Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro by Liu Qinyang and Wang Yuchen

Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro by Liu Qinyang and Wang Yuchen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Taonga Tākaro, Kēmu me ngā Hua Runaruna Competition Category.

ParahiTaonga Tākaro· 2025

Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro

by Liu Qinyang and Wang Yuchen

Client: Central Academy of Fine Arts

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Taonga Tākaro Category

45,327

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #164993

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro

Ko Neuro X he taonga whakangungu aro mō ngā tamariki e rima tau me ngā tau kei runga ake. Kei roto i te huinga e whā ngā N-poraka me tētahi whitiki māhunga kotahi. Ka kohia e te whitiki māhunga ngā tohu ngaru roro mā te huarahi kore-whakauru, ka tukuna atu ki ngā poraka mā te hononga uaea-kore. Ka whakatikaina e ia poraka ōna ake irokino-hiko o roto, nā reira ka huri te āhua me te manawataki o te ferrofluid e mau ana i roto i tētahi rongoā-wai. Mā te aro kaha ake ka hangaia ngā āhua kanapa ake, matawaenga ake hoki. Ka taea te whakawhiti i ngā poraka hei tirotiro i ngā taumata uaua rerekē. Ko ngā wāhanga katoa i hangaia mai i ngā rauemi haumaru, ā, kua whakapiritia mārōtia.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Neuro X Ko te Taonga Whakangungu Aro i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Children naturally face challenges with attention control during development, but criticism can harm their confidence. Studies show that unconscious focus during play and exploration supports prefrontal cortex development. We aim to use play as a tool to aid this growth. The attention-training toy employs a commercial tgam module to capture eeg signals, using them to control ferrofluid's shapes and rhythms, enabling "thought-driven interaction." This merges physiological signals with physical materials, blending art and technology to create a unique experience that fosters sustainable attention development.
Dimensions & Packaging: Product Dimensions: N-blocks: Width 180 mm x Depth 180 mm x Height 60 mm, medi-headband: Width 210mm x Depth 240mm x Height 45mm Recommended Age: 5 and over Recommended number of players: 1 Kit includes: 4 N-blocks, 1 medi-headband
Tags: Focus Training Toy, Child-Friendly Design, Edutainment, EEG, Art and Technology
Production Technology: Technically, we have made this a reality. The headband includes a commercial tgam module that non-invasively collects eeg signals. The n blocks receive the collected signals via bluetooth, adjusting the internal electromagnetic strength to activate and reshape the ferrofluid immersed in a water-based solution. The ferrofluid supports diy at home and can be made using edible oil and iron powder. All toy components are made from safe materials and are securely sealed.
Design Challenge: The challenge lies in reducing costs, making it affordable for more families.
Research: The goal of this project is to provide an entertaining and educational attention training toy for school-aged children. Through expert and user interviews, the design integrates neuroscience and educational science, taking into account brain development needs and children's emotional needs to create a child-friendly design. After conducting market and technology research, feasibility and financial analyses were carried out. The final design won two international awards and two domestic Chinese awards, receiving endorsements from experts and recognition within the industry.
Inspiration: Ferrofluid is an interactive and safe material that, under the control of an electromagnet matrix, can create diverse shapes and movements. It captured my younger sister's curiosity, as she perceived it as a living creature she could interact with. Therefore, I aim to create a unique narrative connection between humans and the material, enhancing this interaction to meet the emotional needs of children during their growth process.
Project Duration: The project was launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, in April 2023 and completed in Beijing in August 2024. It won the second prize at the Beijing division of the China international university innovation competition in 2023 and was awarded the European product design award, IDA bronze, and the China design award in 2024.
Operation Flow: Step 1: Put on the medi-headband, place the n-blocks on a flat surface, and power on both devices. Step 2: Focus your attention while the medi-headband collects the data. Step 3: The n-blocks process the brainwave data, causing the ferrofluid moves with signal strength. Greater focus creates more dynamic and intricate shapes. Step 4: Swap out the n-blocks to explore different levels of difficulty.
Patents: Patented.63/404,074.PEAR & MULBERRY, 2022. USPTO
Patented 202421501318.3. Liu Qinyang, Wang YuChen.2024. CNIPA
Copyrights belong to Liu Qinyang & Wang YuChen.2024
Team Members: Liu Qinyang
Wang Yuchen
Wang Xuanzheng
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator Wang Yuchen, Neuro X, 2024.
Image #2: Creator Wang Yuchen, Neuro X, 2024.
Image #3: Creator Wang Yuchen, Neuro X, 2024.
Image #4: Creator Liu Qinyang, Neuro X, 2024.
Image #5: Creator Liu Qinyang, Neuro X, 2024.