Samsung Electronics introduces the Galaxy Z Fold7, its thinnest and lightest foldable smartphone yet, equipped with 200 megapixel wide-angle camera. Announced during the Samsung Unpacked conference on July 9th, 2025, the company showcases the dubbed high-resolution camera with AI-enhanced imaging that automatically edits the lighting, detail, and realism of the photos and videos so they can stay sharp and vivid, even in low-light settings. Aside from the debut of the 200 megapixel wide-angle camera, there’s also a 10 megapixel 100-degree camera on the main display for group selfies. Several camera settings help improve the look of the images and videos.

Samsung says that for its thinnest foldable smartphone, the upgraded ProVisual Engine can process images faster so they save immediately in a single click and keep their crispness and detail. There’s also a Night Video, which comes with intelligent motion detection to separate moving subjects from still backgrounds and reduce noise in movements. For additional color depth, the 10-bit HDR can result in videos and photos with richer color, deeper contrast, and lifelike detail, ‘no matter the time of day,’ the company adds.

all images courtesy of Samsung

Unveiling Samsung’s thinnest foldable smartphone

Samsung’s thinnest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold7, weighs only 215 grams, which is even lighter than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. When the phone is folded, it is 8.9 mm thick, and when unfolded, it becomes only 4.2 mm thick. On the outside, the device has a 6.5-inch screen, which is wider than the last model and uses a 21:9 aspect ratio, meaning the screen is easier to read, type on, and scroll through. It is also good for one-hand use, just like a normal phone. When users unfold Samsung’s thinnest foldable smartphone yet, the Galaxy Z Fold7 looks like a small tablet. The main screen is 8 inches wide, and it is 11 percent larger than the screen on the older version. 

The screen uses a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, showing deep black colors and bright, vivid details, and this screen also uses Vision Booster, and its brightness can go up to 2,600 nits to make it easier for the users to see the display during the day. Because of its large screen, the Galaxy Z Fold7 can double as a portable workspace, which is also ideal for multitasking. Users can open several apps at once, copy and paste between them, or drag files across the screen. In the same conference, the company also unveils the pocket-sized Z Flip7, with a 9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It is also the company’s slimmest Galaxy Z Flip yet, measuring only 13.7mm when folded. Samsung’s thinnest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold7, as well as the Galaxy Z Flip7 are available from July 25th, 2025.

Samsung Electronics introduces Z Fold7, its thinnest and lightest foldable smartphone yet

side profile of the device

view of the device when folded

view of the smartphone when unfolded

the company also reveals the slimmest Galaxy Z Flip yet (shown on the right)

the phone also debuts the 200 megapixel wide-angle camera

project info:

name: Z Fold7 and Z Flip7

company: Samsung | @samsung

The post samsung unpacks galaxy Z fold7, its thinnest foldable phone with 200 megapixel camera appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Electrom releases an upgraded slim e-bike that still resembles a velomobile and comes with a movable top and a spacious locker at the back. Designed to travel long distances, the single-seater vehicle has a built-in cowling, or a body cover, that lifts up and down and keeps the biker’s legs protected from the weather conditions. It is made from polycarbonate, which is a robust and flexible plastic that bends instead of breaking in case of accidents. The cowling can also improve aerodynamics, allowing Electrom’s slim e-bike to cut through air more efficiently.

This part also protects the rider when it rains, but for full coverage, they may need to provide their own jacket and helmet (and even a full-body tarpaulin to wrap it around the e-bike as they cruise). The ride has a swing-away front fairing as well as a center stand to help the rider get on and off easily. For Electrom’s slim e-bike, there are no gears to shift. There’s only a throttle and a series of brakes and turn signals, avoiding complications during riding. Since the ride is considered a legal e-bike, riders can use it on bike lanes, sidewalk parking, and even through traffics.

all images courtesy of Electrom

generator chain drive gives a speed boost

Even if Electrom’s slim e-bike resembles a velomobile, it still only has two wheels instead of a typical three- or four-wheeled bike. The tires, wheels, and suspension system are made to handle rough surfaces, and if someone needs even more distance or speed, they can add extra batteries. A feature that the design team wants to highlight is the generator chain drive, which means that the rider doesn’t need to pedal, but if they want to, this chain drive gives the e-bike a boost. When they pedal, the energy is sent in two directions: some goes to the rear wheel, while some is used to generate electricity. Since Electrom’s slim e-bike is built for long-distance travel, riders can use it for up to 200 kilometers on a single charge, which is also enough for multiple city commutes.

