Banana Design Lab's Blog

Core77 - New York Toy Fair Gallery

 http://www.core77.com/gallery/NEW%20YORK%20TOY%20FAIR%

Gearlog

You may have seen My Beating Heart online before (Dan Costa spotted it over a year ago, at Pop!Tech), but this is its first appearance at Toy Fair. It's now available in a new "fuzzy style, in two sizes and lower price points--$49.99 and $34.99. (Designer/artist Yury Gitman is at left in the above photo.)

My Beating Heart is simply a heart-shaped pillow that simulates a tactile heartbeat that's designed to sooth and calm you. Enclosed within is what the company calls "a small micro-computer to run of out specially made software." It varies the heartbeat rhythm each time you turn My Beating Heart on, enough that it won't seem mechanical and tedious. I held onto one for a little while; it reminded me of the comfort of a purring cat, and it was hard to put it down. Check the company's Web site for more info; you can buy the new models there too.
http://www.gearlog.com/2008/02/toy_fair_2008_my_beating_heart.php

Artisan Manufacturing Interview - My Beating Heart

Had an interesting online discussion with Yury Gitman, the owner of the artisan manufacturing firm My Beating Heart and the consulting firm Banana Design Lab. They manufacture a plush heart-shaped pillow that gently beats out a slow, but naturally-changing steady heart-like rhythm.  The product is designed to help children and grown-ups to nap, daydream, meditate, and relax.
Over the last couple of years Yury has made the shift from being an artist to becoming an artisan manufacturer.  He kindly spent time answering questions I had on his business. Full Interview Here

 

Geeksuger

Aw, this makes me think of puppies needing to sleep with an alarm clock nearby so it reminds them of their mother's beating heart. Nearly as cute as that image is the My Beating Heart pillow, a plush, cuddly pillow with a heartbeat inside. They say it's not just a sound or a pre-recorded rhythm, apparently, the little computer inside syncs to your heartbeat when you turn it on and relaxes you.

It pretty much sounds like the best nap-maker ever, especially if your spooning partner is out of town. What do you think of the Beating Heart pillow? Freaking you out or mellowing you out?
http://www.geeksugar.com/1502734

Josh Spear

It's a comforting feeling to have another heart beating against your own. When two hearts beat as one it brings about a feeling of safety, warmth and ultimately makes us sleep easier. Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to experience this on a regular basis and with a certain holiday coming up that we haven't mentioned enough, it's our position that everyone should have that necessary warmth envelop their life. Thanks to My Beating Heart, a furry, soft, huggable, heart from Banana Design Lab, you don't need a loved one to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Instead, that warm fuzziness can be pressed just outside your own vital organ, as this plush pumper has its own heartbeat that mirrors one similar to what you might find your own heart doing in a meditative state. So even if you don't have that special someone you can certainly rest easy on Valentine's Day, or whatever other days Hallmark feels like creating next.

http://www.joshspear.com/item/my-beating-heart/

Craft

Just in time for Valentine's Day, My Beating Heart has released a new batch of snuggly beating pillow toys. From the site:

    When hugging My Beating Heart, the physical heartbeat may remind you of hugging a purring pet or loved one. Hold the Heart a moment and you'll begin to sense your own heartbeat slowly syncing with My Beating Heart's carefully designed rhythm. My Beating Heart employs new advances in computer science, Artifical Intelligence, and haptic design. But we also developed the technology inside each Heart by combining the practice of meditation and yoga with software and hardware development. This lead us to design a small micro-computer to run of out specially made software.

