Or maybe it will be the future of emotional therapy. Either way, Columbian designer Nelson Ayala is counting on someone wanting to experience a simulated birth experience, because that’s just what his Nato Station chair concept would provide.

The experience starts off with a user sitting in this womb-like chair and putting on a helmet. The helmet scans brain waves at the beginning of the simulation and throughout to determine how the experience is affecting the user. The helmet also works to block out most outside stimuli and create a profound feeling of relaxation.

Slowly, the darkness and stillness inside the “womb” gives way to gradually increasing light and sounds. The user can hear sounds comparable to those heard in a mother’s womb: her heartbeat, her intestinal processes, and the muffled sounds of the outside world.

The chair is heated to provide the comforting warmth of the womb, and the entire setup moves to mimic the subtle movement felt by a fetus. The user is completely disconnected from the everyday adult world and transported to a simple time before the outside world intruded on profound peace and comfort.

At the end of the simulation, the user is oriented in the typical birth position, making this “second birth” complete. Users who undergo the simulation – if the Nato Station is ever produced – will no doubt come out of it feeling like they have a new lease on life. The designer sees a market for the unusual chair in locations typically associated with stress and  sensory overload such as shopping malls and airports.

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Multi-tasking is both a blessing and a curse. We’re able to get more done in a shorter amount of time now than ever before – but now information and connectivity invade every moment of our lives, not to mention the arsenal of gadgets we use to manage it all. Many of us fall into the trap of believing that every message is urgent and must be answered immediately. Tame is a concept that could help you calm the tide of information when you need it, giving you a much-needed break to relax, work, or even just drive your car in peace.

This Zen-looking cube allows you to store a different auto-reply on each face. You customize all five messages from your computer, specifying just what you want to say to people who contact you. Then when you need some time away from communicating with people, you just flip the appropriate response to the top and enjoy knowing that you’ve bought yourself a few moments of peace. People can still contact you since the Tame doesn’t actually screen calls or messages – it just lets people know that you might not be answering them right away.

Tame syncs with all of your (de)vices: cell phone (voice and text), instant messengers, Facebook, and just about however else you stay connected with the world. Because it’s got no buttons to fiddle with, it’s simple to operate when driving or otherwise occupied, and it syncs via Bluetooth so there are no wires to fuss over. You can even leave the cube on your desk at work when you step out, and the red, yellow or green lights – along with the status message – will let colleagues know if they can try to reach you. With so many of us over-connected and feeling the stress these days, maybe a product like Tame is what we need to help us loosen the grip of technology.

The post Tame the Technology: Take a Zen Break From Multitasking first appeared on Gajitz.