Push, pull, twist:
Frolic Studio EDUCATES
DUMB OBJECTS
TECHNOLOGY – If this is the era of the smart
object, the fact remains that most things are
resolutely dumb. But should a century’s worth
of devices be forced to wear a dunce cap
merely because you can’t operate them from
your phone while driving home or taking a
bath? The committed design enthusiast who is
nonetheless keen to embrace the convenience
of IoT technology is faced with an irresolv-
able dilemma. Do you throw out that Michael
Graves kettle and Richard Sapper lamp in
favour of modern equivalents that are most
likely inferior in every way other than their
facility for remote control? Not if you’re Frolic
Studio, whose prototypal Smartians kit uses a
range of web-connected servos to push, twist
and pull the buttons and dials on all sorts of
un-networked products, instantly increasing
their digital IQ. Use cases trialled by Frolic run
from lights and record players to blinds – in
essence, anything that you control with your
fingers can be automated. For the designers,
Smartians are an exercise in outwitting obso-
lescence. They extend the lives of perfectly
sound items that might otherwise be dumped
because they lack a single advanced function.
That’s pretty smart. – PM
Co frolicstudio.com
ur
te
sy
o
f^ F
ro
lic
S
tu
di
o
OBJECTS 15