Projects

FriendBits

friendBits are little deformable bits on a bracelet that connect people over a distance and strengthen their social awareness. Each friendBit represents a close friend or family member. The bracelet is both a symbol for friendship and a medium for symbols; a wearable, located on the user's wrist, with a haptic interface.

It is both a practical tool — capable of identifying opportune moments to talk and share via an “availability” mechanism — but first and foremost a playful communication device. The core idea is communication via symbols. Friends select and share symbols among a set pool, which they can redefine with new personal meanings as they please.

The goal is to bring friends together in a playful way, with communication as a core activity. The people who matter most are thus physically close, which raises interesting research questions concerning presence and awareness.

More information (and thesis download) on my blog.