via Instagram (@minwookpaeng)Science & Tech / NewsScience & Tech / NewsIs this ‘third eye’ the future for our smartphone-addicted selves?A South Korean designer wants a generation of ‘smartphone zombies’ to rethink their behaviour with this wearable techShareLink copied ✔️June 8, 2021June 8, 2021TextFelicity Martin If you’ve ever had an unfortunate collision with a lamppost while scrolling Instagram, industrial designer Minwook Paeng has the solution for you: a giant, robotic eyeball that you can strap to your head. Paeng developed the ‘third eye’ device for a generation of ‘smartphone zombies’ to browse the internet on the go, injury-free. ”This is the look of future mankind with three eyes,” the 28-year-old postgraduate in innovation design engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College, told Reuters. The wearable eye uses sensors to measure the oblique angle of the user’s neck, and the distance between the eye and any obstacles. But it isn’t exactly the most fashionable accessory, looking like a cross between a headlamp and a webcam strapped to your forehead. Demonstrating the device in Seoul, Paeng found that passersby weren’t so sure about the new technology’s look, but agreed there might be some benefit. ”I thought he looked like an alien with an eye on his forehead,” one resident, Lee Ok-jo, said. “These days many young people can get into accidents while using their mobile phone. This would be good for them.” “It is so cool and interesting,” added 23-year-old Shin Jae-ik. “We can easily bump into each other on the street while using smartphones. I may not need it now, but I’d like to buy it when they sell it later.” But Paeng said the ‘third eye’ was meant as a warning, an “ironic or critical design,” rather than a real invention. “By presenting this satirical solution, I hope people would recognise the severity of their gadget addiction and look back at themselves,” he said. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MORECould the iPhone 15 Pro kill the video game console?Is Atlantis resurfacing? Unpacking the internet’s latest big conspiracy GANNIGANNI is yearning for a dreamy summer – and so are we Elon Musk’s Neuralink has reportedly killed 1,500 animals in four yearsCould sex for procreation soon be obsolete? FILAFrom track to concrete: Fila reimagines sportswear in the city for AW26Here are all the ways you can spot fake news on TikTokWhy these meme admins locked themselves to Instagram’s HQ Why did this chess-playing robot break a child’s finger?Twitter and Elon Musk are now officially at warAre we heading for a digital amnesia epidemic?Deepfake porn could soon be illegalEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy