In the »Design Probes« project Philips is exploring future applications for technology that are not just an enhancement of the status quo but rather tries to incorporate completely new ways of thinking. Philips understands the programme as a »far-future« research that analyzes possible changes in the social and economic situations and gives design proposals that should stimulate a debate. »Deliverables range from scenarios and narratives to the creation of experience prototypes and IP fortressing«, says Philips. One question always behind is if we want or need a certain thing  (invention, technology etc.) or not.

One of the »Design Probes projects is »VIBE«, a sensor that tracks emotions from its wearer and is able to convert it into colours and also build an interface to other possible appliances that react on emotional energy.

»This opens up a whole new universe of emotional applications, such as physical and emotional gaming, mind and stress control applications, as well as emotional telephony. The VIBE – emotional sensing necklace combines conductive ink and textile sensors. The necklace can read multiple biometric signals of the wearer and communicates them to other devices and other wearers.«

ROGER endorses this way of research. It’s hard to find such experiments in design outside the educational sector. Hopefully Philips can appeal other companies to also start practising in the same directions. It would open more designers the chance to design scenarios that enable a broader society to discuss on what we want or do not want in our future.