Panasonic helps workers create their own head space with new crowdfunded device

Tokyo >> Maintaining concentration is key to getting your work done efficiently, but it can be hard to achieve sometimes.

Sitting in your chair at the office, other coworkers may be constantly walking around nearby. Someone behind your desk could be chatting with their colleagues.

That’s where an entrepreneurial team at Panasonic Corp. saw a business opportunity. They launched a crowdfunding campaign for a prototype wearable device designed to help workers stay focused.

Wear Space is a pair of over-ear wireless headphones attached to a U-shaped piece of fabric. The noise-canceling headphones reduce surrounding noise, while the fabric blocks out movement in the user’s peripheral vision, making the wearer feel as if they are in their own personal space.

An increasing number of companies have started diversify office environments with workers choosing a different space to work each day, known as hot-desking, or with smaller companies sharing workspace.

“On the other hand, everyone sometimes wants to be alone and concentrate,” said Kang Hwayoung, a member of the Panasonic team.

Covering your head with Wear Space’s fabric partition can discourage people from trying to make small talk.

“When someone is wearing the Wear Space, you can clearly see that the wearer wants to focus. We think this is quite important,” Kang said.

While the 11-ounce wearable partition is a slightly unusual gadget, Panasonic’s design process is also outside the norm. This is the first time the 100-year-old company has used crowdfunding for its product development.

Panasonic hopes to raise $134,000 through the crowdfunding and produce about 500 units. Prices start at $250, and the units can only be shipped within Japan.

Kang said the team will look into reactions from the crowdfunding participants and see if the product should be mass produced later on.