Out of 4,322 entries, two products designed by Ergonomidesign, EzyStove and miniME, have each won an iF product design award 2012 and will be recognized with the internationally renowned iF label. The EzyStove developed in collaboration with users in Namibia is awarded in the kitchen and household category. The medical monitoring device miniME is awarded as an advanced studies.
"We are very proud of the award. miniMe is the result of the many years of experience from the medical industry that we have gained as designers and researchers," said Lennart Andersson, Director of Interaction Design, Ergonomidesign. "We teamed up with users and practitioners to imagine the most useful ways to utilise new technological developments. With the award, iF has recognized the importance of that kind of explorative work."
The miniME concept device is part of a future patient-centered health care system, The Future of Integrated Health Care. miniME measures and monitors biometric data like ECG, blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, blood glucose and cholesterol by connecting to body sensors using RFID technology. It forwards the data via a personal health app to mobile devices, computers, surface devices, and other medical devices which give trusted people like doctors, family and peers easy access to the data. The app is prescribed by a doctor as part of a treatment for different conditions and downloaded directly to the miniME from a medical app store.
EzyStove is a sustainable solution to the increasing problem of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions, resulting from cooking over fire. Ergonomidesign collaborated with Namibian women and the non-profit organization Creative Entrepreneurs Solution to develop the stove. It responds to the needs and demands of the Namibian users and is affordable even to the poorest households, not only in Namibia, but all over Africa, in India, other parts of Asia and Latin America where there is a need for affordable and sustainable solutions. The EzyStove project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility's (GEF) Small Grants Program, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
EzyStove reduces greenhouse gases, tackles alarming deforestation and cooks the meal faster. It is constructed to reduce the amount of wood needed by two-thirds, and thereby the emission of gases by 60-80%. The outer skeleton protects the users from the intense heat and also enables any type of pot or pan to be placed over the fire. The stove comes from the factory as a flat package, minimizing cargo space, and can be put together by local workshops using basic tools.