Tag Minimal

Technology

Orka Two makes it natural for users to wear and use these minimal hearing aids

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I’ve never tried wearing a hearing aid but I’ve seen some relatives having to deal with aural problems by wearing these devices. They seem mostly bulky and hard to wear regularly that’s why some of them choose to remove them at times (although they might also want a bit of peace and quiet?). So when wireless earbuds started becoming popular, we knew it was only a matter of time before hearing aid makers started adapting some of the properties and features of these gadgets.

Designer: Hiorka

The Orka Two is a hearing aid that looks and feels more like a pair of wireless earbuds and this seems to be for the better for those who need help to have healthier hearing. The ergonomic and aesthetic design will actually encourage those who have previously been wary of wearing a device like this to finally get a hearing aid. It is pretty lightweight and has a “gentle curve” that will ensure the user’s comfort even when they wear it for a long time. It is also colored white which is apparently the most inclusive color, fitting with its simple, minimalist design. The charging case that comes with is also pretty easy to use and the hearing aid can be placed flat in the case instead of upright.


Features-wise, it has some new things that can help those with hearing problems communicate and adapt better with their surroundings. The AI DeNoise technology minimizes background noise and enhances speech clarity so the user gets a more natural hearing experience. It also has an Environmental Classifier that fine tunes the sounds around the user. The charging case has a built-in power bank so you can charge on the go and it also comes with controls so you don’t need a smartphone app to adjust the volume. It can also be connected to smart devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops and you can easily switch between devices.

The Orka Two doesn’t seem to want to complicate things for the user but at the same time brings several updated technology features to make life easier for those with hearing problems. You get simple controls in the case itself but you can also personalize features through the Orka Health app. The fact also that it seems to be non-intrusive and simple to put on and take off will also help those who need it the most to get into wearing hearing aids to improve their life.

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Technology

Minimal, portable writing device is designed to let you disconnect and focus

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As someone who writes for a living, the Internet can be my best friend and my worst enemy. Whether I’m writing for work or trying to finish my manuscript, being online is sometimes necessary but also so, so distracting. One minute I’m finishing an article and the next minute I’ve fallen into a blackhole of YouTube and social media. So a writing gadget that can also help me focus and keep me offline would be a pretty useful tool.

Designer: Freewrite

Traveler is basically a sort of laptop that you can use if you want to focus on writing, at least in the initial drafting stage. It cannot connect to any Internet browser or app so you can do away with all those that may distract you. It can still connect online but only so far as to back up what you’re writing on the cloud so you can access it later on for the editing and maybe some of the research parts. It also has no other frills or features so you get a minimalist design and functionality.


It has an e-ink screen that can also help with reducing eye fatigue which is another common problem for when you’re in front of the computer or tablet for long periods of time. And because it’s e-ink, you get a whopping 4-week battery life. It’s also pretty portable since it weighs just 1.6 lbs and the intenal memory is also pretty great as you can store up to 1 million words. The full-size keyboard seems to be pretty fast and highly responsive.

The writing screen seems to be pretty small as it only takes up a small part of the entire screen/cover. So if you’re already suffering from bad eyesight like me, this might be a challenge. But everything else sounds pretty appealing, especially the part where I won’t be distracted by the Internet. Now if only I would stop picking up my phone and scrolling in the guise of “research” while I’m using the Traveler. The idea is to just let you write your first draft and concentrate on the actual writing.

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Architecture

Minimal + tranquil seaside retreat is built using wood offcuts that were meant to be discarded

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Swedish firm Kolman Boye Architects recently completed a stunning retreat in Lillesand, Norway. The home is a pretty unique one since it utilizes offcut wood that would otherwise have been swiftly discarded. Deemed the Saltviga House, the home was built using 12,000 pieces of oak wood flooring materials. Architects Erik Kolman and Victor Boye who are the founders of Kolman Boye Architects got the idea for the home when they found out that the Danish flooring brand Dinesen had a lot of leftover materials available for use. “In our recent projects and in our teaching and research, we have come across Dinesen materials as both the traditional floors and as a scrap, a leftover, an offcut from the production of made-to-measure floors. Making and thinking with these leftovers from the production gave rise to the notion of making a building of them as a sympathetic way of using and ennobling scrap materials that would otherwise have been used as firewood. Besides being beautiful, the off-cuts are low in embodied carbon, and could offer an alternative to more commonly used and more carbon-intensive materials,” said the firm.

Pros:

  • Utilizes leftover offcut wood that would otherwise have been discarded
  • The offcuts used are an eco-friendly alternative to more carbon-intensive materials
  • The approach allows resources to be used frugally and smartly

Cons:

  • The windows on the ground floor are quite expansive, and don’t provide much privacy

Designer: Kolman Boye Architects

The project has been nicknamed “The House of Offcuts”. “It’s about using what’s available, of trying to find beautiful materials without clicking ‘order’ on a computer. When you look at old houses, they would always be built from the best materials available in close proximity,” he told Dezeen. “We wanted to explore how this thinking might look today,” said Boye.  It is situated on a rocky site located on the sea’s edge and is a newly built single-story home spread over five levels, this was done to minimize the impact on the landscape.

Instead of applying the wood randomly, the architect decided upon a single-layer stacking, that builds linear bands of different heights. “We tried stacking in different ways to help us understand how much material we would need, how it would look, and how much work would be involved to cut it to size and treat it,” said Kolman. The variety of color tones that were created as a result of this were quite visually appealing and pleasing. The entire home is made of three volumes, and one of the volume functions as a “wind barrier”, and is a connective element for the other main two buildings.

The interior of the home is spacious and welcoming, and the spaces are equipped with different ceiling heights on the ground floor. The connective volume is lined with long windows that provide expansive views of the sea. The interiors have also been marked with wood, especially Douglas fir cladding.