For those who need to carry items, there’s an optional locker box that sits behind the rider. It can hold up to over 100 liters of cargo and is waterproof, which the company says makes it ideal for shopping bags and deliveries, even during rainy days. For Electrom’s slim e-bike, the design team uses as many standard bicycle parts as possible. They say it’s easier then to find and replace the broken parts of the ride. The aluminum frame is custom-made at Electrom’s workshop in Canada, as are the carbon fiber and polycarbonate panels used in the body. The e-bike’s colors are added using automotive vinyl wraps, so owners can change the designs without needing to paint it. 

the kicktstand is just behind the front wheel, positioned in the middle

the Electrom slim e-bike comes with a movable dome

the top also protects the rider when it rains or it is too sunny

detailed view of the two-wheeler

riders can use their cloth for full coverage

the two-wheeler has no gears to shift

project info:

company: Electrom | @electrom_lev

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: matthew burgos | designboom

The post electrom’s slim e-bike resembles velomobile with movable top and locker at the back appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The Picdance iPhone case has an LED screen at the back so users can project pixelated animations and moving images on it. A collaboration between Kiwidesign and Picdance, the case is only 3.6 millimeters thick, including the screen that can show pictures, lights, and even music. iPhone users can change the image on the back, make their own pixelated pictures, and even see the lights get animated to the beat of the song their phone is playing.

They can also set up their custom button for apps like camera, flashlight, or wallet. When they get call and message alerts, the Picdance iPhone case with screen flashes the icon of the app being used during that call or message, still in their pixel forms. Adding a moving and customizable display at the back is a way for the design team to let the users change the case’s style without needing to replace their entire cover.

all images courtesy of Kiwidesign

Picdance iphone case with screen has hotkey

There’s a dedicated app for the Picdance iPhone case with a rear screen where the users can design their own pixel images, share them, and download others. It doubles as a creative community, like a social platform, where people can talk, share, and generate new ideas. Users can upload their own photos or choose one from their iPhone’s album, and the app will turn and flash it behind into a pixel-style icon.

The Picdance iPhone case with a rear screen comes with an orange button on the side, and the users can program this for a specific function, including opening the camera and turning on the flashlight. The cover also features a microphone, and this is where the music light mode comes in: the case listens to the external playing, and the LED screen lights move with the rhythm. The Picdance iPhone case with a rear screen is made of tempered glass, diffusion film, LED lights, and a heat-resistant glue, and so far, the cover is only available for iPhone 15 users. 

Picdance iPhone case has an LED screen at the back for pixelated animations

it is suitable for iPhone 15 at the moment

the case is only 3.6 millimeters thick, including the screen

the cover flashes the icon of the app being used during the call or message

the lights get animated to the beat of the song the phone is playing

the pixelated animations let user change style without replacing the case

project info:

name: Picdance iPhone case

design: Picdance, Kiwidesign

The post picdance iPhone case adds LED screen at the back so users can flash pixelated animations appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The modular Fairphone Gen 6 comes with changeable backplates so users can replace the rear with a card holder, lanyard, finger loop, and protective case. Dubbed integrated accessories, the device’s owners unscrew the two tiny bolts at the back of the modular Fairphone Gen 6 and screw on the chosen backplate, like the one with a card holder. Aside from the backplates, the other components of the device are modular, too. 

A feature that the brand highlights is that nothing is glued shut inside the casing, so users can swap any of the twelve modular parts in minutes and ‘keep it going for years,’ the brand adds. This means that the device is repairable, which is unlike the modern phones where some parts, like the battery, are glued into the phone. With the modular Fairphone Gen 6, the battery pops out when pulled, bringing back the days of the removable cells.

all images courtesy of Fairphone

Repairable Parts made of recycled and fair materials

Aside from the built-in storage, the modular Fairphone Gen 6 comes with a memory card slot at the bottom of the device, so users can expand the storage to up to 2 terabytes. The brand adds that in terms of materials, they’ve used more than 50 percent fair and recycled materials, which include aluminum, copper, steel, tin, indium, magnesium, nickel, plastics, rare earths, zinc, fair trade gold, fairmined silver, cobalt, and tungsten. The design is also minimalist, with the rear part having just a solid color and the cameras being embedded into the device to have almost no bumps at the back, unlike the bulgy ones found in modern smartphones.

