Recently, the disappearance of a young Taiwanese climber in Nepal has drawn public attention to hiker safety. Students from National Taipei University of Technology have designed the “HYPERPACK hypothermia emergency hiking backpack,” which features flexible battery panels inside the backpack that can serve as an emergency heat source to rewarm hikers suffering from hypothermia. The project has been shortlisted for the “Young Designers' Exhibition.”
The design was inspired by the movie “Everest” and other news reports about hikers experiencing hypothermia. Industrial Design students Shih Pao-cheng and Huang Yu-hsuan from NTUST wanted to provide effective assistance when climbers face hypothermia crises. To that end, they consulted many friends from hiking clubs and mountain guides, and studied the designs of various hiking backpacks and wearable heating devices.
They found that most existing wearable heating devices are mainly for home use, with very few designed specifically to address “hypothermia.” Therefore, they integrated rescue equipment with existing hiking backpacks, using flexible battery panels as the power source for heating and rewarming. The relevant devices are integrated into the hiking backpack so that, in case users experience mild or moderate hypothermia, the backpack can actively provide heat to the extremities and core areas near major arteries to promote rewarming.
In addition, Li Hao-che, another student from NTUST’s Department of Industrial Design, has designed a “construction site safety helmet” that balances impact resistance and breathability for laborers, which has also been shortlisted for the “Young Designers' Exhibition.”
Li Hao-che is a silver medalist in carpentry at the WorldSkills Competition. As a “carpentry expert,” he said he often interacts with many people working in engineering and construction. He noticed that although construction sites are very dangerous and wearing a safety helmet is standard procedure, construction helmets are heavy and lack ventilation, causing some workers to avoid wearing them despite the risks.
After studying commercially available construction helmets, he found that protection for vulnerable areas such as the sides of the head, forehead, and the central nervous system at the back of the head was insufficient. Therefore, he designed the “IMPACT SAFETY HELMET construction helmet,” which uses a composite plastic shell combined with special slow-rebound foam. Upon impact, it can absorb 90% of the shock, offering better protection for the head and cervical spine, while also providing improved breathability for greater wearing comfort.
A total of 20 works from NTUST’s Department of Industrial Design have been shortlisted for the 2017 “Young Designers' Exhibition.” This year, a total of 6,484 works from 5,284 entries across 64 universities nationwide competed, with NTUST securing 22 nominations, including 18 in product design, 2 in craft design, and 2 in spatial design. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 22.
(China Times)