MeMe

BACKGROUND:
Entry to the current LED Emotionalize Contest by OSRAM
MeMe explores the issue of emotional connectivity over physical distances.

Visual communication technologies capable of transmitting facial and emotional information are yet to be widely adopted in the consumer market. This is due in part to their complexity, cost, and the large amounts of data that they require.

MeMe allows people to stay connected emotionally by visually transmitting such information in real time with LED technology.

FUNCTION:
Step 1
Choose either a SIM Card model or a USB model.
Step 2
Using a standard marker, ‘clone’ yourself by drawing your distinguishing features on MeMe.
Step 3
Give MeMe to someone you care about and wish to stay connected with.
Step 4
Send emoticon messages to MeMe through the internet or a mobile device and stay connected.

AS A SOCIAL NETWORKING DEVICE:
As a user receives multiple personalized MeMes and uses them together,they begin to form a social or ‘emocial’ network. The user then increasingly becomes immersed in the MeMe social network, creating and maintaining emotional links to others in their network.

REAL TIME:
Face-to-face communication occurs in real time, and this is the most natural and meaningful method of connecting with another person. MeMe emoticon messages are only displayed for 2 minutes to ensure that messages are current and communications are real.

SCENARIOS:
1-An elderly grandparent who has no internet or mobile can receive emotional visual messages from a family member with no presumed understanding of technology.
2-A mother on a business trip can keep in touch with her child
3-Long-distance lovers can use MeMe to keep in touch.

TECHNICAL:
Height: 100mm
Material: Polycarbonate