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The Public’s Choice Award voting process for this year’s Next-Gen PC Design Competition has recently ended. At its third year, the competition continues to seek not only innovative form factors, but also environmentally sound designs. The competition is held by Microsoft and IDSA and there will be five prizes in total to be awarded, with three selected by a panel of IDSA jurors, one by Bill Gates, and another one voted by online visitors.

The focus of this year’s competition is fulfilling users’ passions through design. The winners will be announced at this year’s WinHEC event in May. The following are this year’s finalist designs in alphabetical order. Click on the links below to learn more about the designs and a chance to comment on them at the competition website.

Backpacker’s Diary

For people who like travel, the concept provides users with a familiar interface similar to a book where turning a page lets users navigate through GPS, maps, the Internet, and more. It can be opened up to collect solar energy for power.

Bloom

Using two or more branches, the computer can generate 2D and 3D images in midair using laser technologies. Screen size can be arbitrarily adjusted to suit user needs by repositioning the branches.

Cinch Digital Home

By separating the computer components according to their roles – server, display, and handheld - users can focus on what they want to accomplish rather than the system itself.

CLEF

A computer designed for musicians, it can be converted into a music stand and display music pages. The pages can be flipped with a press of the foot pedal, freeing the hands for instrument playing.

Coach’s Clipboard

This design caters for the needs of the fantasy sport enthusiast. It provides timely information on their favorite sports team all through a multitouch device. Users can communicate with each other and keep track of their picks and stats.

conceito

Designed for painters, it contains a flexible LCD screen that can be detached from its base for use outdoors. The transparent LCD allows users to paint what they see through the screen.

cuppa

The cuppa allows users to interact with their friends through social networking sites without worrying about the workings of a file system or PC. It can turn a normal TV into a communications center with cuppa serving as a terminal device.

DNA

A fully customizable computer that users can build for their own needs. The building blocks can be stacked together in any shape, size, form and direction.

Everyone’s Computer

Instead of using the traditional mouse and keyboard, it allows multiple users to interact with the computer through hand gestures, allowing social interactions through a 3D interface.

f@n

Inspired by the folding fan of the East, multiple screens are stacked beneath a single device. Additional screens are revealed by pushing the topmost screen in a revolving motion.

FIT

A device that keeps track of the user’s fitness and diet plan. It gives calorie intake recommendations based on the amount of exercise taken. Additional features such as an MP3 player and heart rate and calorie burn monitors make staying healthy more enjoyable.

FluxPC

The FluxPC integrates into the user’s life in a bracelet form factor. It works a separate display device for viewing multimedia content. Information and data are stored on the bracelet which follows the wearer everywhere.

Harmonious

A compact communications device that shows locations of friends with their permission. The color indicator changes as the user gets physically closer to their friends.

heartfarer

With the help of GPS technology the heartfarer allows users to leave messages, photos, and videos about a place behind that can be accessed by friends and strangers when they visit the site later.

i-grow

Designed for the young ones, i-grow helps children to communicate with others, draw and paint, and play with their friends through a touch-screen display.

Illusion PC

The Illusion PC uses 3D printing technology to create the illusion of an empty computer case with a floating object of the user’s choice, thereby creating a unique and personalized computer.

INFO Live

Compact, portable device that stores data that can be streamed to other devices for consumption with the stroke of a finger. Extensive use of gesture input help streamline operation.

MARRO

Using a mobile ring device, users can interact with satellite units that draw data from their own central unit. User identity is established through biometrics built into the ring.

Momenta

Wearable PC that captures life’s special moments when it detects emotions and uploads them to the Internet for sharing. It can also project a touch-gesture interface eliminating the need for peripherals.

Napkin PC

Separate napkins allow multiple users to collaborate with each other. Each napkin is a multitouch e-paper surface with the pen relaying information to the base station.

Palette

Shaped like a painter’s color palette, this concept computer has a brush tool that detects the color that it is picking up from the real world and converts it to the equivalent digital color.

ProsperPC

A computer that improves the daily life of families. Besides normal home functionality it can monitor energy, water, and gas consumption as well as the air quality.

Siafu

Using a material called magneclay the surface of Siafu can be morphed upward into any shape. In addition to generating Braille text it can recreate images in 3D for the blind.

Smartchef

Smartchef enhances the cooking experience by providing cooks ideas and background information on ingredients as well as recipes. It comprises of a smart cutting board base and a tablet device.

The AlphaGrip HC

Utilizing all ten fingers, this concept allows users to type and interact with the computer dramatically faster than conventional input devices. Designed for mobility, its target users include students, professors, patients and doctors, gamers, and software engineers.

The Cup

Use of holographic touchscreens means that The Cup can present graphical information with others by “spilling” the cup on a surface. Users can also share data by literally pouring data into other users’ cups.

T-Horizon

Computer in a folder form factor with separate foldable screens. Multitouch capabilities with haptic feedback are integrated as well as a 3D projection module that also acts as a webcam.

TRVL

This computer concept integrates multiple functions into one to streamline the travel experience with features like map and navigation, ID and passport, ticket and schedule, camera, phone, and e-mail.

WITHUS

Comprised of a touchscreen and stylus, WITHUS helps preschool children develop human relationships by fostering physical interaction between multiple users.

Yuno PC

Taking on the appearance of a coffee mug, this computer concept gives business professionals access to timely information in a non-intrusive form factor.

ZEN

The ZEN is a computer designed for the visually impaired. The surface physically changes to allow Braille reading and tactile feedback. In addition, users can mark onto the surface with their fingers for direct interaction with the computer.

Next-Gen PC Design Competition images courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.