Hologram music design wins award

Timothy was presented with his prize by Jon Bentley of The Gadget Show

A schoolboy from Belfast has won a top design award for a hologram-operated portable music player.

Timothy Quigg, 15, from Grosvenor Grammar School, won a laptop computer and specialist software for winning the Audi Design Foundation prize.

His OrbIt music player design saw off the challenge of efforts by more than 4,000 pupils from across the UK.

He says the technology his design would use "has already been developed or is theoretically possible" in the future.

Competition entrants were given six challenges including the design of a device that would solve environmental problems, a craft that can travel at extreme speed and a healthy snack that reflects the personality of your role model.

Timothy chose to think of a design for playing and accessing music that could actually become a reality in the near future.

His OrbIt music player - a futuristic, circular, hand-held device - is operated by a micro-holographic array of "virtual" buttons.

Rather than being influenced by mp3 players or conventional home stereos, Timothy's device would require no headphones or speakers.

Instead, he envisages that sonic signals would be beamed into a pick-up device placed in or near the ears of listeners.

What makes OrbIt especially exciting is that it could become a reality in the near future Jon Bentley Judge

He plans that the player would be smaller than an Apple iPod Nano and would have a security device which only recognises its owner's fingerprint.

Timothy, who was 14 when he designed the product, was presented with his prize - a state-of-the-art laptop and design software - at a ceremony at County Hall in London.

He said: "I was so surprised when my name was called out as the national winner. The standard of work was impressive and many of the other entries inspired me.

"I'd like to thank the Audi Design Foundation, as without them I wouldn't have had the chance to take part in this competition and would never have met other people my age, who share my interest in technology and design."

His teacher, Ricky Cowan, head of technology and design at Grosvenor, predicts the teenager will have a successful future career.

"Timothy's OrbIt is the product of sharp observation, acute understanding and excellent creativity."

The judging panel included Jon Bentley, presenter of Channel Five's The Gadget Show.

He said: "The judges were impressed by Timothy's extensive research and knowledge of existing and forthcoming technologies.

"What makes OrbIt especially exciting is that it could become a reality in the near future."