First Australian Smart Bench Ready for Launch

Now with wireless charging through the PowerMe tabletop, Aria smart benches will be in stock in June.

Aria is the first Smart Bench designed and made in Australia, set to launch with wifi, USB, USB-C, wireless and GPO as standard options through the PowerMe Table, with space to add more sensors if desired.

Rather than conceal tech in the body of the bench, the PowerMe Table provides an ergonomic surface to place your device at armrest height, so it’s easy to keep an eye on your phone while it charges. The table can also be used to rest your coffee or notebook.

For charging, simply lift the lid to reveal four ports: specify a combination of USB, USB-C or GPO outlets. The lid folds down to protect cables while charging, and covers the ports when not in use.

To upgrade the technology inside simply switch out any of the four charging modules, or add another sensor inside.

The table is weatherproof, with IP65 rating for water and dust resistance.

“It is important to us that PowerMe is an enduring asset for universities, shopping centres, parks, streets, airports, stations – wherever people might sit to charge their phone or use public wifi – so we’ve kept the electronics modular and easy to upgrade,” says Danny Cheung, Senior Industrial Designer with Street Furniture Australia.

“You can customise how many USB, USB-C or GPO ports you’d like in the grid of four, and switch out the modules as technology evolves. The rate of technology change is much faster than you’re going to want to replace your furniture assets, so this system avoids committing to one generation of tech – there’s no risk of getting stuck in the past.”

Just as carefully placing seats in public places encourages people to visit and spend time (see our StreetChat on How to Place Seats in the City), providing the option to charge a device and tap into a wifi hotspot adds further incentive to stay.

This is key for thriving, welcoming and safe places in any community. (See our activation project, #BackyardExperiment.)

“By delving into what people really want and need from public places today, we found that a vast majority are looking to be able to work, be entertained, educated and connected on the go,” says Street Furniture Australia Design Director Mark Armstrong.

“We’re seeing some great discussion among custodians and designers about how to make smart cities a reality. An upgradeable smart bench delivers on what many users are looking for right now, and with scope for the future for smart city visionaries.”

Aria smart bench features a contemporary look, with clean lines.

The Aria Bench is designed for comfort with sleek contemporary lines. When equipped with a backrest and arms it helps the elderly to sit and stand.

Colourful LED lights sense when it is getting dark, and switch on like street lamps. Under the lid, an LED strip illuminates the charging array in the dark.

Both Aria and PowerMe prototypes debuted at Future Street, a demonstration of technologies tipped to enhance city life officially opened by the Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, Angus Taylor, in front of Customs House in Sydney.

The Street Furniture Australia R&D team collected feedback from visiting public realm professionals from the 2017 International Festival of Landscape Architecture, including landscape architects and Council delegations, and the public.

With wireless charging high on the wishlist for responders, the team began work on a final version to launch next month.

“We made the table bigger to include more space inside for electronics, slightly changed the angle, added more LED lighting and of course, the wireless charging surface. You’ll be able to put your phone or smart watch, if they are compatible, straight onto the tabletop in the charging zone, no cables required,” says Cheung.

“We gave our inhouse 3D printer a workout building new prototypes. One of our design challenges has been making PowerMe not only strong, weatherproof and durable, but aesthetically pleasing as well. Printing is important to gauge the effect of changes, being able to see and touch the design in the real world.”

PowerMe and Aria began as part of a design thinking project looking at how people currently use public space, and how their experience could be improved. It involved many hours of interviews and observing parks at different times of the day and week.

“Together, the team developed several park personas, who each have different needs. These include the commuter anxiously checking timetables. The physical trainer using her local park as a gym. The business person planning and thinking before their next presentation. A mother taking the kids out to get some air, from their city apartment. The student with a multifaceted demand on public space: socialising, studying, meeting a group, waiting, relaxing, exercising,” says Armstrong.

“The ability to connect to wifi, and keep devices charged, is an overlapping priority for many of these users of public places, whether it’s for work and personal admin, entertainment or getting around the city. So a smart bench is an easy way to facilitate all of these needs for the community.”

PowerMe Tables integrate with launch partner Aria, or can be standalone, or installed beside any existing bench. They are compatible with most Street Furniture Australia seats.

Enquire now for further information, or to register your interest.

A 1-min preview of the Aria Seating System and PowerMe Table so far:

PowerMe prototype at the 2017 International Festival of Landscape Architecture.

Research uncovered a number of users who visit urban parks, with distinct and overlapping needs.