environment

I wish this ceiling would be connected to parameters.

I am sure you know already about the Nabaztag.

This device reacts to information, it acts as a tangible filters to information flows on your network and transform them into a audio or visual signal, diffused into your real world – allowing you to go away from the computer to focus on your ‘analog’ things and come back only when this very email you were waiting for has arrived: you are alerted by the bunny on your desk.

To be honnest: this little rabbit that talks to me or glow in the dark… it just makes me feel stupid. To me it’s not really something I would like to have to interact with. It really feels like being in Disneyland – except it’s at my home, on my desk… sounds like a nightmare!

But, despite my reluctance I have to recognise I am completely amazed by the gigantic potentials of the brand new applications which arise with intelligent objects.

On the other hand we could imagine subtle yet meaningful modification of our direct environment, (light coloring or dimming, for example) depending on alteration of our electronic presence. Design and culture to the rescue if I could say so: in fact, I just saw a few pictures from the exhibition of lamp by Ingo Maurer on lightscapes on http://maxspace.funporium.com/ which inspired me to share these reflections.

One of the first thing which came to my mind is the LightHives project by Alex Haw (another Bunkerer), even if Light Hive goes more about surveillance and community, while those application I’m referring to are more attached to the personal sphere and are a private representation – both share the basic principle of an abstract representation of a live activity

I wrote a bit about electronic presence and digital objects a little while ago on my personnal hub – but not as much as I talk about those topic everyday when working at Electronest; we should definitely write more about the ideas, concepts and projects that emerged since we started those discussions with Pierre.

Refering to electronic presence and digital objects is all about expanding conceptual boundaries and design process:

using terms like ‘electronic presence’ or ‘digital objects’ which are going beyond the simple scope of the web page design. The term ‘electronic presence’ does not only refer to an url with fancy images and well designed logotypes. ‘Electronic presence’ is closer to a global attitude towards digital mediums and cultures embrassing from the simple home page to the electronic installation (tangible computing) through customized content managment systems, home made software, generative application, etc.
An essential curiosity glues all the separates aspects of a digital communication together and supports the communication expertise background. A website can be an extension or a representation of an activity in real life.

Lights or simple lamps could then be connected to the local network, and represent events that otherwise coul go unnoticed. It could be a violent reminder, or simple and discreet light dimming. By using light reflection on color, we could use the ceiling as a silent echo of what is happening on the other side of the screen.

LED Benches
Ingo Maurer, 2002
Glass, LEDs.

LED Wallpaper
Ingo Maurer, 2007
Plastic film with conductive circuits, LEDs.

note: People behind the Nabaztag seems to be more clever than the aesthetic and culture their rabbit promotes; they have a Nabaztag API. Maybe I just should remove the plastic shell of that hideous thing and play with it a little bit…

edit: roof is the outdoor bit, ceiling the interior one – well well…

NONE is an experimental trail

links for 2008-07-31

I wish this ceiling would be connected to parameters.