Swedish wood meets computer

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Swedish company proves that natural material as wood can find its place in a high-tech environment.

In this section we write about nice, beautifully designed things and these days it means that we write about metal and plastics. From the high-end TVs to newest gadgets, it seems that there are no other materials to be used in electronic device. However, Swedish company SWEDX clearly shows that wood can be combined with Si, Cu, PVC and other words that mean something artificial.

SWEDX is 12 years old company and seven years ago their designers and engineers started to work on project we could name "electronics into wood". Their headquarters are in Sollentuna but the production is in (where else?) China. SWEDX has in its portfolio LCD TVs and monitors, computer keyboards and mice, embedded in wood.

If we can call beige computer boxes "version 1.0", and iPod-like white and black plastic "version 2.0", maybe SWEDX will establish a version 3.0 of electronic devices design. Version 1.0 was not good; in one word it was ugly. Version 2.0 brought a new and fresh design, but is seems that only Apple can design and others just follows. In a short time we had a whole range of hardware and consumer electronics and black and white plastic boxes and few good ideas here and there seemed to be all that can be done. Fortunately, wood can breathe life into cold hardware.

First, is can be shaped how you want with no special tools that costs millions. Second, it is fun to work with wood (if you never tried I warmly recommend that you at least take a piece of wood and start carving, it's so mind-relaxing).

And second, IT stuff can look really good when embedded in wood. The look of SWEDX monitors and keyboard and mice is more natural, more human, than plastic counterparts. SWEDX engineers went a step further and devised a thinnest known monitor to save your living and working place.

Due to wood their products can easily match your furniture. If you have something more that generic office furniture you know how hard can it be when you want a new monitor to fits in. You search, you pay, you wait for weeks, and after your furniture arrives you find yourself with large black, plastic box that doesn't fits anywhere. Well, now that should not be the case. And there is one more thing: Ecology. SWEDX use the most natural product of all. So, you get the look and you care for the nature. Fantastic combination, isn't it?

November 3, 2007

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