The information the barometer had to offer could be ascertained with a quick look—it was glanceable. The device was polite, Zen-simple, and never intimidating. The object was dedicated to a single task of information delivery, located in one never-changing place in the house, quietly waiting to do its job. And it did so without the need for updates

Notice how many of these objects are transferable from one person to another. They don’t provide any single person a superpower.

each of the main characters is linked to a unique melodic phrase, each played by a different, easily recognizable instrument. A clarinet signifies the cat, the wolf is a French horn, the bassoon announces the grandfather.

an I/O Bulb (I/O for input/output) that can project information on anything: paper, walls, tables, ceilings, and so on, creating what we refer to as digital “

It’s important for technologists to understand this desire to have superhuman powers and extraordinary abilities,

The screen is a blunt instrument.

to be minimalist markers and become workday assistants?

My eureka moment came when I realized that I could express information not as movement in water or pinwheel blades, but as subtly changing colors.

I want the computer-human interface to be an empowering and positive experience—to minimize the interruption, annoyance, and distraction of our so-called smartphones and glass-faced tablets.