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Presence is a set of interactive furniture. The design criticizes technology’s disruption of the present moment when people have a sense of self and are truly together.
Technology often prevents us from connecting with others in real life. Presence raises awareness of our disruptive behavior, particularly with mobile phones, and offers a measure of relief. Henry David Thoreau wrote about “Three Chairs” in his house, one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. This piece reimagines Thoreau’s chairs for the digital age. The goal is to raise awareness of how our obsession with digital devices is impoverishing our lives. Instead of constantly consulting their smartphones, people might actually look up and be able to connect with experience and others, rather than isolating on the superficial exchanges provided by social media.
Designed / Produced / Edited by:
Yu Zhang
www.plumeyu.com
Introduction Footage by:
Benjamin Cotton
Paul Nadeau
Music by:
Yow Funahashi – MA-R
Signal Hill – Luna Park
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PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
MFA – DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
2016 THESIS PROJECT.
