A system of interactive interlinked panels that move in a natural way, inspired by the movement of the leaves of the mimosa plant. Placed in lounges and resting areas, one can choose to selectively open and close certain areas according to one’s privacy needs. The panels move in a cascading movement, like that of falling dominoes, unlike the uniform, mechanical movement of regular blinds systems. Applied as room dividers and window blinds, this allows users to adjust the amount of semi-privacy and sunlight filtered in respectively.
Inspired by the movement of leaves of the mimosa pudica plant, New Nature is a system of panels that are interlinked, both horizontally along the row, as well as vertically between rows. Described as the 'Lag Effect', it is a delayed movement of the adjacent panels when one panel moves; the panels seem to anticipate the movement of the user’s hand as it sweeps past, one by one. The resulting movement feels natural, and not mechanical.
Frames of panels are stacked and built side-by-side to cover a larger surface. Applied as room dividers, the panels can be arranged in variations of colours and patterns. The divider allows the localisation of the opening of panels - users can selectively open and close certain areas, as opposed to regular dividers that only allow for either the opening or closing of the whole surface.
A special slit that allows pre-crimped strings to be strung through panels individually; this allows for mass production and saves time. Also, individual panels can be removed without affecting the other panels and strings along the row.
The frames have special ‘c-shaped‘ cuts on each vertical end. This allows the bottom-most panels from the adjacent top frame to have special long pivots that
extend to reach the first row of panels from the adjacent bottom frame. This enables the interlinking of panels inter-frame, on a vertical axis.
extend to reach the first row of panels from the adjacent bottom frame. This enables the interlinking of panels inter-frame, on a vertical axis.
When the Master panel, the panel at the right-most end, is pulled, this snaps all the open panels shut. To open all the panels quickly, the middle row of panels acts as a control - opening the middle row would subsequently result in the opening of all other rows of panels within the frame. As such, while the user can choose to open and close the panels manually, the efficiency of automated opening and closing that comes with existing window blinds mechanism remains an option open to users.
