Just saw this on Gizmodo. Only a prototype for now, but still, too cool.
I’d like a uni that went from conventional to giraffe on the fly!
Love the super light spokes!
That’s a cool concept! Just one question. What’s the commuter configuration for? 
I used to own a recumbent, and now my wife has one. More handy for most riders might be a recumbent that folds up small. They’re a pain to transport!
No kidding. Especially if they are loaded for touring.
Another interesting concept would be a recumbent that could switch from long wheel base to short wheel base. My Dad prefers the above-lap style handle bars, (I think your wifes recumbent was long wheel base as well if I remember correctly) but I quite enjoy the short wheel base geometry with the handlebars wrapping under the seat to place the grips somewhere around your hip area.
I would like a unicycle that converts into a recumbent by the flip of a switch. My dad actually has a foldable recumbent made by Greenspeed. It’s pretty cool, although very low and not very usable on dirtroads and singletrack.
I think they mention the commuter configuration is so that you can be more aware of your surroundings. I don’t really agree that that would be the case, though.
It may be more about your “surroundings” being more aware of you. One of the dangers of recumbents is being less noticeable by cars. I was advised to add a flag to mine (late 80s), which I did. But those things don’t seem to exist anymore…
But in the case of this design project, it’s probably more about the design than the practicality of use. The bike is great-looking, and the way it converts seems to be really, really clever.
Not that it would ever make it to market. By the look of it, it would either be double the weight of a conventional-framed bike, or several times the cost (of a good recumbent). I think Jacquie’s was $1600?
That looks very complex if you ask me. It almost looks like if you ride it, it will snap easily. 