Speaking of minimalist, the modular Fairphone Gen 6 has a lime-colored switch on the side of the device that, once the users clicks it, the smartphone’s screen only show the essential apps in monochromatic display. In this mode, the owners can only use five apps of their choice in hopes of reducing their screen time. The brand also says that the body of the device uses a recycled matte composite body, while the screen adopts Gorilla Glass 7i. The smartphone has an IP55 rating against heavy rain and has been subjected to military-grade drop testing to make sure it is robust. So far, the modular Fairphone Gen 6 is available, but the changeable backplates are sold separately.

view of the protective case

view of the backplate with a finger loop

view of the rear with lanyard

view of the case with a cardholder

no parts are glued for easy repair

even the battery is removable

users can swap any of the twelve modular parts in minutes

the phone has solid color blocks

so far, the accessories are sold separately

project info:

name: Fairphone Gen 6

brand: Fairphone | @fairphone

The post modular fairphone gen 6 has changeable backplates with card holder, lanyard, loop and more appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Headfirst introduces a self-adjusting bike helmet that comes with a glowing brake light when the rider slows down. It is to signal the other riders behind, and even vehicles, to take their cruising speed down a notch. The brake light is positioned just below the top of the user’s head and at the rear of the self-adjusting bike helmet. The lighting is bright and thick enough to glow in daylight and at night, which can help the riders cruise safely at both times. 

Another feature that the Amsterdam-based collective highlights in their design is the fitting of the gear. Headfirst’s bike helmet can adjust itself depending on the shape and size of the rider’s head because of the team’s patented SafeFit technology. After putting the helmet on, riders push the sides together as if they were styling their hair, and the integrated mechanical system automatically adjusts and locks to create the fit. Unlike traditional dial systems that adjust from the back, this approach prevents the ‘mushroom head’ look and messing up the hairstyle after use.

all images courtesy of Headfirst

Removable inner fabric to wash after use

Looking at the design of Headfirst’s self-adjusting bike helmet, there are numerous open slits for airflow, especially during sunny seasons. The design team says that they craft the outer shell from ABS with 15 percent recycled materials, while they use expanded polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer, for the inner protection of the gear. The padding is breathable, and it is even removable, so the riders can wash it after use. The straps lock in using recycled magnetic buckles, and these parts themselves are also made from recycled polyester.

Headfirst says that its self-adjusting bike helmet has multi-impact protection that safeguards the riders when they crash (and beyond, they add). The shape of the gear also focuses on protecting the back and sides of the head the most, mainly the occipital region of the brain, which controls critical functions like vision and coordination. While the gear can adapt to any shape, Headfirst still offers a small and large size to accommodate the children, too. At the present time, the campaign has been backed, and the team plans to undergo quality control and testing for their self-adjusting bike helmet around September 2025. After that, the delivery begins in late 2025.

the brake light is positioned just below the top of the rider’s head behind

the lighting is bright and thick enough to glow in daylight and at night

the can also adjust itself depending on the shape and size of the rider’s head

there are lots of grilles above for airflow

the outer matte shell is from ABS with 15 percent recycled materials

so far, the delivery of the gear begins in late 2025

project info:

name: Self-adjusting bike helmet

startup: Headfirst | @headfirst_helmets

campaign: here

The post headfirst’s self-adjusting bike helmet has brake light that glows when the rider slows down appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Poetry Camera makes and prints poems about the people, objects, and surroundings it photographs using AI. Reminiscent of an instant camera, there’s a large, protruding camera lens on the boxy frame, which scans the subject. Below it, there’s a slit where the receipt-like paper prints out the poems that the AI Poetry Camera digitally pens. The design looks comical with the sizeable shutter button and viewfinder, but there’s also a nostalgic sense about it, knowing that it gives the user stanzas on a piece of paper rather than projecting them on a screen.

