A good tool is an invisible tool. By invisible, I mean that the tool does not intrude on your
consciousness; you focus on the task, not the tool. Eyeglasses are a good tool - you look at
the world, not the eyeglasses. The blind man tapping the cane feels the street, not the cane.
Unfortunately, our common metaphors for computer interaction lead us away from the invisible
tool, and towards making the tool the center of attention. Invisible technology needs a metaphor
that reminds us of the value of invisibility, but does not make it visible. I propose childhood:
playful, a building of foundations, constant learning, a bit mysterious and quickly forgotten by
adults.
"The world is not a desktop", Mark Weiser 1993.
iO is a laboratory where innovation plays a crucial role: for us providing services through interactive digital media means promoting creativity and inventing new forms of communication. iO designs objects and spaces where attention is focused on the message, not on the tool through which that message is conveyed. By doing that, iO tries to make the relation between men and computers simpler and more enjoyable. Innovation doesn't simply mean testing new techniques in a laboratory, but also providing profitable ideas suitable for everyone. We carry out our projects today because our future starts from today.
