IKEA and its partners have set out to make custom 3D-printed gaming accessories. The partners for the project include IKEA and a prosthetics company called Unyq, as well as an e-sports company Area Academy. The accessory line is titled Uppkoppla which translates into 'online' and will be made custom for gamers and even those with disabilities.
Included in the line are a wrist brace, textured keycaps, and a mouse bungee. The brace helps keep wrists comfortable, wheres the keycaps allow for better grip and the bungee keeps cords out of the way. The custom gaming accessories were created form a Unyq technique, which utilizes body scans to create the custom 3D-printed gaming accessories. The three partners will look to apply the information gathered from this line to future accessible gaming products.
Collaborative Custom Gaming Accessories
IKEA Has Partnered to 3D Print Gaming Accessories
Trend Themes
1. Custom Gaming Accessories - There is an opportunity for businesses to create personalized gaming accessories using 3D printing and body scanning technology.
2. Accessible Gaming Products - The use of body scanning technology to create personalized gaming accessories can be applied to future accessible gaming products for individuals with disabilities.
3. Collaborative Gaming Industry Partnerships - More businesses can form partnerships to create specialized gaming products for consumers and create new revenue streams.
Industry Implications
1. Home Furnishing - Companies in the home furnishing and furniture industry can explore collaborations with others, like IKEA, to bring innovative design and technology trending across industries, like gaming, into the home.
2. Prosthetics - Prosthetic companies, like Unyq, can apply their technology to other industries beyond healthcare to create custom and accessible products.
3. E-sports - Other businesses in the e-sports industry can create new partnership opportunities to explore innovative technologies and design to improve the gaming experience for players.