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TalkTalk unveils Routers of the Future
Thursday 16th July 2009, by Daniel King
TalkTalk has been looking at the future of the broadband router with a group of experts to try and see what kind of direction the device might take over the coming years.
It notes that although most web users will have such a gadget in their home, the item is usually under a desk hidden or tucked away in a convenient location.
However, the network - which is now the largest provider of broadband services in the UK since its recent merger with Tiscali was completed - aims to revise the way people think about the "ubiquitous chunk of plastic and wires".
Working alongside design experts from Goldsmiths at the University of London, TalkTalk suggests there is no reason why the gadget should not be aesthetically pleasing and has unveiled the Routers of the Future which emerged from the project.
The first of the devices is Route O' Clock, which generates a representation of signal strength as the day goes on - a feature TalkTalk said would be useful for knowing when to opt for "bandwidth-hungry activities", such as online TV, video and games services.
Secondly, the Hybrid Router was designed as an "elegant and practical addition to users' homes" that would look good anywhere. The styling of the model took its inspiration from the 1960s and was described as "sexy" by the carrier.
Goldsmith's Energy-saving router was another idea the team came up with, switching off automatically when not in use. But in terms of strangeness, a spokesperson for the group says the Jellyfish router would have to come out on top.
"The inspiration for this unit grew out of the study of fluorescent properties in jellyfish anatomy and their smooth movements through water. We have embodied this notion into a glowing breathing sequence, which indicates bandwidth strength," it advises.
Categories: Wireless Broadband, Tiscali, TalkTalk
