Touchless Cellphone Concept From A Parallel Universe

Noah Robischon — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:12:01 EDT

This is the latest scifi-slash-absurd design concept from branko Lukic. The Tarati is a phone with no keys, you pass your fingers through the keyholes to dial. Lukic describes it best:

Tarati enables the user to connect with others by passing fingers, in order, through key holes. This action of dialing alone is a more magical experience and, hence, more indicative of what's really happening beyond the visible realm. ... Tarati beckons the user to "touch" someone without physically touching a single key. Its design reflects human connectivity in a less material/mechanical, more sensual, way.

Reach out and touch someone, eh? Sounds like a good commercial jingle for a rotary phone company. –Noah Robischon

CUin5 Cellphone: Design Fiction by branko Lukic
One Day Every Gadget Will Be A Unique Snowflake

nonObject Design Fiction No4: Tarati [Video]

CUin5 Cellphone: Design Fiction by branko Lukic

Noah Robischon — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:30:26 EST

The design of your phone is the result of countless business plans, TCO and ROI analyses. The CUin5 is the bizarro world version of that business plan. Every face includes a keypad, microphone and speaker.

Imagine grabbing it quickly - from inside your bag, from off a shelf, from under a car seat - and freely interacting with it without needing to turn it over or align it right side up?

The "super-practical" interface is also one of several sci-fi design hybrids— or Design Fictions—that will be included in branko Lukic's upcoming book titled non.object. Lukic knows what he's talking about: he spent 5 years at frog Design and then moved to IDEO where he designed products like the TaylorMade r500 golf club and Zyliss salad spinner. The book won't be published until later this year, but a sampling of his absurd concepts will be debuting here in the coming months. –Noah Robischon

CUin5 [Movie Page]
non.object [Book Page]

Gizmodo: branko lukic

Touchless Cellphone Concept From A Parallel Universe

CUin5 Cellphone: Design Fiction by branko Lukic