Privacy is a major concern in our era of
smart search,
wireless data, and, ah, the occasional
surveillance drone. Individuals have responded to their privacy cravings in various ways: some
unplug, some
meditate, and still others
venture into nature. For those who desire “alone time” in their daily wanderings, these clever contraptions create physical barriers to diversions and discourage unwanted intruders.
Cloud Cloak: Anyone who envied Harry Potter’s oft-used
Cloak of Invisibility will see the appeal of
Cloud Cloak, a wearable fog machine from
Ibanez Kim Studio. Once activated, the device—which resembles a cross between an oxygen tank and a high-tech neck brace—emits a personal cloud cover, cloaking its subject in an impenetrable fog and thus obscuring the wearer’s identity and expression. The external environment is likewise obscured from the wearer’s vision, creating an isolated space in which to claim a moment of rest, reflection, or meditation. The device is just a prototype, but aspiring illusionists can take comfort in the knowledge that research engineers, too, are pursuing
practicable invisibility.
Confession: Whether you’re standing street-side or sitting
in an open office, the din of ambient noise can be difficult to escape. Those who can’t fully separate themselves from the site of intrusive sounds can nonetheless find temporary relief thanks to designer
Nick Ross’s portable privacy booth. Aptly named
Confession, the piece creates a semi-enclosed, sound-absorbing space wherever it is placed. The two-sided booth allows for truly private one-on-one conversation, but also provides a respite for individuals who want to sip their morning coffee in solitary silence. While not quite as comprehensive as
full-on sensory deprivation, Confession offers a decent compromise to those who find themselves in a noisy bind.
OwnZown: Fear of crowds, clinically known as demophobia, may once have driven its sufferers out of cities and kept them from enjoying, say,
a summer day at Disney. But student-designers from Germany’s
Detmold School of Architecture hope to help the crowd-averse re-enter urban spaces with
OwnZown. This two-way mirror “
stealth cap” was designed to create a private space in public, allowing those who must mingle among crowds to simultaneously enjoy the freedom and tranquility of their own personal pod. Though OwnZown makes a visual statement that may, paradoxically, draw in curious onlookers, its sharp-edged aesthetic keeps intruders at literal arm’s length while enclosing the wearer in comforting silence.
Cassandra Daily will be on a holiday hiatus from July 4 through July 6. We’ll return on July 9—with a brand-new design for our newsletter and site. We look forward to sharing Cassandra Daily’s new and exciting look with you. In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday!
