I gave this talk at dConstruct 2015 in Brighton, England, on 11 Sept, 2015. Complete audio of the talk: https://huffduffer.com/dConstruct/263574 Designers of the future! Set aside your sonic screwdrivers, put down those jetpacks, and step away from the holodeck. Our sci-fi visions of the future often run to the cold and technical, describing a life swallowed by screens, machines, and robot companions. We can do better; the best UX bends technology to the way we live our lives, not the reverse. We can find more humane inspiration in a different kind of fantasy—in the familiar, age-old tales of magic and myth. “What if this thing was magic?” should be the opening question for designing any connected device. The internet of things is fundamentally about creating physical interfaces for digital systems, about blessing everyday objects, places, and people with extraordinary abilities. Sharing a rich trove of examples, designer Josh Clark explores the new interactive experiences that are possible when anything can be an interface and magic is your inspiration. Sling content between devices, bring objects to life from a distance, weave “spells” by combining speech and gesture. For designers of the future, it turns out Harry Potter is a better role model than Captain Kirk. Our challenge is not one of technology but of imagination.

1. and the
van astoNishiNg peRformAnce bY josH clarK
Known throUghouT the worlD as @BigmeDiumjoSh

3. ThewaNdcompaNy.cOm

4. graB magIc
bIt.Ly/Grab-Magic

5. u
anY sufFicieNtly
AdvanCed tEchnoLogy iS
IndisTinguIshablE
From Magic
arThur C. clarKe

6. u
onE goal:
The cOmputEr diSappeaRs
into the EnvirOnmenT
alaN kay

7. u
faNtasy fulfIlls A neeD
for A SimplEr, more
contRollablE World.
alaN kay

8. ThewaNdcompaNy.cOm

13. VX thE phoNe is the First
maGic wanD
For eVeryoNe

14. VX thE phoNe is the First
inTerneT of ThingS
DevicE for everyoNe
seNsors + smarTs + coNnectIvity

15. VX avAilablE
At thE
Point of iNspirAtion

16. apPle ad: “stRength”
bIt.Ly/Apple-strengTh

17. “waY out”
bIt.Ly/Way-oUt-fiLm
daIly sMartpHone ScreeN time:
3 hours, 16 minutEs bIt.Ly/ScreeNtime-study

18. phoTo: eriC J. smiTh

19. VX avAilablE
At thE
Point of iNspirAtion

20. VX inTeracTion
With thE
Point of iNspirAtion

21. neIman marcUs: meMory mirrOr
bIt.Ly/MemorY-mirrOr

26. doRothy
bIt.Ly/Ruby-Shoes

27. stAples Ad: “easY buttOn”
bIt.Ly/StaplEs-eaSy

28. Bt.Tn

31. VX PhysicaL
InterActioN with A
DigitAl api

32. snApshoT by prOgresSive inSuranCe
ProgrEssive.cOm/auTo/SnapshOt

33. snApshoT by prOgresSive inSuranCe
ProgrEssive.cOm/auTo/SnapshOt

35. auTomatIc
bIt.Ly/AutomAtic-Video

36. prOpellErhealTh.cOm

37. paSsive inteRface

38. VX auTomagicAl

39. VX auTo
MagicAl
vv
WM
W
W
W
M

43. miLitary.cOm: areS sanD tabLe
bIt.Ly/SandtabLe

44. Presto.WatchhtTp://
@PrestOgestuRe

45. happY toGether
bIt.Ly/Happy-larry

46. weArablEs
thEreablEs

47. miNoritY repoRt
obLigatOry mEntion Of

48. waYfindr
bIt.Ly/WayfiNdr-deMo

51. VX whAt if
This Thing was
Magic?

52. VX deSign foR
The thiNg’S
EssenTial ThingneSs

54. burJ khAlifa

56. vessYl
MyvessYl.cOm

57. thE coLbert repoRt
bIt,Ly/VessyL-colbeRt

58. VX don’T jusT add data.
Add iNsight.

59. htTp://OmersHapira.cOm/blOg/2014/09/Its-rAininG-agaIn/

60. VX thIs is not A
ChallEnge Of teChnoloGy.
it’S a cHalleNge
oF ImagiNation.

61. VX thIs is not A
ChallEnge Of teChnoloGy.
it’S a cHalleNge
oF ImagiNation.
josH clArk iS @BigmeDiumjoSh
fin
BigmediUm.cOm