Originally designed by Yury Gitman, the My Beating Heart line is an excellent example of a tech-savvy entrepreneurial business that has really taken off!I love the new smaller size, which I can imagine would be perfect for traveling long distances in the car.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/02/new_my_beating_hearts.html

Mocoloco

My Beating Heart is a pillow with a meditative heartbeat rhythm created using artificial intelligence and haptic design. The rhythm changes each time the pillow is activated. What a great way to drift off. Too bad Valentine’s Day is over.
http://freshmoco.com/story.php?title=My_Beating_Heart

Luxist

No, not the actual heart in my chest...that could be messy. Meant to soothe and calm one who hugs it close to them, My Beating Heart is fun, fuzzy and a great idea for Valentine's Day. Its rhythmic beat is said to mimic the thump-thump we hear deep in all our chests just at the touch of a button. There are even two sizes, since they have recently been redesigned, one being small enough for kids to enjoy. I should mention these are limited editions so once a style has run out, its gone.

I'm thinking my dog might even enjoy this! She's always climbing up on me trying to snuggle -- I bet when we are out of town it would be pretty comforting -- just have to train her to turn it on...

http://www.luxist.com/2008/02/12/my-beating-heart-for-valentines-day/

November Apt Therapy Design Meetup

 "Heal thyself with this pillow. Last week, at our 6th Meetup, we met Yury Gitman and his remarkable creation: pillows with simulated heartbeats inside. Drawing from his own experience with meditation and his education at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), the pillows are designed to delight and calm you when you hold them. This was an easy crowd favorite..."

A link to the post

Toy Directory, Innovative Gifts and Novelties

Gifts & Novelties: Pillows Beat to a New Rhythm
These Innovations Leave the Corner Five-and-Dime in the Dust
By Julie L. Jones
February 2007

Banana Design Lab's (ToyDirectory) heart-shaped plush pillow gradually syncs the rhythm of its owner’s heart.   Take a look below to scout out...gift ideas:
My Beating Heart by BANANA DESIGN LAB LLC

The product is designed to help children and grown-ups to nap, daydream, meditate, and relax. Every heart is hand-made in New York.
— “There is a small computer in each Beating Heart that uses artificial intelligence to act just like a real heart, so the heartbeat rhythm subtly and realistically changes over time. …this is one of the most hi-tech plush toys on the market,” CEO Yury Gitman of Banana Design Lab told TDmonthly.

Engadget

A link to this Engadget article

My Beating Heart Haptic Relaxation Pillow

We've seen various devices that purport to use the rhythms of the heartbeat to soothe infants and small animals, and now the creators of My Beating Heart hope to take that concept to frazzled, harried adults. The colorful, $120 heart-shaped pillow doesn't just have a sound chip; it uses a rumble pack-style haptic system so that you can feel the heart beat as you hold it. Or, in the words of the manufacturer, "the effect is that as someone hugs the Heart for a long period, whether consciously or unconsciously, it feels like hugging a real heartbeat." We're not quite sure about that, but we do have to give the developers props for making these by hand (including hand-programming each unit's haptic controller) in the, er, heart of New York City.

Daily Candy

Boing Boing, Hands-on Review

A link to the Boing Boing article

My Beating Heart -- pillow that buzzes a heart-calming pulse
My Beating Heart is a plush heart-shaped pillow that gently beats out a slow, steady heart-like rhythm. Creator Yury Gitman sent me one a couple weeks ago and I've been trying it out, turning it on and holding it to my chest after stepping into the office. I'm usually in quite a flurry when I get to my desk first thing -- I walk for an hour every morning but my phone goes bonkers while I'm out, and when I sit down and start my mail fetching and my backup running, I see how much crud has come in. It can really fluster me, so I figured if there was any time of my day when I could use some ambient relaxation, it was first thing at work.

It works -- it really works. The heart has two settings, slow and fast, and both of them calm me down in a way that's comparable to having a purring cat buzzing under your hand (but it's easier to put My Beating Heart on a shelf for the weekend than it is leaving a cat behind.)

At $120, I don't think I would have bought this for myself, but I do think I'll keep on using it once in a while now that I have one.
posted by Cory Doctorow

Cool Hunting

A link to this COOL HUNTING article

My Beating Heart, the pillow with a beat, made it's way around various web sites last week when it was first announced. We got our hands on one to take a closer look...

