In the context of the Create the Future course, Master’s students develop scenarios for the future. Based on one of these scenarios, they then design a concept for the year 2040. These designs are not conceived at random, as shown by the fact that some of these concepts have now been overtaken by reality.
In 2009, for instance, a group of students conceived an entertainment system for Sony: your living room becomes part of the screen. When you're sitting on the couch at home, watching a football game, you feel as if you are actually in the stadium, surrounded by other supporters. Dr Wouter Eggink, who lectures on the Create the Future course, comments that “A student recently sent me a link to an article about Illumiroom, a Microsoft invention. By projecting 3D images onto walls and furniture, this new television system uses your entire living room as a screen. Several years ago, our students came up with an idea that was identical to this Microsoft concept.”
Google Iris
Each year, the Create the Future course is linked to a given theme. This year’s theme was health. Each year, internal and external experts cooperate extensively on the selected theme. This year, for instance, Professor Lisette van Gemert (of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences) and Professor Miriam Vollenbroek (of Roessingh Research and Development) cooperated on various substantive issues. Dr Aimee van Wijnsberghe (of the Centre for Telematics and Information Technology) gave a lecture on the ethical aspects of medical technology.
In previous years, these cooperative ventures have involved Philips, and Wageningen University and Research Centre.
During the past year, working within the theme of health, the students came up with the following concepts:
- An interactive mirror capable of performing an early-warning health scan. The idea was that people could use this to keep their insurance premiums to a minimum.
- A small electrochemical talisman that assists and encourages people to achieve their personal goals.
- An ingenious information system (Google Iris), based on nanotechnology and the internet, which helps people to monitor and manage their health. This group made a video clip on this topic.
Create the Future
The Create the Future course is a second-year subject for Master’s students in Industrial Design Engineering (Design & Styling specialization). The lecturers in this subject are Dr Wouter Eggink (Faculty of Engineering Technology) and Dr Adri Albert de la Bruhèze (School of Management and Governance).
For further details about the Master’s degree or the specialization, visit the master's website or join us for the Open Day at the University of Twente on 27 March.
