#phorce

[littlechmura]

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Episode 8.2 I’m dedicating this to my actual angels @ricca-raccoon @fujoshichickenhime @mummiesandlightsabers @dauntlesssubconscious @korppi8

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[littlechmura]

Did you just peek into my ph-orce catalogue @sonofasphinx? But, yeah... she’s going to :D But I hope I made it funny enough so it won’t be THAT cliche. This episode is inspired by the not-so-new images of Rey’s possible-padawan hairstyle :D

[hkaye-3]

Phorce - "Smart Bag"

     Nowadays, we're all looking for easier and more convenient ways to charge our ever-multiplying devices. Perhaps Phorce is the answer: the user simply places, for example, their tablet into the bag and it charges anytime, anyway (so long as there is enough charge in the bag itself).

     The bag is completely waterproof, with special pockets; both of which help to keep the user's devices safe and sound. With technology opening up to an ever more diverse market every day, fashion is now also a key aspect of technology. With this, as well as practicality, in mind the bag can be worn as a shoulder bag, a backpack or even a suitcase!

     An especially handy feature of the Pharce bag is its ability to connect, via Bluetooth, to any smartphone. This pairing allows the user to monitor the power left in their bag; or as a pseudo-tracking device. One possible use of the latter function is that the user's phone will alert them if they stray too far from their bag, i.e. if it is left on a seat, or under a table.

     One possible problem that I can see with this final function is whether each bag can be uniquely identified: will the user be alerted when they wander past another person's bag? Also, can the alerts be disarmed, for instance if the user wishes to leave their bag at home and take their phone with them - a very common occurrence. Furthermore, can multiple devices and multiple bags be connected together? This may be used in the case of a family or people borrowing Phorces; an alternative is where a user owns multiple devices. A promising product nevertheless.

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/smart-bag-to-charge-all-your-gadgets-295903

[geekymoose-blog]

Phorce: The World's First Smart Bag

Amsterdam-based entrepreneur Marijn B. Berk and bag designer James Jeffrey are working on an interesting product: A bag that not only carries your laptop, tablet and smartphone, but can charge all of them up. Called Phorce and billed as "The world's first smart bag," the rectangular satchel boasts unseen, on-board power that can charge up to three devices at the same time, via built-in cables.

That's the power part; as for the smart part, the bag itself connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. With this enabled you can set an alarm, so if you and your bag move a certain distance apart, it sounds. That won't help you if you leave both in a cab, but if you walk out of a meeting with your phone and absent-mindedly left your bag behind, it'll let you know before you hit the elevators.

Beyond the techie stuff the bag has well-thought-out physical design features: Expandable sides, waterproof zippers and fabric, a strap system that converts the bag from backpack to shoulder bag, and magnetically-clasping dual handles for a briefcase mode.

Via core77

[gentlemanbug]

Phorce: The Smart Bag

While our mobile technology continues to get amped up and cool at an accelerating pace, the one thing that hasn't changed much is our gadget's dependance on short term batteries. Sure, when pigs fly cars our gadgets will run on gravity, but until then, your gadget's battery life gets shorter by the day. For another 10 days, Kickstarter is giving you the chance to be a founding backer for Phorce, the world's first smart bag. There are a ton of charging options out there for your overused tech, but unlike everything else, this one is housed in a beautiful, well-designed, hybrid bag. The Phorce bag, developed by a tech guy and a bag guy, passes the test on looks and functionality alone (it's even got waterproof zippers), but the fact that it can recharge your iPhone 4 or 5 eight times over is amazing.

Phorce can charge up to three usb devices simultaneously (think cameras, headphones, speakers, iPhones, iPads etc), and Phorce for Mac can also power a MacBook for up to seven additional hours. Phorce also connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth letting you know how much juice it has left, and what you can do with it - it can also send you other notifications including letting you know if you've left your bag somewhere (ensuring the Phorce is with you).

The Phorce can be used as a messenger, a backpack or a briefcase with cool magnetic handles. To be honest, with the style and design features we would take the bag without the bells and whistles, although that would be crazy as we've all worked our batteries dry on multiple occasions.

We'll let you take the video below for a spin and learn of all the other features, but as it stands, the Phorce bag for USB is $219, and the Phorce for Mac will run you $299 on Kickstarter - both are set to deliver in May 2013 (so probably August).

[bagbot]

In-depth look at Phorce bag's features

So yesterday I posted about the Phorce, one of the coolest bags I've seen all year. I just found that they have a really in-depth look at the bag's innards and features on their Updates page. I've embedded the video below!

[bagbot]

Kickstarter Watch: Phorce

The Project: A smart bag designed to charge and communicate with your mobile devices

The Timeline: 25 days to go (Ends December 22, 2012)

The Funds: $35,621 to go. ($114,379 of $150,000 pledged). 

The Goods: $199 for a triple-mode backpack/briefcase/messenger with USB power supply. 

The Date: Projected delivery is May 2013.

A while back, I wrote a bit on integrating modern technology into bags to make them more than just places to put your stuff. Bags that were active, dynamic, capable of computing, even.

Lo and behold, the Phorce bag.

Billing itself as "The world's first smart bag," the Phorce has some neat tricks (shifting from backpack, to messenger, to briefcase), some even neater ones (charging your mobile devices), and some pretty mind-blowing ones (alerts you via bluetooth if you leave without it).

There are two versions: one for powering your mobile phone or tablets and another if you want to power your Macbook (yes, it's Mac-only at present). The power pack gives an 11" Macbook air (which I have) an astonishing extra 7 HOURS of battery life (at an equally astonishing $279).

The bag has three modes - a messenger bag, a briefcase and a backpack.

This is simultaneously exciting and worrying. Having three modes means the bag is not truly designed with any one of them in mind, so the risk of discomfort from any of the modes is there. But I am hopeful, because I really WANT this to succeed. I love the idea of transformable bags, and I hope to integrate some of these concepts (in general, not Phorce's in particular) into my own bag designs. The bag looks comfortable from the video, but as we are all painfully aware, that doesn't mean it will be. Call me cautiously optimistic.

Apparently, the bag was also designed with an internal cleaning surface. From the Kickstarter page:

Phorce’s laptop compartment, tablet, and smartphone pockets are lined with a special fabric that automatically cleans your devices. It’s also very smooth, making it easy to insert or remove your devices. That means hassle-free device access, and fingerprint-free displays.

If this works, I will say it's one of the most clever bag features I've seen. I think it's pretty clear that the people that designed this bag have really sat down to THINK about how the average person uses their bag on the day to day.

Essential stats

Weight: 3.7 lbs

Size: 18 x 12 x 4 inches

Material: They're not saying. Something that looks coated, and is apparently waterproof. As are the zippers. This also is a mild point of worry in my mind. I want to know what my bag is made of so that I am more aware of its limitations and capabilities. We'll see, I guess!

Colors: Black, red, green, and a voter's choice.

Here's the Kickstarter video:

  As you can see, the Phorce bag is an amazing step in the direction of the active carry systems that I described. Bags that add to the wearer's capabilities, that provide contextual information and adapt to fit the users' needs.

I am really, really excited about this project. Not only because this is, I believe, an important point in the evolution of active carry systems, but because it appears to be financially viable, which will encourage others to see where they can take this idea as well.

[futurision-blog]

Innovation has nothing to do with electronics or mobile phones or apps, it can also be with bag.  

Power your entire life. On the go.
  Say goodbye to dead batteries.