TOBIASLUGMEIER
OFFICE FOR (INDUSTRIAL) DESIGN
HYBRID OBJECTS
CASE 01: AUGMENTED REALITY CLOCKSAll Content, Photography and Visuals © Tobias Lugmeier
The HALF - AUGMENTED REALITY CLOCKS form the first output of a series of experimental projects exploring the integration of augmented reality technology into the design of everyday physical objects.
They envision a near future where mixed reality devices are as common as smartphones, reshaping our daily experiences with passive and spatial information.
Through the familiar typology of a clock, they demonstrate how physical and digital elements can blend, introducing the concept of 'hybrid objects'—a combination of emotionally resonant artifacts and information-rich systems, capable of existing independently while having the ability to completment (or augment) each other.
The design of such hybrid applications will help to integrate digittal content effortlessly and seamlessly into our every day lives, and make AR feel less distant, more natural, familiar and humane.
Gradually, our physical possessions have transitioned into a virtual world. Photos, books, calendars, and notes have found their way onto our phones and computers, evolving into multifaceted toolkits that offer efficiency, connectivity, intelligence, personalization, and interactivity way beyond their physical counterparts.
While this digital transformation has rendered many traditional objects obsolete, it has also led to a loss of uniqueness, presence, materiality, value, and emotional connection.
Augmented Reality (AR) presents an opportunity to reintroduce these digital twins into the physical world, enhancing familiar objects with new and surprising functionalities, imrpoving their utility and effectiveness.
Yet despite their return to the physical world, these objects remain virtual, existing only as "body-less objects" within our spatial surroundings.
In light of these considerations and recognizing human nature, integrating AR applications with physical objects will enhance comfort, engagement, and immersion.
This fusion will increase comfort, engagement and immersion - and will allow for strong emotional relationships with our digital and augmented surroundings.
SIGNALS FOR HUMAN AND MACHINE
>>Artifacts form the only physical link between the old and the new world. When looking at them with our new eyes, they reveal what otherwise remains hidden.
These anchor-objects, both machine and human can read and interpret them.
They work together, digital and physical, and they complete each other. Only together they reveal their full potential.<<
While QR codes and trigger images are less necessary nowadays, the concept of a visible "action signal" remains relevant for its affordance—clearly indicating to human observers that an object is capable of augmentation or enhancement.
Therefore, the clockface remains, as well as all familiar shapes we can relate to. Understand them as subtle little hints, instructions if you want.
This is where the physical object keeps it’s quality and raison d’être - the physical object can communicate and explain its function in a way that we can relate to in our surrounding space.
It’s a mixed reality.