That orange bag is ubiquitous. The most downloaded app in 2024 was the low priced Chinese shopping platform TEMU. The low priced products have proven a success with buyers in uncertain times. This past October the Shanghai giant recorded 52 million downloads in the US. Offering everything from fast fashion bags to cutlery, Temu has lured customers away from rivals Shein and Amazon with its cut throat pricing and marketing to young customers.
Everything disposable is the “New Black. ” Hyper consumption lives to fight another day.
After using mobile phone cameras for coverage, the decision has been made to go back to using a photographic camera. Do not get it wrong, phone cameras are convenient, handy but the disadvantages are numerous. Foremost, the battery life is limited. After a few hours of producing pictures and videos, suddenly one bar on the screen. Additionally, mobile phone batteries have to be replaced.
Secondly, the numerous creative options on photography cameras are expansive. The presets there are many image techniques for a shoot and in post-production. Plus, the images are just sharper. For a lowlight fashion show, cameras have more optimal settings.
Inspiration comes when it wants. One never knows when. At IFA 2024 while attending a press conference for a what I thought would be a presentation of a security light, hardly high value glamor at a big technology show, I did a double take. The presenter was a Black Guy. Usually, at these get togethers an Asian or White man takes the stage. The technology industry is as diverse as a Southern American University Fraternity. Yes, tech management believes in the principle of the ideal, but not the implementation.
Fabrice Kalhoun presenting a Security Camera
Reolink is a Chinese security Camera technology brand based in Shenzhen. When I got the press invite for a product unveiling my first instinct was to pass. Home security is not my tech topic. But, after positive engagement with the public relations representative, I scheduled an attendance. During my many years of covering product unveilings at gadget trade fairs, I cannot remember one presiding over by a person of color. Normally, the speakers are Asian or White. This time Reolink gave the microphone to Mr. Fabrice Kalhoun, a Person of Color. The African born engineer gave an enthusiastic presentation of the new home security camera he designed. During our post presentation talk, Fabrice told me his story of studying in China. While in graduate school, Reolink recruited the engineer him out of university to become a part of the company’s team.
Atlas PT Ultra 4K Security Cam
I called him “a tech unicorn” in modern reality. Normally, an African man front and center of an Asian company is a politically correct advertisement showing the brand is part of the DEI trend. Not in this case, Fabrice’s authority, knowledge with attention to detail came across.
As for the security technology, I do not live in a house, meaning, there will not be a product review of the Atlas PT Ultra 4K camera. The images are clear for an outdoor image gathering device.
What I thought could have been a mundane appointment instead was an inspiring one.
Digital X in Cologne, the digitalization event started by German Telekom hits the mark for technology gatherings. On September 18th and 19th, brands, experts and press discuss topics concerning: cybersecurity, sustainability, connected business and future of work.
The fifty thousand attendees moved from one staging area to another talking to individuals and teams concerning the future of digital interaction.
I found it a bit contradictory, the topic of Connected Business as many technology companies are requiring return to offices. Since the Covid Lockdowns, Virtual, Augmented and Immersive Reality devices and gadgets have advance rapidly. Apple’s Vision Pro, Meta’s Quest and Microsoft’s HoloLens are being promoted as the next generation of tech headsets.
The Huawei IdeaHub ES2 introduced me to the Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) term. The hardware is compatible with Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms for distanced collaborations. The smart whiteboard, camera and speaker/voice incorporate Z-Tech technology. The applications for this technology go beyond corporate office usage. The educational potential is boundless. Higher learning is about to get disrupted. Schools and universities could use the entire hardware system and platforms digital classes, eliminated the need for physical classes. Students log in to a session with an instructor and can download the lecture via a QR code.
IBM and fashion on display at Digital X
Curiously, giant IBM offered a fashion and tech melody. The US company works with clothing brands an AI profile matrix for brands to better understand customer needs and purchasing habits. Given the poor financial health of online sales platforms, maybe this could help, but I have a few doubts.
I would like to write better about start-ups area in Cologne; however, Germany is still a country trying to embrace the business trend while trying to stay in the risk adverse box. Originality requires going out on a limb. Many of the ideas at the different booths seemed more safe copies of tried concepts.
Schedule Digital X on your tech calendar for 2025, this get together is well worth the time.
After attending my first Digital X technology gathering in Cologne, the first impression, German Telekom knows how to put together a great interactive event.
Media Center Cinedom RudolfplatzDigital X Shuttle Media Center Cologne Polestar A view of the tower
At IFA Berlin, BalconyFarm showed how city dwellers can grow not only plants, but also herbs in windows. The Seoul start-up has developed an intimate gardening eco-system based on smart gardening.
Read the exclusive interview with CEO Sungwoo Kim.
Why did you decide to start BalconyFarm?
The idea of the window-inserted smart farm, BalconyFarm, actually started back in 2012. Since the 1950s, the mass supply of standardized collective housing has accompanied global urbanization, leading to the growth of the system furniture, kitchen, and home appliance markets. However, there have been almost no new proposals regarding windows, which are truly important. So, I wanted to bring a change to the window itself. Since establishing my architectural design office in 2011, I have designed and completed around 40 projects, while over 3 million apartments have been built in Korea. Completing individual buildings beautifully is important, but I also wanted to participate in the collective housing market, which has already been built in large quantities and continues to be constructed, to transform and improve the living spaces for more people.
Flowers grown in the Window
Was there a trigger for the ideal?
In 2020, when I began research on windows, a steel company called Daehan Steel commissioned my office to design a master plan for a large scale smart farm named GREF. At that time, the global agricultural production was suffering due to the climate crisis. While acquiring knowledge about smart farms, I came up with the idea of a home-use small smart farm integrated with windows. With the support of Daehan Steel, I was able to officially start product development.
