The Qantas A380 Economy seat, which we're yet to try out, but is already making us jealous of Airbus passengers, includes a new ergonomic design, single beam sea, and enhacned seat cushioning. But it's the tech additions that have us impressed:
- PC power
- USB and Internet ports
- In-seat telephone with reply SMS
- 10.6" widescreen monitor connected to Qantas' video on demand entertainment system
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| Look ma', I've got USB: the geek-friendly Qantas A380 Economy seat |
The other product which caught our eye is the Rip Curl's H-Bomb - it's a wetsuit with built-in heating powered by two 7.4 volt batteries (each weighing 140g).
The H-Bomb has three temperature levels which can be set by the surfer - designer's claim you'll get 2.5 hours of heat, which drops if you crank up the temperature (maximum 50 degress Celsius). Surfer Mick Fanning is reportedly onboard the H-Bomb train.
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| This man has two batteries in the small of his back: the Rip Curl H-Bomb powered wetsuit |
Standards Australia's Australian International Design Awards recognises products for their design merit, quality and innovation, and winners will be awarded in Melbourne on May 29th.
Entries cover eight industry categories - Consumer, Business & Technology, Sport & Leisure, Architectural & Interior Products, Automotive & Transport, Medical & Scientific, Heavy Machinery and House & Building. Entry is open to products designed in Australia or overseas, but available for sale in Australia.
Judges commended the exceptionally high standard of this year's entries. Products are judged on visual appeal, functionality, manufacture, environmental impact, innovation and human factors. One of the finalists in the Consumer category is the Eneloop, which we've praised in the past.
We picked out a few of the more techy offerings that grabbed our eye, so you can cast your keen judging eyes over their visual appeal for yourself.
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| Event Opal: A two-way studio monitor loudspeaker, designed specifically for use in professional recording and broadcast environments. |
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| Indago: An upright gaming terminal comprising of a cabinet and pedestal. |
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| Sanyo Xacti Waterproof Digital Movie Camera: An all season camera with a 5x zoom lens that is waterproof so you don't have to worry about using it in rain or snow and is safe to use up to a depth of 1.5m underwater. |
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| BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset: The Q1 is a wireless headset that pairs seamlessly with any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, and allows most headset functions to be controlled via simple voice commands. |
View the complete list of finalists in the 2009 Australian International Design Awards.
