Hello, my name is Julius Tarng!
I design products and experiences, physical or digital.
I am currently a Designer at Smart Design NY, but am always interested in collaborating on cool projects.
Modern phones are easily-replaced. Relationships are simply utilitarian and monetary.
Humans adapt themselves to use electronics, making the relationship unnatural and sterile.
Technology advances at an exponential rate. Mobile phones become obsolete especially fast.
An emotional connection that turns the device from a tool into a trusted companion.
New ways to use your device, inspired by human behavior.
Scrap the planned obsolescence model and plan for upgrades.
Your mobile companion: inspired by human behaviors, designed to last physically and emotionally.
Modai's social (Fundai) and work (Prodai) paradigms help users balance work and play.
By sorting incoming content into the respective screens, Modai helps users focus on what's important.
Switching between Fundai and Prodai is like Superman and Clark Kent. Simply zip up Prodai to put on your "work clothes".
Not the blue ones. The avatar is a visual representation of the device's status. It deepens the emotional bond by giving Modai a face to relate to.
Modai's avatar can represent anything from the paradigm you're in, to the battery status, and even the current volume.
Modai knows where you are and what you are doing, and prompts you with helpful suggestions, whether that's the bus schedule, the lunch specials, or your project deadline.
Modai only displays content relevant to your situation. For example, it greets you in the morning and shows you the day's weather widget. At night, the visuals change and since the day is over, it no longer shows you the weather.
Modai is smart and learns your behaviors. If it detects you often oversleep or are late to your meetings (via GPS), it adjusts your alarms accordingly.
The muscle-wire mebedded Santoprene Peelstand enables Modai to move on its own. This enables many opportunities for human interaction and for Modai to express its status.
Santoprene
Muscle wire
Throughout the night, Modai slowly "wakes up" with the Peelstand. It sounds the alarm at its apex, which you can snooze by pushing Modai back down.
With a slight peel, Modai can signal an incoming call or text without disturbing your meeting. In your pocket, the peeling gently prods you in the leg.
Modai draws its interactions from human behaviors. For example, silencing the phone is as simple as putting your finger to the earpiece.
Modai's mouth-inspired charge port magnetically opens when the battery is low. The avatar also echoes the device's hunger for electricity. Plugging the charger in fills Modai up, leaving the avatar with a happy face.
Peel the Peelstand all the way to lift out the modular internal pack. You can replace or upgrade any of these internals to prevent obsolescence but keep the same phone.
From batteries to the camera, from the RAM to the CPU, most internals that evolve quickly can be upgraded.
Modai employs an ecosystem that allows you to return your old module for disposal or resale after you buy a new one.
Project Modai is an exploration into what could be, and how, with new technologies, we can begin to think of our devices as more than a tool, but a friend.
Featured on Core77 and frog design's designmind, among many others.