Hydroponics Technic
How simple is plant growth process?
All you need to do is insert the pot containing the plant seeds or seedlings into the seedbed and scan the QR code on the package. Then, all plant-related data is automatically registered in the BalconyFarm. After that, you just need to refill the water and nutrient solution once a week when you receive a water shortage alert on your smartphone. The light, airflow and water needed for the plants are all automatically controlled by the BalconyFarm.
Herbs Also
This is not just for plants, a person can grow herbs, correct?
Of course. You can grow about 40 different types of plants, including various herbs such as basil, rosemary, arugula, and chives.
Tomatoes and Basil in the window
An in-house vertical smart-farm, does this require a lot space?
Typical small smart farm products, no matter how compact, inevitably take up living space since they are mostly designed like shelves or standard home appliances. In contrast, the main feature of BalconyFarm is that it doesn’t occupy any space at all. It is inserted into the wall thickness where the window is installed, so even when installed in a very small room or a studio-type house, there is no waste of space.
How did you dumb proof this product for people with brown thumbs? Please explain the app control.
As explained earlier, all you need to do is insert the seeds or seedlings into the seedbed and scan the QR code. There’s nothing else you need to do. If any issues arise that the BalconyFarm cannot control, the app will automatically provide additional instructions, such as opening the window for ventilation or refilling the water. The app’s avatar, CONY, will send you notifications to take action accordingly. The BalconyFarm app is designed with an interface that mirrors the actual BalconyFarm, making it easy to understand intuitively. For example, when the lights come on in the BalconyFarm, the app also automatically lights up. Similarly, if the watering nozzle in the BalconyFarm retracts, it is reflected exactly the same way in the app.
As architect, design is important, what principles did you apply from that discipline to Balcony Farm?
BalconyFarm was created to help plants grow. The focus was not on making the BalconyFarm product stand out, but rather on highlighting the plants themselves. To enjoy the view coming through the window alongside the growing plants, the design of the BalconyFarm had to be as minimal as possible. Even when plants are not being grown, the frame’s angle was delicately adjusted and designed to allow light to flow along its surface, so as not to block the light and view coming through the window. The indicators showing the status of the BalconyFarm were also minimized to make it look like part of the window itself.
The Seed Catalog
How much does your system cost? How would this technology work in old windows?
The expected launch price in Korea is 1,000 euros for the BalconyFarm DUO, 700 euros for the BalconyFarm SOLO, and 140 euros for the Balcony Farm POT. The launch in Europe or the United States will likely be next year. I should be able to provide the exact prices then.
When applying it to existing windows, we are researching ways to attach it to the window like furniture. However, to fully utilize the features of the Balcony Farm, I recommend replacing the oldest window with a new one that has the BalconyFarm inserted.
At IFA Berlin Ztove presented a connected smart cooking options with pots and pans that speak to each other. Is this a way of saying “Goodbye” to burned food?
IFA 2024 came to an end on Tuesday. The large consumer electronics celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Berlin event is trying to redefine itself after COVID and management changes. Once the domain of radio and television technology where Einstein attended and German leader Willy Brandt kicked off the first color broadcast in Europe, IFA evolved into a giant fair where brands showed off new models and devices. “Innovation For All” was the central theme. Were there innovations on hand in the twenty-seven halls? Small ideas can lead into big innovations. The first smartphone from Nokia was released in 1996 to not so much fanfare. Then came the iPhone in 2007.
The big trend of course, Artificial Intelligence, every big and small company touted integrated features and applications using AI. Mobile phone brand HONOR introduced a foldable smartphone with AI features.
Taiwan’s Acer Computer introduced a PC with an AI editing feature that will cut time in the front of the screen. During my demonstration, the team showed how the user places the video piece in the feature bar, the AI does the adjustments and corrections.
Acer Computer AI editing program
TCL introduced a line of colorful sleek affordable mobile phones titled NXTPAPER. The French company teamed with Microsoft for this generation of devices that are based on AI tech. I loved the Metallic Blue and Gold casing models.
Audio quality made many gains at the exhibition hall. Normally, the stepchild to visual electronics, sound quality has become a priority for tech makers.
At Yaber, the Chinese brand incorporates JBL speakers in its projectors. I was surprised by Japanese consumer brand Sharp with its affordable product line of speakers and subwoofers able to produce excellent quality audio.
Sharp Sound System
Tech Fashion
In the tech and fashion realms, leave it to the Italians of course to have style. Puro combined a skull cap with built in touch speakers in three colors. Essilor Luxottica’s Nuance Audio stylish eyewear for the hearing impaired are optical sophistication. The wearer does not have the stigma of using a hearing aid.
“Silk Audio” is the term that comes to mind for the on-ear headphones from Los Angeles based Audeze. After listening to Stevie Nicks using the company’s magnetic technology, adjusting back to cheap headphones has been difficult.
Puro Skull Cap with Speaker
The smart home evolution continues with companies thinking up new ways to make life easier and connected. Ztove had an interesting product of a connected stove and pot that makes burning food impossible. The cooker has a digital preset mode.
Korean start-up Balcony Farm makes life easier for vertical living city dwellers to grow food and plants with an app, pre-installed lights, small amount of soil and water and a little space.
IFA always has interesting products that may not fit in the “Next Big Thing” category, but deserve attention.
The Mobile Monitor that can float in water from Sylvox takes the top prize, but the Chinese brand’s bathroom mirror monitor gets an honorable mention.
Lucian gets my design award for producing a statement tooth brush made of titanium.
Lucian
Haier’s Dryer and 10-minute clothing steamer is a great combo for people on the go.
The JMGO Laser projector with a nimble gimble stand and fast focus.