The AI language model that the Poetry Camera uses is from Anthropic named Claude 4. It’s the reason the device can write poems almost instantly using literary language. The user can choose the type of AI-generated poem they want, from haiku, sonnet, and limerick to alliteration and free verse, using the built-in knob. So far, the images and poems aren’t stored digitally on the Poetry Camera, meaning that the only copy the user has is the printed receipt.

all images courtesy of Poetry Camera | photo by Kaylee Pugliese/RISD

Device needs wifi connection to work

Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather, the masterminds behind the Poetry Camera, have a ‘microfactory’ in New York where they assemble the device by hand. It’s a small team because they want to individually piece the parts together to add their personal touch to the end result. The frame is made of vacuum-cast plastic housings, and the device runs on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with a Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3. There’s a catch, however. The device can’t work without a WiFi connection. It relies on it to make the language model work and start churning out AI-made poems. The team says that the Poetry Camera that can write poems doesn’t train the AI model it uses. About Anthropic’s Claude 4, they add that they ‘care to pick reputable AI model providers that do not train on your data.’ 

The design team says that the device is a toy for creative expression. Ryan Mather shares with designboom that he and Kelin Zhang choose printed poetry instead of photos ‘to invite you to slow down and appreciate the world around you. It’s kind of like how people tend to prefer the book version of a movie more than the movie version because their memories and imagination feel more personal and special.’ For those who are crafty, they can build the device on their own, as Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather make it open-source. In case the user isn’t so handy, they can just order the Poetry Camera and allow it to write and print the poems on a piece of paper.

there’s a slit below the lens where the receipt-like paper prints out the poems

sample AI-generated poem by the device

the design team says that the device is a toy for creative expression

the frame is made of vacuum-cast plastic housings

the AI language model that the Poetry Camera uses is from Anthropic named Claude 4

the team assembles the parts by hand in New York

view of the poem printed on a receipt-like paper | photo by Sam McAllister / Anthropic

first test assembly with the new mainboard

view of the redesigned camera with a knob that lets users choose the type of poem they want

project info:

name: Poetry Camera | @poetry.camera

design: Kelin Zhang, Ryan Mather

research: Anthropic | @anthropicai

language model: Claude 4

files: here

The post poetry camera writes and prints poems about the people and objects it captures appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Snap Inc. has announced the release of its new lightweight AR glasses with see-through lenses that double as a wearable computer. Unveiled at the Augmented World Expo 2025, the immersive Specs is slated for a 2026 release with a slew of features as part of the upcoming Snap OS update. With the Snap AR glasses and their see-through lenses, users can translate 2D information into 3D floating objects before their eyes using the integrated language models, including OpenAI and Gemini. There’s also a real-time transcription for around 40 languages, and it can understand even the non-native accents with ‘high accuracy.’ For developers, they can generate 3D objects while they’re wearing the glasses and remotely monitor and manage multiple pairs of Specs.

In line with the recent announcement, the Snap Spectacles, which are a pair of AR glasses, also have lenses that generate the images and sounds of the book the user is reading. Named Augmented Reading Lenses, it’s a collaboration between the National Library Board of Singapore and Snap Inc., with LePub Singapore as the campaign’s production lead. These Snap AR glasses and lenses use real-time OCR, or the conversion of typed text into a digital format, and generative AI to produce the visuals. The device already has stereo speakers, so the soundscapes are a natural addition to the reading experience.

all images courtesy of Snap Inc. as well as National Library Board of Singapore and LePub Singapore

Sounds play as the user reads the text

The Snap AR glasses and lenses use text recognition and machine learning to see the content the user is reading and activate the related visuals and sounds. First, the device scans the printed text as the user reads. Then, the images float before their eyes, accompanied by the sound effects linked to specific words or scenes. In this case, when the book describes a kind of environmental or action sound, like doors opening, the Snap AR glasses with these new lenses play that audio right into the speakers. 

So far, the company and the library say that the visuals appear in time for what the user is reading. Once they look up from the page, they can see the images depicted in the text in their field of vision. The National Library Board of Singapore adds that the project is a part of its initiative to use technology as a way to engage more people to read books. The teams have collaborated with LeGarage, the innovation branch of LePub Singapore, to help develop the reading experience and campaign of the Snap AR glasses and lenses. At the present time, they plan to roll out the beta-testing devices later in 2025 in Singapore to gather feedback before the public rollout.

The story was updated on June 11th, 2025, to include the announcement on the 2026 Specs AR glasses.

