Poizo: The Future of Personalized Heating

Adam Miklosi and Daniel Fekete's Innovative Smart Space Heater

Adam Miklosi and Daniel Fekete were inspired by the challenges of indoor microclimates. They recognized the struggle of maintaining a comfortable temperature for everyone in a household, a problem that affects 20% of homes. Their solution, Poizo, allows multiple users in the same space to adjust the temperature to their individual comfort needs.

Poizo stands out from other heaters due to its smart technology. It locates its users and communicates wirelessly to optimize personal comfort and cost-effectiveness. The heater uses far-infrared heating technology, which is not only efficient but also healthy. Poizo's six independent panels project heat precisely to the user in front of each panel, ensuring targeted comfort.

The design realization of Poizo involved integrating six 350W far-infrared heater panels into a compact and visually pleasing unit. The designers aimed to minimize "visual noise" in the home environment, resulting in a pure and functional design. Poizo features a simple touch interface and a mobile app for easy control. The designers also considered the freedom of usage, opting for a docking solution to extend battery life.

Poizo's smart technology includes integrated sensors that detect the presence of users. Multiple users can set their preferred heat levels simultaneously via a smartphone or the touch interface on the appliance. The heater maintains the set temperature and turns off as soon as the user leaves the area. This technology not only enhances user experience but also promotes cost efficiency by eliminating the need to heat the entire room.

The Poizo project, which began in February 2017, has already received the prestigious MVM Edison Innovation Award in Hungary. The design is currently in the engineering development phase. The project was supported by IBM Hungary and utilized the IBM Design Thinking method to create a new product experience. The team conducted extensive consumer research, analyzed different personas, performed empathy mapping, and tested prototypes with potential consumers.

Poizo is a testament to the power of innovative design in improving daily life. It is an infrared space heater that adapts to its environment to maximize personal comfort while minimizing energy usage. The design is currently patent pending and was awarded Silver in A' Home Appliances Design Award in 2018, a testament to its remarkable design and innovation.