pebble
the future of ambient tech in the home - 2022
creative strategy
There is an abundance of smart products on the market, although few are connected in a meaningfully way. Hardware should facilitate technology that seamlessly fades into the background while enhancing people’s relationships with the world around them.
Tactile
Devices need to be tactile and interactive. Humans naturally interface with everyday objects through touch and people through eye contact, our technology should support interactions like this too.
Materiality
As material science and manufacturing capabilities advance there is opportunity to use more natural materials like glass, metal, and ceramic on devices to allow them to better fit into home environments.
Unobtrusive
Technology should blend into the surrounding environment while complementing everyday life. Devices should be active when need be and discreet objects when not in use.
interactive
Humans crave tangible interactions. How can we reinvent digital experiences with physical actions and objects?
ambient
Ambient computing is slated to become the future of technology. Referenced here are projects by companies and design studios that are exploring the eventuality of non-invasive, integrated, and intuitive tech.
Map - Little Signals
A series of interaction experiments exploring technology’s relationship to us. The project uses objects with different cues to signal for attention like an ambient sound or puff of air, this allows us to stay in the loop while maintaining moments of calm.
Google - Soli
An exploration of how computers can use radar and machine learning to understand our intentions and react to them appropriately. This has been used to imbue devices with their own sense of personal spaces and intuitively read human body gestures.
Benjamin Hubert - Connectivity Concept
A set of conceptual home devices that take design inspiration from residential interiors. The materials used are tactile, invoke implications of craft, and belong in a home setting. The objects invite interactions while also blending into their environments.
material development
I have been fascinated with the material properties of natural materials: capitalizing on their renewability and recyclability to facilitate a more sustainable future; using the translucency of glass to facilitate visual effects; and investigating the use of ceramics in tech devices.
process
I began my initial explorations of the system through rough sketches and physical paper mockups. As I moved into refinement, I used Illustrator to arrive at the correct proportions and CAD to perfect the curves and details.
modalities
A universal glass pebble is used to interact with three different objects; a controller which allows for tangible and direct interactions with the surrounding environment, a lamp which provides subtle visual cues, and a charging tray that minimizes distractions by only displaying the most important information from your phone.
pebble
The pebble is made from blown glass and is easily recyclable. It is an inanimate object with no tech components which only becomes significant when paired with one of the other objects in the system. Multiple pebbles can exist in one household. They are meant to blend in, like a paperweight, when not in use.
lamp
The lamp uses visual light diffused through the glass pebble to inconspicuously display information. The light gets brighter to symbolize urgency and the color changes to signify the type of information. For example, the light could turn red as a gentle reminder to switch tasks and increase in brightness as time goes by.
controller
The controller facilitates direct control of the home environment through a central physical tool. Placing a pebble on the controller or reaching towards the device brings up a menu of commands. The pebble can be spun or tapped for input. This can be used to control music, adjust temperature, or interact with other connected devices.
tray
The tray is a wireless phone charger. When both a pebble and phone are placed on the tray it displays a minimal interface to reduce screen time and distractions from the phone. This can display if there are urgent events and messages while omitting stress from social media and work notifications.