Designer Takashi Matsumoto is redefining how digital content is received and viewed by infusing non-traditional objects with digital interactivity. The result? We’re ditching the box. Regine Batty’s interview with Matsumoto sheds light on the concept of “Ubiquitous Content:”
"Ubiquitous Content" is an idea of a new design objective of our lives in the post-PC era. In 20th century, a notion of media contents has been meant contents like movies, music, animations, video games etc. Figuratively speaking, such contents were entities supplied in containers designed as "boxes". But now, a spread of networks and a realization of ubiquitous computing technologies are going to change those styles of media. The container is not like a "box" any more: It will change its forms freely to give us advanced computer augmentations in a specific context and it will be sometimes invisible embedded into our environments... As Ubiquitous Content project focuses on our lives and experiences, all things in our everyday lives are targets.
One of Matsumoto and his team at the Okude Lab’s most talked about inventions is the “Internet Umbrella.” The device allows users to access digital content whilst avoiding a downpour, making rainy day commutes a bit more enjoyable.
This concept of blending digital content with daily objects has astounding potential. Before long we’ll be able to check traffic reports on the shower wall before heading to work, turn our fridge doors into a digital photo display booths, or broadcast video on the soles of our shoes. The line distinguishing the real world from the digital world is getting blurrier.
via We Make Money Not Art x PSFK
e banks @ Sat, 02/10/2007 - 8:06pm
Something like this has been the natural progress for a while now. How many simple phones do they even make anymore? Everything has to be a cross-media platform - not just a phone, but a radio, an MP3 player, an internet provider. Matsumoto seems to be going with this idea and taking it just that much further. Soon we won't have anything that serves a singular purpose. I'm not saying that's bad - in fact, it's probably gonna be really great - but as one the last generations that remembers a time when home computers weren't the norm, its kind of unnerving. Like a sci-fi flick coming to life. Should be interesting!