Logos

Funktionide Part II from eltopo on Vimeo.
“Based on EAP-technology “Funktionide” is a concept for an emotional robot that substitutes human contact. In a future where technology will play a huge part in our lifes it is very likely that some day it will shift from satisfiying our basic funtional needs to include our emotional needs as well.”

This is a very spooky concept, but one, I think which raises important questions about the relationships between humans and products. Does the product need to mimic the human in some way for a person to have a sensual and emotional relationship with it? Does it need to be ‘skin coloured’ and smooth and malleable?

Identity is how you define someone or something from other people or thing – otherwise it would be identical. Masahiko Sato explores this idea of identity in his exhibition ‘the definition of self’ exhibition at 21_21 design sight.

There are many ways that Masahiko explores the idea of identity: A fingerprint table, where users scan in their fingerprint and see their unique fingerprint lost in a sea of other unique fingerprints. He also explores footprints, height and weight, behavioural attributes, memory, heartbeats and property.

In this way the Wellcome Trust’s Biometrics Ico Design is very similar. This process creates an icon which is a visualisation of the important ways of defining the body. The process collects your biometric identity through heartbeats per minute, height, age, pulse, fingerprint and iris. Each piece of data adds another layer of pattern to the final icon.

It is interesting that both pieces do not take too seriously the idea of identity as a precious thing, but merely a combination of assets which everyone owns in a different way.  I will be looking at this approach as a way of combining identity into a product.

I believe biotechnology and biological products will be very important in the future and necessary to develop towards a world which works with, rather than works from the world around it. Amy Congdon’s project ‘Biological Atelier’ has produced some beautiful designs which allow the fashion industry to keep it’s ivory and fur, by growing alternatives.

“Biological Atelier considers the changing and blurring roles of the designer, the craftsman and the scientist in the biotechnological future”.

Can you imagine how many diners would pay more attention to this table than normal? Just adding the idea of heat sensor plastic to a table which experiences heat from plates, arms, hands, candles etc would make a lovely pattern and make people more aware of the products around them. See more details of this table here:

Mood Table
I wonder if products could use such a technique as used here to enable people to form lasting relationships. There is a fine line between novelty and fun items and serious products for the home and I believe this idea is something which can be considered a ‘serious’ dining table for sophisticated diners, while combining a fun and interactive element.