- Specific to this particular type of product.

Legend: \* - General characteristics, applicable to technological products; \*\* - Concerning the envisaged concept presented in Figure 6, # - Specific features of the product family in question.

Table 4. Qualification of characteristics of technologies concerning the vacuum cleaner.

Legend: \* - General characteristics, applicable to technological products; \*\* - Concerning the envisaged

Table 4. Qualification of characteristics of technologies concerning the vacuum cleaner.

concept presented in Figure 6, # - Specific features of the product family in question.

Legend: \*- General characteristics, applicable to technology products # - Specific to this particular type of product.

Table 5. Classification of technologies in comparison, for the product clothes pressing iron.

Tables 2 to 5 illustrate how the first methodology presented in this chapter unfolds; its first application demonstrated was to test the feasibility of application of OLED technology in televisions. It has proven very efficient and straightforward to conduct the entire process, as the abundance of data is large, which made it easier to collect relevant data, as well as performing the choice between specific and general issues for comparison between technologies. Another advantage, which allowed the development of this methodology, was that the emerging technology (OLED) has to be applied to the product concerned (TV) and as such values and considerations already existed and were already tested and proven for their practical implementation in the product. With regard to further application of this methodology in the case of the OLED technology within TVs, all the technologies selected for comparison are currently in use in this type of product, so this is not a product with a single dominant technology as is mostly the case for irons and vacuum cleaners. In the other two cases of deployment of this methodology, for EH and MEMS technology, the feasibility of implementing these procedures for the products iron and vacuum cleaner, respectively, was verified. Of particular importance was the fact that these technologies do not have widespread commercial application in the chosen products, and as such it became more difficult to collect data and make accurate analyses of the aspects in comparison between technologies. This was offset by the emergence of estimates and by basing the assessments on envisaged concepts developed for these two products with the incorporation of the emerging technologies. Another hardship found was that predecessors of the technologies used in the products iron and vacuum cleaner, are completely obsolete and are not used anymore, which also hampered the collection of some data.

It should be noted that this methodology is deemed suitable to application for most technologies, and serves the purposes of testing the feasibility of applying a particular technology within a product. It is a methodology that can be improved with the emergence of new data and of results of the application of emerging technology in the product focused.

#### **3.2 Determining causality in cases where technology changes the shape of the product**

The methodology for determining the causality of changes in technology, changes in the external shape of the products, is composed of five steps (Table 6).

Technology as a Determinant of Object Shape 13

common aspects of the products embedding them. In the case of the vacuum cleaner, nonelectric technologies were grouped together under the manpower label, comprising technologies that enhance the functionality of the product, such as tightening mechanisms,

This methodology, which is deemed applicable to most types of products and technologies, is intended to convey a process to collect the aspects of form that make up a product depending on the technology it incorporates, and to relate the change of its shape with implementing a specific new technology in this product. Figures 1, 2 and 3, depict sketches of the salient shape contours of the three products analyzed, according to the type of

While the fundamental shape archetype is unchanged as the clothes iron passed from non-electric to electric energy (Figure 1), over time there has been a gradual evolution of the form features in this product, resulting in a lighter and more streamlined product. Fundamentally, the product depicted in the right sketch still consists of a V-shaped metal base attached to a handle, and as such, this basic product archetype has endured over

The evolution of the shape of the TV set (Figure 2) has clearly been influenced by technology, in particular by the leap from CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) to LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The most recent technological substitutes for LCD technology (Plasma, LED and OLED) have so far not promoted a fundamental change to the new archetype of the flat and thin TV set. This notwithstanding, there is a clear direction in the evolution of the shape of TV sets towards ultra-thin display panels (and flexible display panels are in

Of the three products analysed in this chapter, the vacuum cleaner (Figure 3) is the case where more striking form changes took place as an effect of changing technologies and physical principles that make up its fundamental functionality. In this product, several archetypes of shape have coexisted over time, but clearly, each form archetype is associated to a particular technology, even if the same basic technology underlies several product form archetypes (this is especially true in the case of electric vacuum cleaners, from the pre-

Non electric iron Electric iron

levers and mechanical cranks.

technology that they embedded.

time.

the horizon).

artificial intelligence era).

Fig. 1. The evolution of form in the modern clothes pressing iron.

Table 6. Stages of the methodology for identification of causality of technological change in the shape alterations of a specific product over time.

