Berlin winters can be notoriously cold dark and depressing (as many other places in the northern hemisphere). Families take their kids to school in the dark, and then go to work in the dark and then by the time school and work are over its dark again. 
It was when watching one young family all on bikes, on one of those dark dark journeys to school, we came up with a little idea: a simple, customisable, engaging replacement for these numerous reflectors parents cover their kids with in order to make sure they can be seen by other traffic participants.

On one side the badges would be covered with super bright LEDs, which play simple individualised animations. On the underside the badges are covered with solar cells, charging capacitors.

So during the day, when at school, the badges could be turned over and laid onto the window sill catching light beams.

And once back at home the kids would have the possibility to assemble their very own animations on a PC and play the animation onto the device via a USB connection.
June 10th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Great idea, I love it! Just discovered your blog btw, keep up the good work.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Thanks - if you know anyone who would like to produce it, let us know ;-)
June 11th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Fantasitc Idea!!! So many possiblities. Kids would love wearing their own animations and it makes being safe, fun.