Core77 Design Awards

  • Winners
  • Categories
  • Jury
  • About
  • Other Years
    • 2021 Awards
    • 2020 Awards
    • 2019 Awards
    • 2018 Awards
    • 2017 Awards
    • 2016 Awards
    • 2015 Awards
    • 2014 Awards
    • 2013 Awards
    • 2012 Awards
    • 2011 Awards
  • Sign up / Login;

Student Notable

Speculative Design Award

Core77 Design Awards 2022

Results Announced for Community Choice Prize See All Winners

Harp - Human Connection for Remote Work

The Harp console brings human presence and interaction to remote work. Designed to be used with any AR or XR headset, the Harp brings haptic and tactile sensations to augmented and mixed reality experiences, without the need for bulky controllers.

The Harp is an input and output sensory device that uses multiple sensors and cameras to achieve real-time capture of three-dimensional data. Multiple users can communicate in a face to face manner in real time, even while being separated in a remote work setting. Along with the real-time capture of facial expression and body language the Harp also uses ultrasonic haptics to provide tactile response in three dimensions. The front of the Harp features a cloth covered haptic array, which allows users to feel, grasp, and interact with interface elements as well as other users in mixed realities. The haptic array also doubles as a reconfigurable membrane/matrix allowing for tangible interactions like typing with physical keys.


Tactile Interactions in AR Users can have tactile interactions with volumetric UI's thanks to the ultrasonic haptics and AR integrations. Intuitively grab, work, and communicate with real-time haptics and capture.
Assembled Harp
Exploded view (front) The ultrasonic array revealed underneath front acoustic mesh. 3 camera & 3D sensor units are embedded into front bezel.
Exploded View (Back) The built in carry handle on the rear of the Harp means easy pick up and go. The Harp also incorporates its cooling vent into the bottom of the handle pocket, keeping internal hardware at correct temperatures.
Wireless and Portable Users can move about their home or office space untethered by cables. The Harp provides ample haptic zones for user interactions while portable enough to fit anywhere a contemporary laptop can.

There is currently nothing in the market that provides the same functionality and experience that the Harp does. As of now most people are familiar with the concept of virtual reality and augmented reality in the gaming industry, however there is a greater push to use VR and AR devices for productivity purposes. A major problem that virtual and augmented reality devices are facing, when it comes to real-time telecommunications, is the ability to capture the users facial and body movements live as they react with one another in a virtual environment. The Harp aims to solve this problem by providing a forward facing capture system that will allow users to be virtually present with each other at a human scale and in real-time. Another problem facing VR/AR users is how they interact with virtual environments and/or each other. At the moment, most VR/AR devices use handheld controllers that provide a limited amount of dexterity and haptic feedback for the user. The Harp will utilize an emerging technology, ultrasonic haptics, to allow users to touch and interact within the AR/VR environment with their bare hands. The Harp is an all in one product when it comes to capture input, haptic output , and onboard computing that is uniquely positioned to deal with these major user problems as the personal computing industry begins to leverage augmented reality technology.

The Harp allows teams to work collaboratively face to face while physically distanced. Not only does the Harp bring life like dimensional and expressive communication to the user, but also amplifies collaborative working by allowing users to utilize mixed reality further than what can be done now with conventional telecommunications.

The Harp revolutionizes the way we conduct personal computing, view telecommunications and overall human connection. The design of the Harp would allow individuals and businesses to improve intercommunication and collaboration thus improving productivity. Harp brings in-person interactions back home, minimizing people's needs to travel to work, cutting commercial real estate costs and travel expenses. It globalizes your workforce, businesses can now truly utilize diverse teams no matter where they are in the world. Teams can communicate fluidly and expressively without the agony of over scheduling monotonous, mentally draining, inhuman video calls.

Very few things bring the amount of joy and happiness than meeting with family and friends, especially when one has been physically distant from one another for a long period of time. Users would be able to spend more time around family and friends if working remotely. The possibility that someone could meet with a loved one or co-worker that they haven't seen in months or years, face to face or be around them more often would be ground breaking for telecommunications, mental health, and overall happiness in the home and office. More users having the ability to work from home means fewer cars on the roads from commuting, a net positive for the environment.

The curved form of the Harp brings a breath of calmness and freedom to users that are inundated with rectangular screens and tablet driven products. The shallow scoop of the Harp's front array allows for an optimal sensory zone, with the ultrasonic haptic array emitting and enveloping users' hands from beneath the fabric. The low swooping front allows for comfortable typing when using the reconfigurable membrane. Cameras and sensors are placed around the forward edge to capture users from all angles and a carry handle on the back for easy "pick up and go" around the home.

Share This
  • Y1
  • m1
  • H1
Results Announced for Community Choice Prize See All Winners
  • Honoree

    George Harvey

  • School

    Rochester Institute of Technology

  • Category

    Speculative Design

  • View More Information
    x Website
    ` PDF

Core77 Design Awards 2022

  • Built Environment
  • Commercial Equipment
  • Consumer Technology
  • Design Education Initiative
  • Design for Social Impact
  • Furniture & Lighting
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Living
  • Interaction
  • Packaging
  • Personal Accessory
  • Service Design
  • Speculative Design
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Strategy & Research
  • Tools & Work
  • Transportation
  • Visual Communication
  • Keyshot Prize
  • Sappi Prize
  • Sustainability Prize
 
Our Network
  • Coroflot — Design Jobs & Portfolios
  • Design Directory — Design Firms
  • Core77 Design Awards
Social
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
Links
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
© 2023 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • © 2023 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • About
  • )
  • m
  • Y
  • '
  • S
  • © 2023 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.