Decelerator Helmet (via designboom)
If you loved those fish-bowl style sci-fi helmets from the 50s and 60s, then the Decelerator Helmet (is the head-gear of your dreams minus the antennae of course). Designed by German artist Loren Potthast, the helmet allows the wearer to perceive the world around them in slow-mo.
The ‘futuristic’ head-gear uses a camera mounted on the outer aluminum casing that feeds live video to a video display that’s situated in front of the users face while simultaneously sending the same feed to an external display (so others can see what they’re seeing?). Subsequently the inner video display is mounted to a bicycle helmet housed inside the aluminum sphere which also serves as a platform for the netbook (positioned and secured on top of the bicycle helmet) which processes the video feed. A handheld remote-control unit (styled after the aluminum sphere) controls the video feed and offers 3 settings (auto, press and scroll) for the user to control ‘time.' The first setting, auto, the video feed is automatically slowed and then increased after a pre-set time interval. The second option, press, gives the user the ability to slow time on demand while the third option, scroll, gives the user full access of slowing and increasing time (for those who like living in the fast lane).
cross-section of the decelerator (via designboom)
According to the artist, the helmet ‘offers an experimental approach to an essential subject of our globalized world. The technical reproducible senses are consigned to an apparatus which allows the user to perceive the world in slow motion’. Loren goes on to say that ‘it dramatically visualizes how slowing down under all circumstances causes a loss of actuality, and as idea, is inconsistent with our surroundings.'
While the helmet may be fun to experience, it does present the possibility of endangering yourself while wearing it. It is more geared towards visual artistry. Trying to walk through a crosswalk, for example, could end up with you watching your own demise by being hit by a car in slow-mo.
Cabe