The heart shaped pillow, invented by artist Yury Gitman, has a small motor in it that is programmed to give a life-like pulse when turned on. The pillow itself is about a foot wide and my particular sample was covered in synthetic lambskin with ultra-suede details. It's soft and comfy. Despite my skepticism, I found the heart beat to be quite soothing. It was more pronounced than that of any pet or person, but the effect was still quite good and the beat was surprisingly life-like. Their site talks about using the pillow for meditating, daydreaming or napping, but I'm finding myself using it at my desk to counter the caffeinated frenzy of my recent days.

Popgadget

A Link to the POPGADGET Article

Squishy foam pillows come in all shapes and sizes but no matter how hard you squeeze, they don't react. Yury Gitman's new squeezable pillow, My Beating Heart, responds to a hug with its own palpable heartbeat. The rhythmic beats are soothing, like when you're hugging someone tightly and you can sense your breathing and your heart rates start to almost imperceptibly synchronize.

An amazing thing about My Bearing Heart is that every time you turn a Heart on, an entirely unique heartbeat rhythm is created. This is all made possible by a tiny computer inside each Beating Heart that uses an algorithm to generatively create a heartbeat. In essence, there is a very simple form of Artificial intelligence programmed into the heart of each Beating Heart, giving it the ability to recreate a human heart rate. So the heartbeat rhythm changes subtly and gradually over time, replicating the heartbeat of a human in a meditative state.

My Beating Heart is powered by a 9-volt battery and made of soft, peach-fuzzy ultrasuede. They come in five colorful styles, and are available now for $120 from My Beating Heart.

BussBuss

A link to this Buss Buss article

You've Got the Beat
Wanna give someone your heart? Let them have instant access anytime they want with My Beating Heart, a soft huggable heart (think pillow) with a soothing heartbeat you can actually feel. When hugging the heart, the tactile heartbeat reminds you of holding a pet or a loved one. Hold the heart for a moment and you'll begin to sense your own heartbeat slowly syncing with My Beating Heart's carefully designed rhythm. What's cool is that every time you turn your Heart on, a completely unique heartbeat rhythm is created (made possible by a tiny computer inside each Heart that uses an algorithm and some other techy stuff we don't quite understand). The result is that each Heart can recreate a human heart rate, so the heartbeat rhythm changes subtly and gradually over time, replicating the heartbeat of a human in a meditative state, making it the perfect companion for napping, meditating and daydreaming about that special someone who was so thoughtful as to give the gift of their Heart! Score a handmade Heart for $120 at mybeatingheart.com.

Gizmodo

A Link to this GIZMODO Article

Now here s a great gift idea for that special person in your life. From the folks at Banana Design Lab comes My Beating Heart. This wholesome-looking heart resembles all the stuffed animals you ve ever had, but with one small difference: the heart beats. Yes, so now on those cold winter nights you can hold the heart close to your body to not only keep you warm and comfortable, but to remind you of what it s like to be holding someone s heart.

Techie Diva's

A link to this Techie Diva's article

Popgadget has posted some great ideas for stocking stuffers, which includes the "My Beating Heart" pillow. What's so special about it? The huggable heart has a tiny computer inside that uses an algorithm to create a heartbeat. To activate the heartbeat, you simply squeeze the woven label at the bottom of each heart.

"In essence, there is a very simple form of Artificial intelligence programmed into the heart of each Beating Heart, giving it the ability to recreate a human heart rate. So the heartbeat rhythm changes subtly and gradually over time, replicating the heartbeat of a human in a meditative state."