The first step of this methodology is to choose the target product for the analysis in terms of form, which is followed by a historical study on the evolution of that product shape from its beginnings to the present. An analysis of the product is then made according to the technology that it incorporates, and may incorporate (the emerging technology that has been selected for the product). Then the form search begins, composed of the observation of a wide range of issues, consulting catalogues and product photos, which are used to infer all the salient features of shape and are organized according to the technology incorporated, completing the second step in this methodology. Creating Tables with the characteristics of the product form (which had been collected in the previous step) split according to the technology that the product incorporates, embodies the third step, which gives rise to a series of Tables. The fourth step consists of highlighting the most significant differences that occurred in the product shape according to technological change, in several Tables listing these changes. This does not only concern similarities, as gains and losses of form features are also of interest. The purpose of this step is to provide a systematic overview of the existing changes with the onset of another technology in a product. In the fifth step, the results from the previous step on the influence of technology in the form of a product are gathered in a systematic way. This enables describing the similarities in appearance, and the changes in form, for the product under study, on which a new technology is to be implemented. This step concludes the deployment of the methodology used to assist in determining technology's causality in changes in shape occurring in TVs, clothes pressing irons and vacuum cleaners.

The main limitation observed of the use of this methodology concerns the fact that in the case of irons and vacuum cleaners there is no model that uses the emerging technology that has been associated with each of these products. For television sets, it was not necessary to resort to the verification of the concept developed in the form of a TV with OLED technology, because actual examples already exist of this product incorporating OLED technology. The fact that in most products there is a vast variety of forms, is yet another hardship in the deployment of this methodology, to the extent that it would be impossible to analyze them all. Moreover, the existence of many technologies (mainly non-electric technologies, in the case of irons and vacuum cleaners) would yield very large lists, covering only a small set of products that used these technologies. As a way to overcome this obstacle, all non-electric technologies were considered jointly and a note was made of the

Table 6. Stages of the methodology for identification of causality of technological change in

The first step of this methodology is to choose the target product for the analysis in terms of form, which is followed by a historical study on the evolution of that product shape from its beginnings to the present. An analysis of the product is then made according to the technology that it incorporates, and may incorporate (the emerging technology that has been selected for the product). Then the form search begins, composed of the observation of a wide range of issues, consulting catalogues and product photos, which are used to infer all the salient features of shape and are organized according to the technology incorporated, completing the second step in this methodology. Creating Tables with the characteristics of the product form (which had been collected in the previous step) split according to the technology that the product incorporates, embodies the third step, which gives rise to a series of Tables. The fourth step consists of highlighting the most significant differences that occurred in the product shape according to technological change, in several Tables listing these changes. This does not only concern similarities, as gains and losses of form features are also of interest. The purpose of this step is to provide a systematic overview of the existing changes with the onset of another technology in a product. In the fifth step, the results from the previous step on the influence of technology in the form of a product are gathered in a systematic way. This enables describing the similarities in appearance, and the changes in form, for the product under study, on which a new technology is to be implemented. This step concludes the deployment of the methodology used to assist in determining technology's causality in changes in shape occurring in TVs, clothes pressing

The main limitation observed of the use of this methodology concerns the fact that in the case of irons and vacuum cleaners there is no model that uses the emerging technology that has been associated with each of these products. For television sets, it was not necessary to resort to the verification of the concept developed in the form of a TV with OLED technology, because actual examples already exist of this product incorporating OLED technology. The fact that in most products there is a vast variety of forms, is yet another hardship in the deployment of this methodology, to the extent that it would be impossible to analyze them all. Moreover, the existence of many technologies (mainly non-electric technologies, in the case of irons and vacuum cleaners) would yield very large lists, covering only a small set of products that used these technologies. As a way to overcome this obstacle, all non-electric technologies were considered jointly and a note was made of the

the shape alterations of a specific product over time.

irons and vacuum cleaners.

common aspects of the products embedding them. In the case of the vacuum cleaner, nonelectric technologies were grouped together under the manpower label, comprising technologies that enhance the functionality of the product, such as tightening mechanisms, levers and mechanical cranks.

This methodology, which is deemed applicable to most types of products and technologies, is intended to convey a process to collect the aspects of form that make up a product depending on the technology it incorporates, and to relate the change of its shape with implementing a specific new technology in this product. Figures 1, 2 and 3, depict sketches of the salient shape contours of the three products analyzed, according to the type of technology that they embedded.

Fig. 1. The evolution of form in the modern clothes pressing iron.

While the fundamental shape archetype is unchanged as the clothes iron passed from non-electric to electric energy (Figure 1), over time there has been a gradual evolution of the form features in this product, resulting in a lighter and more streamlined product. Fundamentally, the product depicted in the right sketch still consists of a V-shaped metal base attached to a handle, and as such, this basic product archetype has endured over time.

The evolution of the shape of the TV set (Figure 2) has clearly been influenced by technology, in particular by the leap from CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) to LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The most recent technological substitutes for LCD technology (Plasma, LED and OLED) have so far not promoted a fundamental change to the new archetype of the flat and thin TV set. This notwithstanding, there is a clear direction in the evolution of the shape of TV sets towards ultra-thin display panels (and flexible display panels are in the horizon).

