The groundbreaking fischertechnik Design Studio now offers the opportunity to create models online with fischertechnik building blocks. All components from the current range are available in the new ft Design Studio in 3D format. The result is impressive virtual buildings that can be viewed from all sides, just like in a real design office.
The cool fischertechnik Design Studio brings fun and games into the children’s room, trains spatial thinking and stimulates creativity. The children are immersed in a digital world where they can combine building blocks and create fascinating 3D models. The buildings created can be effortlessly rotated and viewed from different angles. Photo modes can be used to capture the constructions and compare them with other buildings. Once logged in, you have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other creative members of the fischertechnik design community.
After the virtual design on the screen, the models can be rebuilt using the fischertechnik building blocks. If required, the required building blocks can be obtained via the platform www.santjohanser.com to ensure the seamless implementation of the ideas.
Young designers can use it not only to design their creations virtually, but also to take them in their hands and assemble them in the physical world. „Our goal at fischertechnik is to combine virtual functional principles with haptics in a modern and cool way.
With the new fischertechnik Design Studio, we have achieved a milestone in this regard,“ says Marc Schrag, fischertechnik Sales Manager Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Design Studio can be downloaded free of charge from the fischertechnik website. Learning tutorials are available to get to know the platform.
Sebastian Trella from Robots-Blog had the opportunity to conduct a short interview with Roy Barazani from „the OffBits“.
Roy Barazani from „the OffBits“
· Robots-Blog: Who are you and what is your job at the OffBits?
Roy: I am Roy Barazani – The OffBits founding father
· Robots-Blog: What inspired you to create the OffBits toy?
Roy: I guess I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of re-design. Even as a child I used to break my toys apart and try to rebuild them in new and different ways. Looking back, this allowed me to develop my imagination and ability to fantasize.
· Robots-Blog: How did you come up with the name „the OffBits„?
Roy: The OFFBITS started out by playing with random parts I found in my toolbox while working on an exercise before starting my design studies in college. Suddenly I found I had made a little robot! I kept this idea with me during my studies, and for my final project built a whole city of them made from recycled parts. It was really well received and I knew I had a great idea in my hands. It took a few years of development and testing in Maker Faire events and boutique design stores and now I finally feel they are ready for the world.
· Robots-Blog: Do you have a lot to do with robots in your job/everyday life?
Roy: Yes, I love robots and I have collected robots for years!
· Robots-Blog: How did sustainability factor into the creation of the OffBits?
Roy: I see The OFFBITS as a new way of playing with toys, an “open-source” platform with no rules, so each creation can be as unique as the one who built it. I love the way people can take the original design and then make something completely different. Also, the fact it is made of components we all have around us means there are no cost or availability limits to what people can do with them.
Offbits are a sustainable and eco-friendly educational toy that encourages zero-waste principles and practices through a fun and interactive experience. It’s a great way to bring awareness and inspire positive actions in preserving the environment.
We don’t think you need many toys, but what you do choose should be made to last.
The possibilities are endless with The Offbits, you can create anything from a simple robot to a complex model while using sustainable materials and reducing waste.
· Robots-Blog: And which is your favorite robot from the OffBits?
Roy: I love all my robots family!
· Robots-Blog: Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while designing the OffBits?
Roy: From a design perspective, working with standard hardware components brought many unique challenges. For example, choosing the right mix of bits in the kits (both functionally and aesthetically) required a lot of trial-and-error type work, and then of course there is the issue of connecting parts that weren’t designed to fit together.
· Robots-Blog: How do you envision the OffBits evolving in education fields?
Roy: This is a S.T.E.A.M toy helping young minds grow in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. The OffBits toys encourage the development of fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and imaginative play.
The hands-on building process allows users to learn about robotics and engineering concepts in a fun and interactive way. The step-by-step instructions for building and programming the Offbits kits, making it easy for users of all ages to understand the principles behind the technology.
The OffBits offer educational resources such as workshops, online tutorials, and educational material that could help kids to learn about sustainable practices and technologies.
· Robots-Blog: What can you tell us about your community?
Roy: The Offbits community feature allows users to share their creations and ideas, providing inspiration and a sense of collaboration. The Offbits users have challenges for every level. When they create, share and pass the challenge they can earn tokens for their future purchases.
Canadian company MYNYMAL PC recently announced their newest innovation, a computer designed to be as minimalist as possible. The computer’s size comes in smaller than a tissue box yet houses a fully-fledged Windows desktop computer capable of day-to-day work and entertainment. Despite its humble appearance, this mini-computer packs quite a punch. A 4-core 8-thread CPU capable of photo editing, video editing, 3D modeling, and even light gaming makes this computer a useful tool and not just a decoration.
As decoration, it excels as well. The simple cube design is available in four different textures: Maple Wood, Concrete, White Marble, and Brushed Gunmetal Gray. This gives the buyer a variety of material choices to make the PC fit in best with the interior design of their home. The computer can be removed from the acrylic enclosure for hardware upgrades, and in the future MYNYMAL plans to sell the enclosures individually so that you can swap them out easily depending on the aesthetic you want. „We believe that technology should have both form and function, not just one or the other,“ said Gerard Cirera, Founder and CEO of MYNYMAL PC.
In addition to standard vinyl textures and materials, a limited amount of cube computers will come with interior RGB lighting and a custom Ore Block texture. An included remote control lets the user adjust the lighting to choose from red (redstone), blue (diamond), and many other colours and effects.
The MYNYMAL PC combines modern, minimalist design with the tech in your home, so you can finally get rid of that bulky old tower computer you don’t know where to put.
