The current technological trends demonstrate one thing above all: AI-driven products, robotics and natural interaction are at the heart of innovation. A robot vacuum cleaner with a gripper arm, an AI assistant that moves freely around the home or a children’s toy that recognizes people and objects. This seems like something from another world and leaves many people with mixed feelings. Never before has technology changed our interaction with products so fundamentally.
In a future in which we communicate with objects more and more naturally, key design questions are coming into focus: How can autonomous, proactive products be designed responsibly? To what extent can technology feel “human”? And in which areas of application is there the greatest potential for self-thinking & self-acting products? Digital design is no longer limited to screens - it is increasingly becoming a central element of product design.
In this project course, students focused in particular on the question: How should products be designed when the inanimate object becomes a partner? And which use cases can actually be meaningful, responsible and problem-solving applications for “living products”.
An interactive learning tool for primary school children
Nilo is a playful and intelligent companion designed to support children with their homework in a personalised and motivating way. It encourages independent learning by combining a tactile experience with smart technology, all without the need for constant supervision or assistance.
Children interact with Nilo in a simple and intuitive way. The interaction revolves around a pedestal and answer cubes. Each cube represents a possible answer. Children place the chosen cube onto the pedestal, where it is recognized via RFID. The result is shown immediately on Nilo’s screen.
Animated eyes respond to the child’s actions, creating an emotional connection and keeping the experience engaging and friendly.
The tasks adapt to each child’s individual learning level, thanks to integrated AI. This makes learning more effective and helps avoid frustration or boredom. The interaction is simple, intuitive, and doesn’t require reading skills beyond what’s necessary for the task itself.
For teachers, Nilo offers a connected dashboard that provides an overview of task completion, learning progress, and common errors across the class. This allows for early detection of learning difficulties and more targeted lesson planning without additional effort, thanks to the integrated AI analysis.
For parents, Nilo offers peace of mind. Children can complete their homework independently in a playful environment, while Nilo gives helpful guidance along the way.
All components are safe for children, made from bio-based plastic, and designed for durability. The compact format and integrated charging make Nilo easy to handle and store.
Curious to see Nilo in action? Watch the product video on the right for a closer look at the interaction.
