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Six Unique Prototypes On The Fringe Of The Internet Of Things

From interactive taxidermy to a wearable device that alerts you to nearby film locations, the REACT Objects Sandbox Project showcases some outsider, interconnected objects.

Curpanion

The Internet of Things is now a seemingly-omnipresent term that points to a near-future of interconnected devices where you can, say, text your fridge to make sure you have the ingredients to make a lasagna when you get home. Or wear a watch that monitors your health and feeds the information to your doctor. But, on top of utilitarian functions, this technological future could offer even more experimental and bespoke objects that function on a niche level.

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A group of academics, designers and technologists are exploring the untapped possibilities of this widespread web reality with a series of six prototypes as part of the REACT Objects Sandbox project. The Internet objects range from devices that aim to calm our anxieties to pieces that tell stories or create interactions through long distances.

For example, Curpanion, by Merle Patchett, Andrew Flack and Play Nicely,is an internet-connected taxidermy project that explores the history of the plume trade. Fans On Foot by Naomi Dunstan, Ross Garner and technologist Tarim of Media Playgrounds, on the other hand, is a wearable device for film fans that uses crowdsourced research to alert people to nearby film locations.

Fans On Foot

In Touch

In Touch from Victoria Bates, Kirsten Cater and design company Kinneir Dufortis"a magical and playful object that uses multi-sensory haptic technologies to link speaker and listener through light and touch." It can be used by families and loved ones to comminicate via touch, rather than just video, over long distance.

The God Article byJohn O’Connell, Alexandros Kontogeorgakopoulos and Anthony Mace updates the Ney, an ancient Sufi instrument originating from Turkey, with breathing sensors, enabling people to connect and learn while in different locations.

Reflector 

Mark Horton, Alex Bentley and Uniform created Reflector whichinvestigates how objects can link us to the past. Specifically, it focuses on how archaeological objects can become a way to explore the history of the slave trade using a "‘storyteller’ box which allows students to turn explorer by mirroring an actual archeological excavation through images of artifacts, sound, text and print outs, enabling painful histories to be slowly revealed whilst recreating the thrill of archeological discovery."

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Breathing Stone

Lastly there's Breathing Stone from Paul Leonard, Chris Clarke, composer Joseph Hyde and David Plans from BioBeat, which looks at reducing the stresses of the modern age by monitoring your heartbeat and breathing, then generating appropriate music to soothe your anxieties.

Tom Metcalfe, Producer of Objects Sandbox, says, "Technology and innovation are rapidly changing our lives like never before. The six projects that have been developed during Objects Sandbox, show that there isn't just one way to innovate, rather innovation must come in many forms. Each prototype has been created by collaborations of globally renowned academics and designers, all of which explored the human experiences in the Internet of Things and brought a 'bigger picture' approach to innovation. They have really understood human behaviour, society and our human histories.”

The pieces can be viewed at Christie's auction house in London as part of the London Design Festival from today until 21 September.You can learn more about the objects here.

React Objects Sandbox Showcase, 17-21 September, Christie’s, Lower Gallery, 85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD

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