Blaby

Blaby is a unique multifunctional learning/ entertainment device that responds to the developmental stages childhood growth utilizing a soft-interface. Blaby can be used in a variety of ways from the time of pregnancy, throughout the first few years of the child’s development. 

Blaby acts as not only an audio playback device but also has a visual playback capabilities. Utilizing luminescent fabric technology, Blaby features a touch sensitive screen that controls the flexible interface allowing infinite potential for gaming, music, and interactive learning features. 

The Mozart Effect theory proposes that babies who are exposed to music while in the womb will have a lasting, beneficial effect to their creative learning capabilities. Though an infant cannot hear sounds while in-utero due to the protective fluids of the womb, it is able to feel the vibrations created by sound waves.  It is the exposure to these vibrational rhythms, that some believe contributes to greater learning capabilities in children.  

While the  Mozart Effect remains largely unsubstantiated, there is no reliable science that can either dispel or confirm its effect.  Through my own informal research interviewing mothers, none could refute the calming effect music had on their children. Moreover, most were encouraged and comforted by the connection the element of music bring to them and their child.

The next generation of children are being born into an era of unprecedented technological and social connectivity, where people are more up to date and informed about the world than every before. When designing the Blaby my goal was  -in part - to introduce children to technology through creative and  interactive learning, while maintaining the opportunity for human interaction and bonding. Especially for bonding between parent and child.

Blaby has garnered world wide press, having been featured in many newspapers and magazines. Radio and TV press has also followed, which has resulted in overwhelming response from interested buyers. Though Blaby is still in its conceptional phase, material, and production developments are ongoing. As a baby product, thorough R&D is critical to the Blaby’s development into production phase.  

I developed the Blaby in my first year at The College for Creative Studies for a “medical” based studio assignment.  At the time I was also taking a developmental psychology class where the theory of the Mozart Effect was being discussed   Few products capitalized on the idea apart from placing headphones on the stomach, and stood out as a potential medical product design for my studio assignment. From the very beginning comfort was one of my primary concerns. I wanted design a product that was easy to wear and take off. While the functional capabilities, and usage of the product has evolved since the products initial conception, the simple design aesthetic generated by the screen interface  has remained a central to the design throughout development..

The product was originally imagined to function similar to an mp3 player, enabling music and data to be exchanged via an USB port.  More recent developments in technology such as the touch screen and wireless data transfer opened technological doors, which have allowed me to push the Blaby’s potential in late winter 2009.  It was at this time I developed the interface’s potential to grow with the child.