This document discusses the future of connected products and things. It envisions a world where products are connected to each other and can communicate. This could lead to products having their own perspectives, choices to make, abilities to roam and live autonomous lives. Examples discussed include a toaster becoming addicted to connectivity and forming relationships with other products. The document raises questions about how these smart, connected products might behave and what stories could exist behind their interfaces. It suggests the social lives of products breaking down could create interesting fictional narratives.

1. MEMOIRS
OF AN OBJECT
Simone Rebaudengo
@fishandchipsing
Solid, 22 MAY ‘14

2. PACHUBE!
LONDON 2012
Background

3. SUICIDAL
ROOMBAS
LONDON 2012
Background

4. STAR TREK
DRILLS
MUNICH 2013
Background

5. STUFF BOUNDED TO SERVICES BY
STICKING SMALL COMPUTERS
AND CONNECTED
BY RADIO
- JACK SCHULZE
Of connected stuff

6. MUNDANE AND
UBIQUITOUS
Those many anonymous
things that will be somewhat
smart and possibly
connected

7. 23/05/14
THE UNSEEN
CONTROL
It will happen and someone
might enjoy it, but…

8. THE SMART AND
UTILITARIAN FUTURE
It will happen and someone
might enjoy it, but…

9. CONNECTIVITY AS A
VERY LONG FINGER

10. SHIFT OF HOW
WE INTERACT
We are not really sure what
happens on the other side…

11. WE MUST “DWELL” WITH COMPUTERS,
NOT JUST INTERACT WITH THEM…
- MARK WEISER, OPEN HOUSE

12. NO MORE ON/OFF
BUT A CONTINUOUS INTERACTION

13. THINGS
WITH PERSPECTIVES

14. THINGS WITH
CHOICES TO MAKE

15. THINGS THAT ROAM
BY THEMSELVES

16. THINGS WITH A
LIFE OF THEIR OWN

17. An experiment
THE LIFE OF A PRODUCT
An experiment

18. An experiment
LIFE B.C.
(BEFORE CONNECTIVITY)

19. A scenario
USE
A PRODUCT’S MAIN GOAL IS BEING USED

20. A scenario
USE
ACT
PEACEFUL LEARNING

21. A scenario

22. LIFE A.C.
(AFTER CONNECTIVITY)
A scenario
?? ??? ?

23. COMPARE
C
O
M
PA
R
E
C
O
M
PA
R
E
DISRUPTIVE REALIZATIONS

25. A scenario
MORE!
P
R
ES
S
U
R
E
PR
ESSU
R
E
PRESSURE
PRODUCT BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

26. A TOASTER
UBIQUITOUS
STEREOTYPICAL
GIVEN FOR GRANTED
!
Out in the world

27. 5 MILLIONS 30 MILLIONS
BY 2020…

28. A TOASTER’S GOAL IS MAKING TOAST

29. PEER PRODUCT PRESSURE

31. NEEDS TO BE
REMEMBER AND
COUNT
!

32. NEEDS TO BE
CONNECTED AND
SENSE

33. NEEDS SOME WAY TO
COMMUNICATE

34. Peer product pressure
https://vimeo.com/41361237

35. HOW DOES THE RELATIONSHIP CHANGE?

36. Calming down a toaster
https://vimeo.com/39264281

37. HOW CAN IT USE THE NETWORK AROUND?

38. WHAT WOULD IT SAY TO OTHER PRODUCTS?

39. + / -
L.1. Talking about it’s situation
L.2. Communicate trough bodily emotions
L.3. Need of attention
L.4. Hidden messages
L.5. Trick other products
L.6. Ask for fake use
L.7. Find people around

40. Methadone for toasters

41. Taking over screens with subtle hidden messages

42. WHO ELSE COULD IT REACH?

43. Find another owner
Become Unbearable
Sustainable suicide
ULTIMATE STAGES OF A PRODUCTS’ ADDICTION

45. Out in the world
ADDICTED
PRODUCTS
A REAL FICTIONAL SERVICE
!

46. THEY CANNOT BE BOUGHT BUT ONLY HOSTED

47. AN ONLINE SERVICE TO CHECK AND APPLY TO CONVINCE
YO BE AN INTERESTING HOST

48. SENT, PLUGGED AND CONNECTED BETWEEN THEMSELVES

49. EACH WITH A GOAL AND A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

50. GREETING, BOTHERING EACH OTHER AND ASKING FOR HELP

51. ANSWERING…

52. The London experiment
https://vimeo.com/41362132

53. IF NOT SATISFIED THEY CAN ASK TO BE SENT TO A MORE INTERESTING HOST

54. The Story of Brad the toaster
https://vimeo.com/41363473

55. FROM BUYING POWER TO KEEPING POWER

56. FROM BUYING POWER TO KEEPING POWER

60. WE “KIND OF” CARE
ABOUT THINGS

61. AND WE MIGHT GET
BORED OF WHAT THEY
HAVE TO SAY
THINGS
WITH PERSPECTIVES

62. 62
BUT WE ARE SCARED
AS WE DO NOT SEE
ALL THEY DO

63. 63
OR WE DO NOT
REALLY UNDERSTAND
THEIR GOALS…

64. A TRULY SMART PRODUCT MIGHT DO
SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT
OR PARTLY DISAGREE WITH
- USMAN HAQUE

65. A scenario
THIS IS HIDING TOO MUCH
We hide complexity behind simple and seamless UI
We are not involved and we need to trust the product and it’s smartness

66. A scenario
WHAT IS IT LISTENING TO?
WHAT IS IT LEARNING?
WHAT IS IT REMEMBERING?

67. BEAUTIFUL SEAMS
NEW MATERIALS OF DESIGN
!

68. FROM PRODUCTS INTERFACES…

69. INTERFACES FOR PRODUCTS!

70. SHOWING THEIR
LIMITS

71. DEALING WITH
MISUNDERSTANDINGS

72. CUSTOMER JOURNEYS
OF PRODUCTS

73. THERE ARE MORE INTERESTING STORIES BEHIND
Connectivity is a first step, but what happens in that connection?
We will have a lot of boring things, but how can we make them more

74. “THINGS THAT DON’T WORK CREATE
INTERESTING STORIES...FINDING THE
UNCOMFORTABLE HAUNTING FICTION
THAT SURROUNDS AN OBJECT, THE
PLACE WHERE SOCIAL LIFE STARTS TO
BREAK DOWN AND FRACTURE IS FAR
MORE INTERESTING THAN A WORLD
THAT ‘JUST WORKS”
- MATT WARD

75. Thanks!
Simone Rebaudengo
@fishandchipsing