This is a summary review of Enchanted Objects containing key details about the book.

What is Enchanted Objects About?

“Enchanted Objects” by David Rose envisions a future where everyday objects are imbued with magical powers through the use of technology, and explores the implications for design and society. (Full Summary…)

Enchanted Objects Summary Review

“Enchanted Objects: Innovation, Design, and the Future of Technology” by David Rose explores the transformative potential of technology seamlessly integrating with our everyday objects. The author, an MIT Media Lab scientist, envisions a world where connected technology becomes more human, embedded in the fabric of our daily lives.

Rose introduces the concept of “Enchanted Objects,” where everyday items, from cars to wallets and watches, are infused with connected technology to intuitively respond to our needs, know us better, and even anticipate our desires. The book paints a vision of a future where technology becomes an integral part of our environment, enhancing human relationships and addressing our fundamental desires for knowledge, longevity, and creative expression.

The author’s writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, inviting readers to contemplate a future where technology enriches our lives rather than isolating us in a world dominated by flat glass slabs. Rose contrasts the current “terminal world” of constant interaction with screens to a future where objects become conduits for meaningful interactions.

Throughout the book, Rose provides a multitude of examples, ranging from a balance table designed to promote conversation to innovative devices like the Lockitron lock, Ambient Orb, and GlowCaps, the latter two being projects spearheaded by the author. These real-world examples ground the theoretical concepts in practical applications, making the ideas accessible and relatable.

Rose delves into key design principles, such as multimodality, shadow digital presence, and modularity, addressing challenges like the “filter bubble” and the uncanny valley. He acknowledges the importance of privacy and surveillance concerns, touching on issues like cameras in the workplace.

The book not only explores the potential of enchanted objects but also provides valuable insights for designers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Rose’s enthusiasm for the subject matter is evident, and his ability to convey complex ideas in a comprehensible manner makes the book accessible to a broad audience.

In summary, “Enchanted Objects” serves as a delightful and insightful blueprint for a future where technology enhances our lives in ways that are both efficient and sensorially delightful. David Rose encourages readers to embrace a future where connected technology seamlessly integrates into the background of our daily existence, fostering a more enriched and enchanted way of living.

Who is the author of Enchanted Objects?

David Rose is a British author and investigative journalist. He is a contributing editor with Vanity Fair and a special investigations writer for The Mail on Sunday. His interests include human rights, miscarriages of justice, the death penalty, racism, the war on terror, politics, and climate change denial.

How long is Enchanted Objects?

• Print length: 320 pages

What genre is Enchanted Objects?

Design, Nonfiction, Business

What are good quotes from Enchanted Objects?

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

“we must also see ourselves as wizards and artists, enchanters and storytellers, psychologists and behaviorists.”

“Always design a thing by considering it in its next-larger context—a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.”

“between 50 billion and 1 trillion devices will be connected to the Internet in this decade, resulting in $14.4 trillion of economic impact.”

“It took some time for me to understand why the smartphone, while convenient and useful for some tasks, is a dead end as the human-computer interface. The reason, once I saw it, is blindingly obvious: it has little respect for humanity.”

“the clock “is completely useless if you want to know the time, but otherwise very informative.”

“when I’m teaching a class at MIT. Thirty students, thirty laptops open.”

“The life that you seek you never will find:”

“when the gods created mankind, death they dispensed to mankind,”

“life they kept for themselves.”

“Stomach stapling or intestinal reduction surgery is invasive, you run the risk of infection, and you will probably suffer reflux the rest of your life. You could even die from complications of diabetes.”

“But you, Gilgamesh, let your belly be full, enjoy yourself always by day and by night!”