PowerTab
Energy Aware Technology Inc. designed by One Oak Design
The PowerTab is a wireless domestic meter designed to display real-time electricity usage in the home and allow electricity providers to send messages or alerts to users. The PowerTab is presented as an energy conservation technology produced by the Canadian company Energy Aware Technology. The PowerTab displays current and accumulated electricity usage in $ or in kWh, text messages and symbols for signal strength and battery life. The wireless capability of the device allows users to walk around the home, switching on and off electrical appliances and seeing the resulting change in usage and cost.
Creative Contribution
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
Energy Aware Technologies employed the studio One Oak Design to design the PowerTab. One Oak present themselves as a multidisciplinary studio combining industrial design, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
The PowerTab, like other electrical meters, is innovative in that it renders previously invisible energy consumption visible to people at home. Two forms of visualisation, kWh and $, allows people to assess and compare energy use and cost.
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
The model of research and development is a traditional industrial design process involving mechanical engineers and electrical engineers.
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
The outcome of the project is a consumer product oriented to people who want to increase their awareness of electrical energy consumption.
Links and Resources
http://www.energy-aware.com/powertab.html