Snap Inc. has announced the release of its new lightweight AR glasses that double as a wearable computer

the device has see-through lenses for sharper and clearer viewing

the device uses real-time OCR and generative AI to produce the visuals and sounds

users can also interact with the floating imagery, based on what they’re reading

sample visuals when the user reads Pride and Prejudice

even Frankenstein shows up as a generated visual

the device already has stereo speakers, so the soundscapes are present

the images and sounds appear as the user reads

users can see the images depicted in the text in their field of vision

the beta testing rolls out later in 2025

project info:

name: Augmented Reading Lenses

companies: Snap Inc., Snap AR Studio, LePub Singapore | @spectacles, @lepub_worldwide

library: National Library Board of Singapore | @nlbsingapore

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: matthew burgos | designboom

The post snap to release lightweight AR glasses that double as a wearable computer appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, have run their first trial of an interactive game that trains people to change their brain waves and relieve their pain without using any drugs. Named PainWave, the video game aims to alleviate people’s chronic and nerve pain. It’s a neurofeedback system, which means it uses people’s brain’s activity to help them learn to control it. It is basically a game where their brain is the controller and they are the player at the same time. The system has two main parts: a 3D printed headset and the interactive game that acts as a pain reliever, played on a tablet.

The 3D printed headset picks up the user’s electrical signals called brainwaves. The device then sends the brainwave information to the app as the user plays, and the app translates the data into visuals researchers or personnel can see on the tablet. As an example, the water in the under-the-sea interactive game slash drug-free pain reliever can change color when the user starts to feel calm. In this way, researchers can see how people’s brain activity changes as they play. With these changes, the researchers find out that the brain can produce certain patterns that, over time, alter the brain activity and help them feel less pain without using any drugs.

all images courtesy of University of New South Wales | photo by Elva Darnell

3D printed headset uses water-based system for signals

The first small study of PainWaive has shown the researchers – coming from the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology Sydney, Charles Sturt University, the University of South Australia, and the University of Washington – positive results. In their trial, four people used the system, and their pain levels were tracked for four weeks. Three out of the four participants reported a major decrease in their pain, especially towards the end of the treatment. The pain relief they experienced was similar to, or even better than, as the researchers describe, what some people get from strong pain medications like opioids. The research team could also keep an eye on how participants were doing remotely.

By using a 3D printer, the researchers are able to cut the production price of the wearable VR-like headset. They’ve also designed almost everything themselves, including the computer board inside the device. The headset uses a special water-based system to get clearer brain signals, specifically from the sensorimotor cortex. It is the part of the brain that handles movement and touch, and it’s involved in how people experience pain. Because it is 3D printed, the headset is also lightweight, so it’s comfortable for the users to wear them for a long time. So far, the researchers are preparing for a larger study with 224 people who have nerve pain due to spinal cord injuries. Their next goal is to bring the interactive game closer to becoming a widely available option as a drug-free pain reliever. 

the 3D printed headset picks up the user’s electrical signals

the interactive game trains people to change their brain waves to relieve their pain without using any drugs

the game has an underwater-based setting

previously, the researchers have already developed another game-based research under Project Avatar

in Project Avatar, a simulated game aims to treat pain from spinal cord injury

video showcasing Project Avatar

next, the researchers plan to conduct a study involving 224 people

project info:

name: PainWaive

institutions: University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Charles Sturt University, University of South Australia, University of Washington | @unsw, @utsengage, @charlessturtuni, @universitysa, @uofwa

researchers: Negin Hesam-Shariati, Lara Alexander, Fiona Stapleton, Toby Newton-John, Chin-Teng Lin, Pauline Zahara, Kevin Yi Chen, Sebastian Restrepo, Ian W. Skinner, James H. McAuley, G. Lorimer Moseley, Mark P. Jensen, Sylvia M. Gustin

study: here

The post can an interactive game provide drug-free pain relief? researchers think so appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Aircela Machine can transform air and water into fossil-free gas for engines and cars. Unveiled for the first time on May 20th, 2025, the machine can produce gas on-site and in real time without fossil inputs. It only uses air, water, and renewable electricity. The team designs the structure like a honeycomb, built as well for off-grid and distributed use. Chemistry makes the Aircela Machine work so it can convert air, water, and renewable energy into gas.

