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Coffee Mug PC: Crazy Enough To Work? |
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Dr. Samuel Says -
Weirdness
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Written by Dr. Samuel Centralia, Ph.D., D.D.S., Esq.
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Monday, 11 February 2008 |
An interesting product concept is making the rounds on various tech, design, and gadget blogs. It's the Yuno PC, and it's essentially a touchscreen-computer-slash-coffee mug. Actually, the concept itself isn't as interesting as the discussion trailing in its wake. Much disagreement over whether the Yuno is (a) real, (b) possible, (c) desirable, or (d) flatly ridiculous.
From what I can tell, the answers are: (a) no, (b) probably, eventually, (c) probably not, (d) kinda-sorta.
 Here's the pitch: The Yuno PC is a new personal computer concept
designed to help you get the most out of your morning without holding
you back or constraining you to a desktop PC. Everyone has their own
routine, what they read, watch, listen to, and of course drink. The
Yuno PC mug incorporates all the important morning alerts such as
weather, time, traffic, stocks, and more on its touchscreen display.
You can also display your own images as a screensaver if you just want
to relax. It lets you enjoy the morning the way you deserve to, stress
free and highly caffeinated.
First things first: The Yuno is not a product; it is a design concept.
That is to say, it does not exist anywhere, except in the mind of its
designer (Jason Farsai) and the various illustrative images he has
produced to showcase the concept. It's not even a prototype. As many have
pointed out on various message boards, there are several dozen readily
apparent practical design challenges. (Most entertainingly, there would
appear to be certain thermal insulation challenges in a personal
computer designed to hold piping hot liquid.)
But concept designs are just that, of course. The idea is to sweat the
technical details later. More compelling, I think, is the practical,
no-nonsense, real-world question: Do I want my coffee mug to also be my
personal computer?
No, I do not. I'm trying to imagine holding up my mug, touch-clicking
the icons, scrolling, etc. Really, this is one of those instances where
it just seems crystal clear: Coffee mugs are not meant to be computer
displays, anymore than Taser holsters are meant to be MP3 players.
(Though that hasn't stopped some people.)
A coffee mug PC? I just can't see it. This way madness lies. And spillage.
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