Described by its creators as a “calm design device”, mui is a digital display that can control smart home devices, send and receive messages, display information such as the time and date, and more.
Developed by Kyoto-based company mui Lab in order to create a relaxing, distraction-free environment and promote less time spent looking at digital screens, “mui” which translates to “silent” in Japanese, is made of wood and designed to seamlessly blend into the environment.
“When designing mui, we thought that accessing information and important functionality through wood, a very warm material, would help ease the coldness and impersonal nature sometimes associated with technology,” said mui labs in a statement. “Private spaces should be a relief from constant connectivity. Thus, mui acts as a bridge between your focus and the outside world. mui asks for limited attention to give you control and the information you need.”
Embedded with LED lights, the 57 x 7.3 cm digital display is activated by swiping and touching the surface.
With various smart home devices such as the Philips Hue light, Nest thermostat, and Sonos speaker capable of being connected and controlled via IFTTT, mui can also be connected with Google Home and Amazon Echo ecosystems via the cloud and API.
“mui is designed to create a modern living and work space where humans can thrive without being conditioned by technology,” explained mui labs. “The intention is to stop technology from continuously demanding our attention, pulling us away from our loved ones while we try to enjoy our personal time. We can be more mindful readers, more creative artists, better families, thanks to the boundaries mui sets around our personal space and time.
“Our homes will undoubtedly grow “smarter” as technologies further advance. There will always be some level of gaps between how technology works and how humans are meant to live. Still, mui empowers people to live their lives in the way they want by minimizing technological barriers. We envision mui as a tool which will help you create your desirable lifestyle, just like your favorite furniture which you choose to design your living space.”
To learn more about mui, click the link below.
