Flaskhalse

Flaskhalse is a fictional concept used in speculative design to describe a portable, flask-shaped device that combines laboratory functionality with portable form factor. The term is a blended word, echoing a glass laboratory container and a design sensibility that emphasizes balance, accessibility, and data visibility in everyday settings.

Description and design characteristics: A typical flaskhalse is conceived as a transparent, borosilicate-glass vessel with an integrated electronic module housed in a cap or neck area. The device is imagined to include sensors for temperature, pH, and turbidity, along with a small display or indicator system for quick readings. Some variants are envisioned with microfluidic sampling capabilities and wireless connectivity to a companion app, enabling remote monitoring and data export. Power is usually depicted as a rechargeable battery with USB-C charging, and many concepts emphasize modularity so sensors or components can be swapped or upgraded.

Applications in fiction and design discourse: In speculative design and science fiction, flaskhalse serves as an example of blending form and function to make laboratory work more portable and approachable. It is often used to discuss issues such as data provenance, ergonomics of field sampling, and the aesthetics of lab gear. In maker and design communities, flaskhalse-style concepts function as design prompts for prototyping portable sensing devices and exploring safe, user-centered laboratory equipment.

Variants and reception: Conceptual variants include Flaskhalse Mini, Flaskhalse Pro, and Flaskhalse Studio, each imagined with differing sensor suites and capacities. While not a real product, the idea of flaskhalse appears in discussions about portable sensing and the relationship between laboratory culture and everyday objects.

See also: Laboratory glassware, portable sensors, speculative design, lab equipment ergonomics.