Wave PC | hp | 2016
Wave PC is a full-featured Windows computer designed to fit anywhere in the home. Premium finishes combined with woven fabric make it appear more as furniture than an electronic device, and a unique 360° audio system allows users to fill a room with high-clarity audio.
Function Driving Form
A triangular form results from the most efficient arrangement of computing components, making Wave 85% smaller than traditional tower PCs. The three sides of the triangle are comprised of thermal system, storage, and motherboard. Despite its compact size, the computer is still capable of handling demanding computing tasks with a full-featured motherboard offering mid-rage Intel Core-i processor configurations, a discrete graphics card, and on-board M.2 solid-state memory for responsiveness.
360° Room-filling Sound
At the center of the triangular form lies a 300cc ported acoustic chamber supporting a 55mm audio driver. Sound reflects off a parabolic lens to be heard with crispness and clarity on any side of the product. The lens was developed as a parabolic form to concentrate reflected audio at ear-level for a rich audio experience. A dense-but-thin metallized coating on the lens efficiently reflects mid and high tones for focused clarity while allowing bass tones to naturally diverge for room-filling depth.
Compatibility
Wave has all the I/Os you would expect from a desktop computer including multiple 4K display outputs for an uncompromised PC experience.
Vocal Computing
Integrated far-field microphones on all sides of Wave PC capture vocal commands and queries to allow hands-free control of the device through natural speech using Microsoft's digital assistant, Cortana. Combined with the 360° audio system, conference calling is possible from anywhere in the room.
Versatility from Office to Living Room
CONTRIBUTIONS:
- Lead Designer: managed design efforts through development and production, direct engagement with manufacturers including site visits, design interface to cross-functional teams
- CAD: produced CAD for manufacturing including all cosmetic surfaces and portions of the mechanical structure
- Acoustic Lens Design: developed the parabolic form, mapped simulated audio reflections to ergonomic positioning
- CMF: set direction for the the colorway and refined with CMF team, developed sound-reflecting coating for the acoustic lens