Of the three products analysed in this chapter, the vacuum cleaner (Figure 3) is the case where more striking form changes took place as an effect of changing technologies and physical principles that make up its fundamental functionality. In this product, several archetypes of shape have coexisted over time, but clearly, each form archetype is associated to a particular technology, even if the same basic technology underlies several product form archetypes (this is especially true in the case of electric vacuum cleaners, from the preartificial intelligence era).

Technology as a Determinant of Object Shape 15

intelligence)

**3.3 Categorization encompassing three kinds of technology driven shape changes in** 

The methodology for determining the causality of changes in technology, changes in the external shape of the products, and the methodology for the analysis of feasibility of application of an emerging technology in a product, encompass the collection of data on the characteristics and performance of products according to the technology that they embody, as well as of the data on the morphological differences occurred due to that technology change. Encompassing the various kinds of form changes occurring in technology products,

Fig. 3. The evolution of the form of the vacuum cleaner.

**products** 

Mechanical predecessor to the vacuum cleaner

Electrical Vacuum cleaner (without artificial

Robotic (automatic) vacuum cleaner

Fig. 2. The evolution of form in modern Television sets.

CRT TV

LCD TV LCD+LED TV

PDP TV OLED TV

Fig. 2. The evolution of form in modern Television sets.

Fig. 3. The evolution of the form of the vacuum cleaner.

#### **3.3 Categorization encompassing three kinds of technology driven shape changes in products**

The methodology for determining the causality of changes in technology, changes in the external shape of the products, and the methodology for the analysis of feasibility of application of an emerging technology in a product, encompass the collection of data on the characteristics and performance of products according to the technology that they embody, as well as of the data on the morphological differences occurred due to that technology change. Encompassing the various kinds of form changes occurring in technology products,

Technology as a Determinant of Object Shape 17

in the deconstruction of the archetypes of form was also focused in this contribution. The influence of technology in the transformation of products was demonstrated, considering three distinct types of alterations caused by changes in technology, in a tripartite view. Following the study of the technologies, which was methodologically structured, and concerned the technologies embedded in the three products in analysis, in the past and with a forward view (technology that is foreseen for the future), a scenario is proposed, with new designs for the products that have been studied (Figures 4, 5 and 6). It is emphasized that the product as a physical object may disappear or may be dissolved in the environment or building architecture, with the advent of emerging technologies and

Fig. 4. Multiple applications of OLED technology in a living room (lighting, shading,

designers should focus on in supporting this kind of design endeavour.

functionality that had been tied to a fixed product concept.

In the case presented in Figure 4, dematerialization of a product (TV set) and its blending with architecture is enabled by the ultra-thin OLED technology. This technology also enables new applications, including, as depicted, lighting, shading and a dynamic wall art gallery. This case leads to question the role of industrial design in this foreseen evolution. Understanding people and their relation to artefacts, interaction design and concept creation (even if devoid of a three dimensional form) are bound to be design domains that industrial

The conceptual design presented for an energy self-sufficient travel iron (Figure 5), represents an archetypal leap from the traditional shape of this product, which caters to sustainability concerns. Independence of energy supply is bound to be another guiding theme to foster the creation by industrial designers of new product archetypes to perform

their new capabilities.

dynamic wall art gallery, TV monitor).

necessitates creating a categorization that considers the many changes in technology products. This is a tripartite categorization, which is divided into three variations.

This categorization served throughout the study reported in this chapter to frame the kind of change that occurred in the product after another technology incorporated it. Thus, changes were classified according to variations that occurred during the passage of television sets by various technologies (CRT, LCD, LCD + LED, PDP and OLED), as well as the shape changes resulting from the passage of irons by various technologies (non-electric, electric power and the principle of energy harvesting - EH), and, finally the changes in the vacuum cleaner with the emergence of various technologies (mechanical - human strength, electrical - without Artificial Intelligence, robotics and MEMS).

Thus it is possible to characterize the changes that occur in the products that were studied, within the following three categories:

1st type - change in the shape of the product caused by changing technology (appearance of a new technology or application of an existing technology but that was never used in this type of product) which leads to a visible shift in the product shape, yet the product as an object remains;

2nd type - product change, in situations where technology change is not reflected so much in changing the shape of the product, but is responsible for modification of performance and improved efficiency, keeping the product as an existing object and proceeding to surface shape change in order to signal the increased performance to consumers, and, finally, 3rd type - cessation of existence of the product as such, in situations where the change in technology leads to a deconstruction of the product as an object, leaving behind the archetypes and stereotypes hitherto associated with the product.
