Kioku
Rekindling your digital memories.
Kioku
Rekindling your digital memories.
Kioku greets you with one cherished text message each morning,
reigniting the warmth of a physical letter in the digital world.
Kioku greets you with one cherished text message each morning, reigniting the warmth of a physical letter in the digital world.
Duration
Software
Skillset
Duration
Software
Skillset
8 weeks
Solidworks, Keyshot, Blender
Research, Prototyping, DFM, Surface modelling
8 weeks
Solidworks, Keyshot, Blender
Research, Prototyping, DFM, Surface modelling
Only 30% of CMU students remember their past 3 messages.
When 30 CMU students tried to recall their last three texts in a survey, only 9 succeeded
Only 30% of CMU students remember their past 3 messages.
When 30 CMU students tried to recall their last three texts in a survey, only 9 succeeded.
We don't remember texts.
In a world more connected than ever, people feel increasingly distant because online conversations have become impersonal.
We don't remember texts.
In a world more connected than ever, people feel increasingly distant because online conversations have become impersonal.
Messages get buried.
Messages pile up quickly digitally, and there lacks an efficient way of storing them.
Messages get buried.
Messages pile up quickly digitally, and there lacks an efficient way of storing them.
A tangible memory.
Inspired by the typewriter's interaction, Kioku's tactile button and paper message make users feel more grounded before they start their day.
A tangible memory.
Inspired by the typewriter's interaction, Kioku's tactile button and paper message make users feel more grounded before they start their day.
Blends in seamlessly.
Kioku’s simple form respects its environment,
creating a quiet moment to experience each message.
Blends in seamlessly.
Kioku’s simple form respects its environment,
creating a quiet moment to experience each message.
Integrated experience.
Kioku is built into iMessages. With a single tap, the cherished memory becomes preserved in the memory bank.
Integrated experience.
Kioku is built into iMessages. With a single tap, the cherished memory becomes preserved in the memory bank.
Removable mount.
An adhesive-backed hanger secures Kioku to the door while allowing the device to be removed for recharge.
Removable mount.
An adhesive-backed hanger secures Kioku to the door while allowing the device to be removed for recharge.
Rechargeable and ready.
Kioku goes to sleep when idle and wakes with a push of the print button, lasting up to one month on a single USB-C charge.
Rechargeable and ready.
Kioku goes to sleep when idle and wakes with a push of the print button, lasting up to one month on a single USB-C charge.
Form that invites the hand.
The palm rests naturally on the curve, and a press on the indent opens the cap.
Form that invites the hand.
The palm rests naturally on the curve, and a press on the indent opens the cap.
Refill with ease.
A red light appears when paper is low, and a spring guide clicks the new roll into place.
Refill with ease.
A red light appears when paper is low, and a spring guide clicks the new roll into place.
Precision within.
Internal components are designed for manufacturing, and optimized for draft, tolerance, and assembly.
Precision within.
Internal components are designed for manufacturing, and optimized for draft, tolerance, and assembly.
Made to be cherished.
People are used to throwing away receipts, but the stand turns prints into memories at the workspace.
Made to be cherished.
People are used to throwing away receipts, but the stand turns prints into memories at the workspace.
Door-mounted, not desktop.
On a desk, Kioku competes with work for attention. On a door, the message is the focus.
Door-mounted, not desktop.
On a desk, Kioku competes with work for attention. On a door, the message is the focus.
Refining form.
The later CAD explorations focused on developing the size, proportion, and curvatures.
Refining form.
The later CAD explorations focused on developing the size, proportion, and curvatures.
A quiet palette.
The selected colors allows the device to fade into its surroundings, keeping attention on the printed message rather than the device.
A quiet palette.
The selected colors allows the device to fade into its surroundings, keeping attention on the printed message rather than the device.
Informed by teardown.
Disassembled an existing receipt printer to understand its structural and material constraints for manufacturing.
Informed by teardown.
Disassembled an existing receipt printer to understand its structural and material constraints for manufacturing.
Build with Arduino.
The printer, distance sensor, and real-time clock are soldered and programmed in C to test the interaction.
Build with Arduino.
The printer, distance sensor, and real-time clock are soldered and programmed in C to test the interaction.
Fully functional.
The finished prototype detects distance, and automatically selects a stored message to print.
Fully functional.
The finished prototype detects distance, and automatically selects a stored message to print.
Surface continuity.
Every surface is manually modeled with curvature-continuous (G3) transitions. In contrast to G1 fillets, the geometry flows without visible breaks that interrupt the form.
Surface continuity.
Every surface is manually modeled with curvature-continuous (G3) transitions. In contrast to G1 fillets, the geometry flows without visible breaks that interrupt the form.
