Flat Future

Another project from the Work in Progress Show of Design Interactions, RCA, London.

Through organic electronics it will be possible to print electronics into flat and flexible surfaces like paper and plastic. Because plastic transistors use solvent-processable organic or polymer materials, they can be fabricated using an inkjet-type printer in ambient environments. A key to low-cost production. Consequently objects will wear technology instead of carry it inside. It will become their skin.

In Flat Future, Miquel Mora is investigating the possibility of printing electronics onto adhesive tape which can be stuck to any kind of objects, altering their behavior, their relationship with us... Inspired by the work done at research centres such as PlasticLogic in Cambridge, and by existing technologies such as e-ink and oled, Miquel came up with a series of proposals that would apply sophisticated technologies to everyday objects and enhance them. Electronic components (batteries, screens or speakers) would be embedded in the tape and you'd just have to add a piece of "speaker tape" on a book for example to listen to some music while you read. Or fruits could wear a small label that indicate whether they need to be washed or have lost their vitamins, etc.

How will our "paper culture" deal with "smart" paper? Will it start to have memories? How will this affect our lives? Can we bring the feeling of using ‘analog’ paper into these new products?

As an exploration of possible changes in the aesthetics of objects, Miquel suggested a very nice paper alarm clock. You'd get a book, take off a page of it and fold it using origami techniques to determine when you want to be woken up.

Video. Last image composition courtesy of the designer. More images.