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Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda by Peter Celinski

Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda by Peter Celinski is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza in Ibikoresho bya Siporo Competition Category.


IfezaIbikoresho bya Siporo· 2022

Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda

by Peter Celinski

Client: Loose Cannon Systems

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza Winner in Ibikoresho bya Siporo Category

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The Design

About Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda

Milo ni igikoresho cy'itumanaho ry'itsinda cyambarwa mu mikino ikorerwa hanze. Milo itanga uburyo bwo kuvugana mu ijwi utabifashishije amaboko hagati y'abagize itsinda mu gihe bibariza ku barafu, batwara amagare, bakina surfing cyangwa bagenda n'amaguru. Mikorofoni esheshatu za dijitali, umuvugizi wubatswemo hamwe na algorithms zitunganya amajwi bigabanya urusaku rw'umuyaga n'urw'inyuma. Urusobe rwa mesh rufunze rwuzuza ibikoresho ku ntera irenga metero 1,300 kandi rukagura aho gikoranira mu itsinda ryose. Iki gikoresho gifite ubugari bwa milimetero 65 n'ubunini bwa milimetero 20, kandi kipima garama 87. Milo ntinjirwamo n'amazi kandi ifatanywa n'agafatizo ka rukuruzi.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Milo Primary Function: Igikoresho cy'Itumanaho ry'Ijwi mu Itsinda ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Milo™ - The Action Communicator is the walkie-talkie reimagined. It enables hands-free, multi-way, group voice conversation in the moment, enabling adventurers to speak while on the trails, slopes or water.

Sophisticated audio processing algorithms and a proprietary mesh network are combined with an intuitive user interface and thoughtful industrial design to deliver an unmatched group interaction experience.
Dimensions & Packaging
Dimensions: 65mm diameter, 20mm thick
Weight: 87 grams.
Tags
Action communicator, Go far and stay close.
Production Technology
Milo combines a proprietary mesh networking protocol, advanced audio processing algorithms, six integrated digital microphones and a custom built-in speaker to deliver clear voice even in windy or noisy conditions. Milo may optionally be paired with a Bluetooth headset and is waterproof and rugged.

Range exceeds 1,300 meters between devices. The encrypted MiloNet™ mesh network extends the range for the group if members are spread out further.

Milo provides awareness via audible notifications about others in the group - for instance, when someone is approaching out-of-range or when they rejoin the group.
Design Challenge
The core challenge in developing Milo was to deliver a voice experience users would trust in even the most extreme outdoor conditions.

Trust for us means connection reliability, clarity of voice, resilience to noise and wind, all in a rugged package.

The entire experience needed to be delivered in a small, light form factor and coupled with a simple, intuitive user experience.

The underlying engineering challenges were immense - requiring the development of novel acoustic noise and wind noise reduction algorithms, a proprietary mesh network specifically tailored for reliable delivery of voice as well as numerous user interface innovations.
Research
The research methodology was simple - we asked extreme sports enthusiasts - skiers, mountain bikers, surfers, climbers and others, via over one thousand online surveys and dozens of in-person interviews:

"how useful would having the ability to communicate with others in your group be?"

"please describe how you might use a device that enables you to communicate hands-free, phone-free, eye-free"

The response was massive and overwhelming. Many people wrote entire essays about how a device like Milo would entirely transform their adventure experience.

We also ran an extensive pre-launch process via ads on social media - again to gauge interest - from this we gathered over 50,000 email subscribers.

Finally, we ran a Kickstarter campaign - taking in pre-orders for over 17,000 Milos from almost 6,000 backers across the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Inspiration
Six years ago, founder Peter Celinski found himself staring down one of Whistler's famous steep, powder covered black diamond ski runs.

By the time he could yell out to his two fearless kids, they began to drop off-piste and disappeared through the trees. He had no choice but to follow.

After a humbling descent and with pants filled with snow from multiple falls, Peter realized having a way to communicate while in the action was essential. The idea for Milo was born.
Project Duration
Milo has been under development for over 5 years with the Milo team members across San Francisco, London, Seattle, Sydney and Melbourne.
Operation Flow
Milo is simple to use. Users simply clip on their Milo and go.

When a user speaks, Milo picks up the voice and transmits it to others, without needing to stop to push a button. Others then hear the received voices over the built-in speaker. Unlike turn-based push-to-talk radios, they can respond in real-time and even talk over each other.

Creating Milo groups requires bringing each Milo device in close proximity and pressing the grouping button.

Milo provide spoken confirmations for each action, such as grouping, pairing a Bluetooth headset, battery level and other key functions.

Milo is attached using one of the four Milo clips which feature a magnetic alignment mechanism and a mechanical lock.
Patents
Trademark: Milo, Serial Number 87790583
Trademark: The Action Communicator, Serial Number 90323483
Trademark: Milonet, Serial Number 88466089

Patented under:
US Patent Number: 10347299
US Patent Number: 10451719
US Patent Number: 10003625
US Patent Number: 10237317
US Patent Number: 10938873
US Patent Number: 11047965

Other patents pending.
Team Members
Peter Celinski, Pete Hamblin, Tim Williamson, Rob Wilson
Gosia Sikon, Max Wozniak, George Bulatov, Daniel Luong-Van
Evan Stuart, Henry Bennett, Alexis Green, Denis Lukinov
Ann Thyme-Gobbel, Doug McKenzie, Jan McNair, Matt Walsh,
Sara Bianchetti, Pietro Marano, Mads Crone
Image Credits
All credits are to Loose Cannon Systems, Inc

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