Normal logic = We control the actions of objects. Perhaps a more interesting train of thought to follow is: How do objects cause people to behave in certain ways? Or how might familiar objects evolve to behave in different ways? The Untethered exhibit at Eyebeam plays with those questions (e.g. a blendie that is activated by human blender sounds, a photocopier that reads astronomy).
A related talk last night on Performing Machines featured some of the work of Jonah Brucker-Cohen, Douglas Repetto, and Adrianne Wortzel. "Trash" and "trashed" objects were used in new ways to make sounds, movements, and group dynamics.
While de-furred Elmos synchronized to perform a battle salute were eyecatching, it was the concepts of renewed and extended use reflected in Scrapyard Challenge and One Day We Will Be Mysterious that cycled in my mind after the discussion.
What's more real? what's in your mind? displayed in pixels? or what's physically in front of you? Manifastations and manipulations of our digital selves and possessions has created efforts to confront, examine, and play with the notion of convergences into the physical world.
Some examples that have caught my eye:
Choreographed photos showing real people and objects engaged in virtual abilities (see "erase.me" image). Social systems/processes/transactions that move from the virtual to real world (see Invisible Threads' real-life, custom-ordered jeans produced in a virtual Second Life sweatshop). Products that enable people to experience their virtual identities on their physical identities (see Marc Owens' avatar suits, the contrast between real bodies and desired avatars deserves its own post.)
Often have a hard time reading the fine print on information graphics. Rather than pushing the magnify button, interactive functions that allow viewers to easily zoom into and along their reading path also enable focus. Nice example: multimedia created for Wired, depicting the life of blog posts after you click Publish.
Paper still often happens before pixels. In my notebooks are sketches of some unborn sites. Some folks have been more eager to digitally document and share their initial inspirations on paper (see description of Twitter on Flickr. More examples to browse here.
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