Meant to illustrate "designerly applications of RFID," the Nearness concept from London design firm Berg also illustrates how to strip all of the fun out of Rube Goldberg machines.

The film Nearness explores interacting without touching. With RFID it's proximity that matters, and actual contact isn't necessary. Much of Timo's work in the Touch project addresses the fictions and speculations in the technology. Here we play with the problems of invisibility and the magic of being close.

Nearness is interesting and everything, but it needs some personality. I mean, where are all the rolling balls and drinking birds? [Nearness via Boing Boing via Neatorama]

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