Helmets have become an ever-evolving cycling accessory, with added emphasis on their designs and special features. Here are a few prototypes that stand out.
The ‘Stinky’ Helmet
This helmet’s innovation isn’t so much its design, but rather its function. When a helmet has become damaged, it starts to emit an odour, caused by stinky oil capsules that burst upon impact or long term wear. Although not on the market yet, the German company that came up with the ‘smelly’ tech into other devices that may need to omit an odour when needing replacement.
The Tatoo Helmet
The Tatoo Helmet, made by designer Julien Bergignat is meant to fit like a glove and its mechanism is similar to an armadillo. It packs flat but comes together in a matter of minutes to form a helmet. It’s also recyclable.
Kranium, The Folded Cardboard Helmet
Kranium is still in its prototype stage and made its debut at the London Cycle Show. The cardboard is stronger than polystyrene, which is normally used in helmet construction. Also, it is made to withhold multiple blows, so it would not need to be replaced each time the cyclist had a spill. The designer, Anirudha Surabh, is still working out the details, with the help from a James Dyson fellowship of £20,000.
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