100 Shiki

A link to this 100 SKIKI article

これ、欲しい。すごく欲しい。注文しちゃいそうだ。

My Beating Heartではちょっと変わったクッションを販売している。

なんとこのクッション、スイッチをいれると心臓の鼓動に似たリズムを刻んでくれるというものだ。

これを抱いていればペットを抱いているときの感覚や、恋人と寄り添っているような感覚を味わうことができる。

とってもリラックスできそう。

しかもこの鼓動は内蔵されたコンピュータで制御されており、毎回違うリズムを発してくれたり、抱いているうちに抱いている人の鼓動にシンクロするようになっているらしい。

Relaxed Productivity、という言葉もあるが、リラックスしているときにこそアイデアが出てくるものである。他にどんなリラックスガジェットが考えられますかね。

We Make Money Not Art, Interview

A link to this Interview at We Make Money Not Art

Brides Club

A link to this Brides Club article.

You are lovely colors

A link to this YOU ARE LOVELY COLORS article

I saw my My Beating Heart on another blog. It is a soft huggable heart with a soothing heartbeat you can really feel. When hugging the heart, the tactile heartbeat reminds you of holding a pet or a loved-one. Hold the heart a moment and you'll begin to sense your own heartbeat slowly syncing with My Beating Heart's carefully designed rhythm. My Beating Heart is designed to help you relax, daydream, meditate, and nap.

Plastic & Plush

A link to this Plastic & Plush article

One of the most interesting plush pieces we have come across is more than a simple, stuffed heart. My Beating Heart “is a soft huggable heart with a soothing heartbeat you can really feel”. It’s something you’d want hold onto…and it probably wouldn’t set on your display shelf.

ItsyBytes

A link to this Itsy Bytes article

*I waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant!!**

MissTrendy

A link to this Miss Trendy article

Un cuore che batte nel cuore
Se improvvisamente vi sentiste soli e non aveste a portata di mano un animale domestico o un amico, correte a comprare la nuova invenzione del designer Yury Gitman. Si chiama My beating Hearth e il suo creatore sostiene che stringendo questo cuscino si ha l'illusione di abbracciare qualcuno. Tutto questo grazie a dei sofisticati microchip che riproducono alla perfezione il battito del cuore. Incredibilmente questo cuscino sta diventando un gadget molto richiesto, soprattutto nelle grandi città. Abbracciatelo pure nei momenti di sconforto, ma nel frattempo cercate un cuore che non vada a batterie!

AlterNet

A link to this AlterNet article

Completely petty, totally useless… and still, I can't help but want one of these bizarre My Beating Heart creations for Christmas. They're fuzzy heart-shaped pillows with a "beating heart" inside, to help soothe the lonesome, single masses sleeping alone this holiday season. (OK, I made that last part up; they're probably not intended for that use, but it makes sense to me.)

Anyway, you can hug one to your chest at night -- cuddle up and pretend it's a real live human. The website even claims My Beating Heart will help you "relax" and "mediate" [sic], which, lord knows, I can always use help with. (If anyone knows of a "Relaxation for Dummies" instructional seminar, let me know -- I'm so there.)

Double Agent

A link to this Double Agent article

The folks over at mybeatingheart.com have created a heart-shaped pillow that, when squeezed, emits a soothing heartbeat that you can actually feel. That means that your loved one can feel as if you are near, even when you aren’t.

A squeeze of the heart-shaped image on the woven label at the bottom of the heart is all it takes to turn it on. What really makes it unique is the fact that the heartbeat changes each time it is activated. And ,the tiny computer inside the pillow uses an algorithm to create a heartbeat that replicates that of a human in a meditative state.

Each handmade pillow comes in several styles and colors to choose from as well as materials. They are battery operated and also very easy to clean.

Fashiontribes Daily

A link to this Fashiontribes article

Prylfeber

A link to this Prylfeber article

My Beating Heart - kudde med hjärtslag
Den här kudden har en liten dator inbyggd som varje gång man sätter på kudden genererar en slumpad hjärtfrekvens som spelas upp av kudden.
Enligt kuddens skapare ska detta leda till att man som person blir mer harmonisk och avslappnad och det ska vara en liknande känsla som man får utav att kela med en kattunge.
Kuddarna finns i fem olika färgkombinationer och kostar 120 dollar styck.

Networked Performance

A link to this Networked-Performace article