Photo: Billy Ernst
It's not unusual to see a carmaker launch accessories like speakers, headphones, and phone cases, sometimes as part of a collaboration with technology companies, but concept designer Billy Ernst came up with a brilliant idea that Rivian should totally check out.
Ernst created a Bluetooth speaker inspired by Rivian's unique LED headlights, explaining that such a device would match the carmaker's lineup of adventure gear.
Bluetooth speakers have become increasingly popular lately, mostly thanks to their portability. I typically carry a Bluetooth speaker whenever I have friends coming over and spend a couple of hours around the barbecue, with the device in charge of providing the background noise.
I've seen others turning to such devices during other, more hardcore activities, such as when hiking, as a Bluetooth speaker allows them to enjoy their favorite tunes while moving. Plus, it helps bears and other wild animals be aware of their presence (this is a good tip, by the way; if you go hiking, you must make as much noise as possible, so you wouldn't end face to face with a wild animal).
The proposed design based on the LED headlight perfectly matches a speaker, though the hardest part will be to make the concept work. Because it doesn't include a speaker in the middle, the sound would come out from the outer edges, making it more difficult to direct the sound in the right direction. It can easily be resolved on the drawing board if a company decides to mass produce this device, but this is only the only drawback I can think of when looking at this otherwise brilliant concept.
The speaker comes with the essential feature package, including LED indicators for a low battery, charging, and while searching for a device to pair. It sports a logo on the upper side and integrates a USB-C for charging. The bottom plate is the home of button controls to turn on the speaker and adjust the volume.
The device doesn't come with any smart features, such as Alexa integration, and I believe at least Google Assistant or some sort of voice command support would have been nice. You can control the playback from the mobile device, but there are times when it's more convenient to say a word and stop the music playback directly on the speaker and not on the phone.
The attention to detail is impressive, and Rivian would do itself a favor should the company decide to at least look into this idea. It's not as easy as it sounds to build such a speaker, but the designer is right: a speaker inspired by Rivian's LED headlights would perfectly match the company's accessory lineup. Rivian is known as a carmaker focused specifically on build quality and innovative ideas, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it exploring this design.
Bluetooth speakers have become increasingly popular lately, mostly thanks to their portability. I typically carry a Bluetooth speaker whenever I have friends coming over and spend a couple of hours around the barbecue, with the device in charge of providing the background noise.
I've seen others turning to such devices during other, more hardcore activities, such as when hiking, as a Bluetooth speaker allows them to enjoy their favorite tunes while moving. Plus, it helps bears and other wild animals be aware of their presence (this is a good tip, by the way; if you go hiking, you must make as much noise as possible, so you wouldn't end face to face with a wild animal).
The proposed design based on the LED headlight perfectly matches a speaker, though the hardest part will be to make the concept work. Because it doesn't include a speaker in the middle, the sound would come out from the outer edges, making it more difficult to direct the sound in the right direction. It can easily be resolved on the drawing board if a company decides to mass produce this device, but this is only the only drawback I can think of when looking at this otherwise brilliant concept.
The speaker comes with the essential feature package, including LED indicators for a low battery, charging, and while searching for a device to pair. It sports a logo on the upper side and integrates a USB-C for charging. The bottom plate is the home of button controls to turn on the speaker and adjust the volume.
The device doesn't come with any smart features, such as Alexa integration, and I believe at least Google Assistant or some sort of voice command support would have been nice. You can control the playback from the mobile device, but there are times when it's more convenient to say a word and stop the music playback directly on the speaker and not on the phone.
The attention to detail is impressive, and Rivian would do itself a favor should the company decide to at least look into this idea. It's not as easy as it sounds to build such a speaker, but the designer is right: a speaker inspired by Rivian's LED headlights would perfectly match the company's accessory lineup. Rivian is known as a carmaker focused specifically on build quality and innovative ideas, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it exploring this design.
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