Selected for the exhibition Design and the Elastic Mind
at MoMA, New York. February 24–May 12, 2008.
We live in a 'paper' culture. Our everyday life is linked to paper objects, but we have always been led towards a paperless future.
What if we could 'enhance' paper instead of getting rid of it?
What if we could merge the printed world with the digital one?
The Flat Futures project deals with this new smart/digital paper. Through printed electronics we can create processors, displays, batteries on flat and flexible surfaces like paper. Objects will wear technology instead of carrying them inside. It will become their skin.
How will this affect our lives? How will our relationship with these enhanced objects change? If any surface can display anything, where will its value be? In the physical object? Or in the information itself?
What if objects are made of paper? How are we going to interact with them? For instance, the disposable Paper Alarm Clock needs to be scrunched up in order to turn it off. It brings new ways to experience electronic products.
Paper Alarm Clock.
Paper Alarm Clock. Scrunch it up to switch off.
Digital Book. New ways to feel books.
Memory Envelope. It remembers where it's been.'
Where they have been
Digital Book
GPS Document. Card with GPS coordinates where the document is stored i
Digital Paper Alarm Clock
Waking up...
New ways to interact with electronic products
Smart Tape (Processor)
Enhanced book (Processor+Speaker)