The team says that the Aircela Machine uses a water-based solution. It has potassium hydroxide, which captures carbon dioxide from air. There’s a chamber where this breeze goes through as if it were a wind tunnel. Inside this container, the air comes into contact with a specially designed liquid sorbent, which extracts the carbon dioxide. Thanks to the design of the chamber, the air and the sorbent have no choice but to ‘mix.’ Once the air touches the sorbent, the carbon dioxide molecules stick to the liquid, capturing a lot of it without using too much energy.

all images courtesy of Aircela

Sorbent that regenerates so it can be reused

To produce gas from air and water, the Aircela Machine uses electrolysis. It splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The process also uses just renewable electricity, including solar power, to prevent the technology from using too much power. Once the two types of gases come through, the machine keeps the hydrogen one while releasing the oxygen variant. While all of these are happening, the machine ‘regenerates’ the liquid sorbent used in the first step. It cleans itself from the captured carbon dioxide so the sorbent can be reused again. Once it is purified, it restarts capturing carbon dioxide from the air, and the cycle repeats. 

Going back to producing the gas from air and water, the Aircela Machine combines the captured carbon dioxide and the hydrogen to create the methanol. The technology then converts this methanol into gas using chemical processes within the chambers. After that, the user pulls out the pump on the side of the machine and pours the fossil-free gas into a container for engine use. The team says that they’ve built the invention on the research by Dr. Klaus Lackner, a physicist who pioneered the concept of direct air capture in the early 2000s. The company plans to start scaling production in late 2025 to support residential, commercial, and industrial deployments.

the team says that the Aircela Machine uses a water-based solution

the team designs the structure like a honeycomb, built as well for off-grid and distributed use

side view of the machine

view of the pump

there’s a chamber where the air comes into contact with a specially designed liquid sorbent

the technology then converts this methanol into gas using chemical processes within the chambers

the team schedules scaled production in late 2025

project info:

name: Aircela Machine

company: Aircela | @aircela_official

The post aircela machine produces fossil-free gasoline using only air, water and renewable electricity appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Meet oncue, a couple of modular keyboards with wearable cuffs designed for people with Parkinson’s disease. Showcased during Milan Design Week 2025, designer Alessandra Galli has developed the device to aid the user’s motor challenges caused by tremors and bradykinesia. It includes two main parts: a compact keyboard split into two and a pair of wearable wrist cuffs. They use vibration and visual cues to help users while they type. The modular keyboard is in two halves to accommodate the position of the hands and arms. The keys are arranged in straight lines called an ortholinear layout, which can make it easier to move from one key to another with less finger strain.

When a user presses a key, the modular keyboard and wearable cuffs vibrate. This helps users stay in rhythm while typing, which can be difficult for people who experience tremors or slow movements, known as bradykinesia. If a finger stays on a key for too long, the vibration increases, a signal to lift the finger. The user can adjust the strength of the vibration depending on their preference. The modular keyboard with wearable cuffs also lights up when the user presses a key. Then, the installed AI system can also predict the next key that the user might press, letting it glow in advance so they know where to press. The system also learns and saves the typing habits of the user.

all images courtesy of Alessandra Galli

Customizable settings depending on the user’s needs

Designer Alessandra Galli hopes that with oncue, people with Parkinson’s disease are able to type fluidly and with less strain. The modular keyboards and wearable cuffs aim to reduce the shaking hands and slow hand movement of the users. They both vibrate to tell the users they’ve had their fingers on a key for too long. This also helps prevent ‘freezing,’ which is a symptom where movement suddenly stops. The users can wear the cuffs on different parts of the arm. Oncue also includes software that allows users to adjust vibration patterns and other settings.

Since Parkinson’s symptoms can change daily, users can customize the system to match what they need each day. They can use only the features they want, such as just the cuffs, just the lights, or both. Design-wise, the designer applies a bright orange palette for the case of the modular keyboards and a watch-like style for the wearable cuffs. For the keys, the gray color indicates the letters, while the dark blue is for the command buttons. The keys glow in yellow when they’re pressed, while they light up in green for the predictive text. So far, the designer has presented oncue during Milan Design Week 2025 and collaborated with the Parkinson’s Association in Treviso, Italy. As for the timeline of its rollout, there’s no news yet when the modular keyboards and wearable cuffs can be available.

meet oncue, modular keyboards with haptic cuffs designed for people with Parkinson’s disease

the modular keyboard is in two halves to accommodate the position of the hands and arms

the designer applies an orange color for modular keyboards and a watch-like look for the wearable cuffs

if a finger stays on a key for too long, the vibration increases

the keyboard lights up when the user presses a key

at the present time, there’s no news yet on the devices’ commercial availability

project info:

name: oncue 

design: Alessandra Galli | @alessandragalli_design

The post this is oncue, a modular keyboard with wearable haptic cuffs for people with parkinson’s appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.