London-based designer Samuel Wilkinson created this flora terrarium that can be controlled through your smartphone or tablet.
Similar to a living Tamagotchi, you can control the Biome’s climate, water level and nutrients. According to the designer, “the idea promotes ‘digital downtime’ by finding an alternative use for smartphones and encouraging their owners to consider a slower life. The control and nurturing of a real mini eco-system takes patience and care, contrasting with the immediacy of messaging or tweeting that is so characteristic of the smartphone generation.”
The design was developed for an exhibition titled Slow Tech – Designs for Digital Downtime at trend agency Protein’s exhibition space last month. The exhibition was curated by Henrietta Thompson (editor-at-large at Wallpaper*).
Photos by Sylvain Deleu.
Jed C on 01.04.2012 at 17:15 PM
Interesting concept, and it’s a lovely object. Doesn’t really promote ‘digital downtime’ though, does it? You’re still on your tablet/ phone. If anything, a living Tamagotchi would increase the amount of attention you have to pay to your smartphone?
Having said that, a similar solution for an aquarium would be pretty cool.