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iBar
+ It’s officially a trend, iBar, the intelligent surface system, joins Sensitive Floor and Human Locator (created by the web designers of MoCo Loco) in the interactive surfaces race to interactivate every possible surface in a bar/club near you. Thanks Lorenzo!
Huh?
Exactly what is the purpose of this interactive surface?
Sure, it looks really cool and that is certainly enough, but do I detect some desire on the part of the designers to proclaim it as some new, high tech aid to human communication & interaction?
I have seen this interactive table top thing posted several times. And each time it reminds me of the installation that Rhode Island School of Design (undergrad furniture department) did at the Salone Satellite Exhibition in Milan 2004. In cooperation with the Interactive design department, they came up with a interactive tables that had clear tops, and a camera situated in the base. As patrons talked or socialized there movements were recorded and projected on a backlit wall in the bar, creating another type of socialization at the bar. The installation was called TRACE and had several other forms of interaction designed with it. Nonetheless, i think it predates all the postings i have seen so far.
Here are two links that briefly describe the RISD installation, if anyones interested:http://www.risd.edu/student_projects_milan.htm
and
http://www.orangecone.com/archives/2004/05/
To the first comment. What a silly comment. What is the purpose of a design idea and implemention? To bring something new, interesting and innovative to people that they like using.