Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Biome Terrarium by Samuel Wilkinson

Product designer Samuel Wilkinson has created a miniature garden that works like a living Tamagotchi. Samuel Wilkinson previously collaborated with Hulger on the design of the award-winning Plumen 001 light bulb, which will be on sale at the Dezeen Temporium this Christmas. 
The design was developed for an exhibition titled ‘Slow Tech – Designs for Digital Downtime’ at trend agency Protein’s exhibition space last month. The exhibition was curated by Henrietta Thompson (editor-at-large at Wallpaper*)

Looks like terrariums are the new planters. They become more and more popular with the designers and greatly vary in styles and shapes. This one is a hi-tech terrarium by designer Samuel Wilkinson. It works as an enclosed glazed planter for flowers and plants and it is controlled via iPad or smartphone. An application on a smartphone or iPad remotely controls the water, climate and nutrients reaching the flowers inside the flora terrarium.

Referring to his ‘Biome’ Terrarium as “live tamagochi” Samuel Wilkinson offers to control the temperature, water and nutrients levels via the special application for smartphones and iPad prompting a new use for these technologies. Biome is a response to the speed of life in the digital age and encourages smartphone users to take time out to care for their plants. 

Low energy lighting is integrated into the capsule to replicate sunlight, while sensors provide real time information on the climatic conditions inside the dome.The terrarium also feature built-in lighting to imitate sunlight. Full spectrum LED lights replicate daylight inside the dome, which can be planted with different arrangements.

The ‘Biome’ Terrarium is great for growing most demanding plants and flowers as it provides all the necessary conditions for them. The application regulates the factors like temperature and light only in the terrarium and not entire room of apartment. It’s also handy as it’s not always possible to keep the temperature in the room at one level.

The idea promotes ‘digital downtime’ by finding an alternative use for smartphones and encouraging their owners to consider a slower life. The control and nurturing of a real mini eco-system takes patience and care, contrasting with the immediacy of messaging or tweeting that is so characteristic of the smartphone generation.

The smart garden is automatically linked back to your iPad or smartphone device when connected and displays a readout of the conditions. As the gardener, you can alter the light, water, climate, and nutrients.


http://www.interiorholic.com/news/hi-tech-biome-terrarium-by-samuel-wilkinson/
http://www.dezeen.com/2011/11/09/biome-by-samuel-wilkinson/
http://inhabitat.com/biome-is-a-smart-living-flora-terrarium-you-nurture-with-your-ipad/biome-terrarium-samuel-wilkinson-8/