paradigms. In 1991, as popular music was shifting from analog
to digital formats, B&O released the Beosystem 2500, designed
by the late David Lewis. The Beosystem 2500 is an all-in-one
stereo featuring a CD-player, cassette deck, and AM/FM radio in
an extremely flat vertical design, flanked by a pair of equally flat
speakers.
Doors made of smoked glass cover the front of the Beosystem
2500, further emphasizing the flatness of the design. Raising
your hand within 10 centimeters of the doors causes them to
automatically glide open and turns on an interior light,
illuminating the now accessible audio controls. Upon retracting
your hand, the doors closes automatically after a 15 second
delay, with the lights remaining on to accompany the audio, or
turning off if no music is playing.^18
The use of automatic motion to signal readiness and recognition
of intention gives the Beosystem 2500 a sense of life and
personality. It lends the stereo a magical quality, and reframes
the doors as the “face” of the product, giving them a character
beyond their merely functional purpose. The detection of
presence and corresponding motion is fairly limited and crude in
comparison to today’s advanced capabilities, and yet it is enough
to provide a sense of animation and lifelike personality.
Another design element that contributes to the sensorial quality
of the Beosystem 2500 is the transparent cover on the vertically
oriented compact disc holder. As the CD plays, the spinning
artwork can be seen through the glass doors, providing a unique
visual reference to accompany the audio experience. This
celebration of the disc itself is a departure from the popular CD
tray mechanisms of the time, which completely enclosed the
disc, treating it as a hidden key to unlock the audio.
(^18) "Beosystem 2500." BeoPhile.com. Accessed January 25, 2015.
http://beophile.com/?page_id=1122.