Our study and real life experiences with portables taught us that the mobile first approach is key to success. People no longer go to places in their home for audio experiences. The audio goes wherever you are. The mobile revolution has brought about a nomadic behaviour in users. This meant that the object has to be comfortable and acceptable anywhere.
With each model we made, it brought a different balance in terms of acoustics.
Another highly valued aspect was achieving a size to sound ratio that evokes a sense of shock.
“How the hell is something that small that loud?!”
That kind of reaction.
Our solution not only provided a balance in size for portability and a low slung profile but a radical new acoustic layout that has never been seen before. By incorporating a subwoofer and placing it on top, the downward force produced grounded the entire structure. This resulted in uncompromised stability for a speaker that punches well over its size. Various experiments we conducted proved that most other portables have stability issues when played at high volumes. Some even spun on the spot due to an unbalanced driver configuration.
Initial iRoar Concepts. Youthful styling with pronounced details to highlight the larger subwoofer.
The Roar and Roar 2 represent the fundamentals of our concept. The iRoar however, takes it a step further by leveraging on the technology we possess and pure sound processing muscle. In order to do that we had to zoom out and look at the business as a whole.
Throughout this project, we were faced with crushing blows from all directions such as hardware, software and mechnical constraints. But the one thing that remained constant was our determination to find a solution and provide multiple directions to the company. Although decisions made were not always in our favour, our ablility to persuade is strengthened by the wide scope of directions we could come up with. In my team, I play the role of thinker and concept stylist which is where my strengths lie.
Creative Technology, Zii Advanced Division, Team Lead: Eddy Toh, Senior Industrial Designer: Tan jeng Khim, Industrial Designers: Douglas Koh, Rios Tan
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