Burak Arikan, a new graduate student in my research group, recently commented about how he loves the new fabric socks for the Apple iPod. Burak says, "I think that fabrics and technology side-by-side is like a good food combination in a single plate."
Have technology toys always been ... naked ... until recently?
If we were to think of the ideal consumer electronics gadget as exuding subzero levels of coolness, in order to increase the warmness factor it makes sense to put some fibrous insulation between the object and its owner. The object inside can be pure, simple, and cool; while its clothing can be warm, vivacious, and simply outrageous. Modernism (sleek objet) enveloped in Post-Modernism (chic chic stocking)? A 21st century marriage between form and frivolity—what will the children look like? We're working on it here at MIT. Stay tuned.
Posted by maeda at December 28, 2004 12:56 PM