Enchanted Objects

Information can be presented and digested in many forms including at-a-glance, perhaps one level of abstraction above a dashboard.

Enchanted Objects is the title of a terrific book by David Rose, Simon & Schuster.

Two years ago I attended a conference in the Seaport District where David presented his ideas, and ever since I've been seeking a use-case and matching technology to explore. He speaks of the ability of enchanted objects help us make decisions with just the right amount of information and make the best choice. They can indicate that current data is worthy of attention; speed is a core attribute, we can respond to this type of information very rapidly.

I recently purchased an LIFX WIFI bulb. A really nice product, vivid colors-the pink is increadible, and excellent customer support. A configurable and easily integrated enchanted object.

For an initial experience, I established set of CO2 ranges mapped to different colors for my office, and throughout the day the bulb color changes depending on the concentration level provided by a Smart Module sensor. I've set the brightness level at 10% and located the bulb in a short lamp without shade next to my PC display.

It now operates as a background indicator illustrating environmental change real-time creating a deeper sense of my work space. For example, after a post-lunch walk, a higher breathing rate results in a much sharper response and peak color levels faster than typically seen during morning hours.

Many other possible use-cases are possible and worthy of exploration.