LOOP for the next step

Three questions for the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
We wanted products that could generate power while doing outdoor sports, but shouldn't get in the way of the user's workout. We looked at what movements would generate a lot of power while running, cycling, and hiking, and then selected workout accessories that were appropriate for the user's physical condition. For running, we selected wrist and ankle wearables, for hiking, we selected hiking poles and hiking shoes, and for cycling, we selected handlebar and frame attachments, and for each sport, we selected loop station products that can charge devices by collecting the energy collected through core devices in one place. We considered UX in that it can be naturally incorporated into behavior patterns that often occur in daily life.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
LOOP harvests energy through three types of exercise: running, hiking, and cycling. Our project focused on proving that LOOP's energy harvesting structure is feasible in the near future. We explored energy harvesting technology in depth, calculating the average power generation from each energy source, and found that individuals can effectively generate energy from their daily physical movements. We also studied body movement during activity to not only develop the product's energy harvesting model, but also to find out where users would feel most comfortable while wearing it and harvesting optimal energy. The insights from the energy harvesting study were seamlessly integrated into the final solution.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
LOOP is about future technologies, not today. Research into the efficiency and minimization of energy-harvesting devices is ongoing, and the results are improving every day. Research shows a 50% increase in the amount of voltage relative to personal energy generation in 2022 compared to 2017, and even greater numbers in the next five years. LOOP's products that generate energy while exercising are no longer a concept, but a reality. Users will be able to reap the rewards of energy more efficiently. Advanced energy harvesting devices and products with LOOP's UX system will allow energy harvesting to be integrated into people's daily lives, which will help solve one of humanity's most pressing environmental challenges.