How big a part has technology played in product design in the 21st Century?

Technology has shaped our lives in ways that both fascinate and terrify us. Whilst its advancements have made certain tasks more manageable, many of us have become so accustomed to its aid that without it, we would struggle to complete even the simplest of tasks.

Think about it. If technology ceased to exist, you would not be able to use your electric toothbrush tomorrow morning, or Snapchat your close friends during your next coffee break. As much as we like to claim our independence as a species, humans would be quite lost without technology. This is perhaps most evident in the field of product design.

Ever since the first lightbulb lit up a dark room, technology has been used to advance product design in ways we could never have possibly imagined. From iPhones to 3D printers, the 21st century has witnessed outstanding progress in such a short space of time. Below, we take a closer look at some of the most ground-breaking products of this century, and how modern technology has helped to form their design:

Castor Wheels
Before castors were invented, it was close to impossible to manoeuvre certain objects due to wheel limitations. However, the introduction of castors has made the process of rolling wheeled objects far easier. A castor is used to facilitate wheel installation on a range of objects, including hospital beds and office desk chairs.

Tente Castors is the leading supplier for high quality wheels and castors for use in manufacturing, fire departments, airports, road construction and the healthcare industry etc.
A variety of materials is used in the production of these innovative castors such as steel, aluminium and rubber. The technology advancement of castor wheels has offered flawless mobility where it is needed most.

Augmented Reality (AR)

hololens
Enthusiastic gamers around the world have begun to embrace virtual reality gaming. The virtual reality industry is likely to grow significantly in the future, offering people the unique opportunity to escape their everyday reality in favour for something a little more exciting.

According to The Guardian, augmented reality provides the ability to “place a virtual image into a real environment”. Product design is likely to benefit hugely from this technological advancement, allowing designers to better understand ideas before their official creation.
This is thanks to holographic images used to depict proposed designs in car manufacturing and other leading industries.

DNA App Store
Technology has taken medical predictions and diagnosis to a whole new level with a new online DNA store. The app has been created with the aim to provide users with accurate data about their genes, in order to learn more about potential health risks and other predispositions. This new advancement has the potential to warn people about health risks according to their unique DNA and genome. Thanks to technology, this new app product design has the potential to save lives and prevent people from developing health problems in the future.

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