Beyond Screens

Without needing to quote from numerous academic findings about screen exposure, mobile phone usage, and their associated mental health issues...  I could ask:  "Who out there is wanting more screen-time?  Who is hoping their children can be spending more of their time on screens?"

Recently, I was remembering how in the 1970's... our screens were so rare, we used to 'rent' a television for the holidays.  There was a sense of excitement about it, and then the consequent indulgence.  We eventually bought our very own television like everyone else, while it became cool to say at school: "We have two, or three televisions, and one in my bedroom".

Eventually, we reached a family tipping-point: TV over-exposure... and now we were discussing how me might reduce the time we were spending in front of the box.

I feel we're reaching that same point in relation to phones, pads, laptops and all forms of access to screen-based entertainment and information.

So does this make me an enemy of New-Tech? certainly not. Rather, my excitement is turning to 'what's coming next'.  

I'm enjoying lately, the playful installations of Yuri Suzuki (pictured above)... where he uses sound-engineering and interactive sensor technology to facilitate experimental play amongst adults and children.  There's a quirky mix of analogue and new-digital, that's seeming a little more futuristic, than the latest phone pixel count (12MP and rising steady). 

Or take these quirky data collectors, developed by Mia Meusburger and Johanna Pichlbauer to measure the public's emotional experience of a city... Experimentally, they measure quirky data, such as levels of sunscreen in the local bathing pool, and levels of barbecue smoke in the park. Data is fed back to a central system that can interpret the levels to which the city is being enjoyed.  This is a fun (and potentially very useful) step beyond meteorology. 

I love the work of Random International (London) who have been innovating for years, in the area of experimental physical and emotional interaction with technology. Featured above, is one of their feedback or express-yourself walls, which uses an intense light pen, and photosensitive wall paint, allowing public graffiti to last for between 5 and 7 minutes before gently fading away. 

So where am I going with this?  As a designer with an interest in story-telling, and working with one of the nordic leaders in Museum and Visitor Centre design - we're working creatively to think 'Beyond Screens' whenever we can.  As a team of coders, gamers, designers and architects, we're reimagining the museum of the future, where investigative play between physical objects and more subtle technologies, present new learning environments.  We're developing installations that use the power of processing and information access, while reducing or eliminating the ubiquitous face-glow and finger swipe.   

Of course screens have their use... and I can't avoid the irony of my sitting here writing a post... but screens have their place too.... somewhere in the back-seat of our lives... to be controlled by us and not vice versa.  

Please get in touch... or comment below if you're involved in related and inspiring projects.