I've mentioned it in this blog before, but it's an amazing technological time we live in. Everyday, people from all economic strata use and benefit from amazing technologies. It's also a great time for design and the meeting of design and techology. iPhones, iPods, computers, medical devices, cars, you name it, these devices are ubiquitous and influence peoples lives in ways that I think we as a society, don't fully understand.
There's one industry though, that I've noticed for the amazing leaps in design and function in the past several years. No, it's not sports cars, it's not the Segway, it's not Apple. It's the baby products industry.
I live in a neighborhood that contains, well let's face it, a lot of yuppies. These couples are having kids left and right these days, and because I live in an urban environment, it's possible to observe them out walking or running errands, all with their kids in tow. The first thing that caught my eye was the heavy duty, jogging mommy stroller. These things are amazing: lightweight construction from the latest industrial materials, large wheels with substantial titanium frames, carrier sections (you know, where the baby hangs out) that can be totally closed off into weatherproof little enviro-bubbles for junior's total comfort, plus pouches and slots and pockets for all of the modern accutrements, including the ever-present bottle of water. And they fold up into a slender package with a handle on one end that weighs less than junior.
Next, is the car seat. Again, an great design. A federally approved molded seat that straps into the car to securely hold junior in the event of any kind of mishap. If there's a bad accident and junior gets thrown from the vehicle, he merely slides down the road in the ever-protective car seat. But that's not all. The car seats are now being designed so that you can just leave junior in the seat, remove the seat from the car, and carry the seat around with a sun hood included. And some of these car seats even snap into the above mentioned industrial stroller. Amazing.
I have no doubt that at least some of the principals and materials used in these devices have filtered down from the space program.
I remember when I was a kid...you rode on mommy's lap in the front seat until you were a little enough pain in the ass to ride in the back seat. There were no seatbelts, let alone modularized federally approved cocoons for baby's protection.
But then, my mom never went out and jogged when I was an infant...
There's one industry though, that I've noticed for the amazing leaps in design and function in the past several years. No, it's not sports cars, it's not the Segway, it's not Apple. It's the baby products industry.
I live in a neighborhood that contains, well let's face it, a lot of yuppies. These couples are having kids left and right these days, and because I live in an urban environment, it's possible to observe them out walking or running errands, all with their kids in tow. The first thing that caught my eye was the heavy duty, jogging mommy stroller. These things are amazing: lightweight construction from the latest industrial materials, large wheels with substantial titanium frames, carrier sections (you know, where the baby hangs out) that can be totally closed off into weatherproof little enviro-bubbles for junior's total comfort, plus pouches and slots and pockets for all of the modern accutrements, including the ever-present bottle of water. And they fold up into a slender package with a handle on one end that weighs less than junior.
Next, is the car seat. Again, an great design. A federally approved molded seat that straps into the car to securely hold junior in the event of any kind of mishap. If there's a bad accident and junior gets thrown from the vehicle, he merely slides down the road in the ever-protective car seat. But that's not all. The car seats are now being designed so that you can just leave junior in the seat, remove the seat from the car, and carry the seat around with a sun hood included. And some of these car seats even snap into the above mentioned industrial stroller. Amazing.
I have no doubt that at least some of the principals and materials used in these devices have filtered down from the space program.
I remember when I was a kid...you rode on mommy's lap in the front seat until you were a little enough pain in the ass to ride in the back seat. There were no seatbelts, let alone modularized federally approved cocoons for baby's protection.
But then, my mom never went out and jogged when I was an infant...
Comments
* High tech baby strollers are just one small evolutionary step away from baby hang-gliders.
* The Freakonomics guys have shown that child seats are unnecessary -- the seat belt alone is just as effective. However, yuppie hysteria, and the auto company's willingness to delegate the responsibility and liability of protecting children to other companies has perpetuated the perceived need for a special child safety harness. Babies need the special seats, but not kids. And kids are still safer in the rear, but you know what? DRIVERS are safer in the rear, too.
I still laugh when I see people bring child seats on a plane...