DESIGN NAME: Ium
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Sensory tableware set
INSPIRATION: To help kids maintain interest during mealtime, I did research in kindergartens and toy stores. I noticed that kids love to play with sensory toys, which easily attract their attention. Since visualizing and listening are perceptions that are sensitive to kids other than tasting, I decided to integrate musical tone and heat-sensitive color into IUM. I believe that IUM's sensory tableware can stimulates interaction and exploration at the same time, and educates kids' comprehension on sensation.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: IUM (yum) is a set of sensory tableware for kids ages 2-5 that maintains their interest in eating. Kids think that eating is a boring activity, so they do not get enough daily nutrients and often waste food. How might we help kids to maintain their interest in eating? By integrating colors and sound into tableware, IUM not only encourages participation, but also creates an enjoyable, interactive eating experience for children. It keeps kids at the dining table throughout the entire meal.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The color bowl changes color layer by layer when heated food is placed inside it. Since each layer is a different color, it lets kids explore and teaches them to be cautious of heat. On the other hand, the music bowl enhances the playful interaction between utensil and bowl. Its asymmetrical shape is designed to prevent food from spilling out. Since the thickness of each groove is different, it plays different tones depending on the layer the utensil scrapes while scooping up food.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in January 2015 in San Francisco and finished in May 2015 in San Francisco, and was exhibited at Lime Lab in May 2015.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The color bowl is made of thermochromic material, which changes colors when it senses heat. It is same type of material used on color changing heat sensitive tea mug, which is popular in the market place lately. The inner surface of the music bowl is made of hollow wood, divided into layers in different thickness, allows users to play sound in different tones with utensils.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Tray: 220mm x 330mm x 30mm; Bowl: 140mm x 140mm x 60mm;
Utensils: 150mm x 30mm x 15mm
TAGS: Tableware, Dishware, Kids, Tones, Colors, Sensory, Thermochromism
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Through my research on toddlers and kindergartens, I found that 80% of kids in the United States get easily distracted during the mealtime; 63% of parents concern about food waste from their kids; 37% kids do not accomplish daily sufficient nutrients. Judging by my observation from interviews, the source of distraction could be the interference of surroundings such as TV and toys. To remain kids at the dining table, it is fundamental to integrate fun and explorative features into tableware.
CHALLENGE: Every kids' appetite are different, so does their interest on various type of toy products. To make all kids interest in using IUM at the dining table is not a easy task; however, it is indeed a way to increase kid's appetite on every bite of meal.
ADDED DATE: 2016-02-09 10:17:30
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Yi-Hsun Hsu, 2015.
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Copyrights belong to Yi-Hsun Hsu, 2015.
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