By signalling how long things have been left upon it, the Tablecloth highlights the flow of objects over surfaces in the home. Being able to see this hidden dimension of the home might be thought-provoking or simply enjoyable – people might be reminded to tidy up more often, or become reluctant to move things lest they disrupt the patterns they form. The Tablecloth doesn’t dictate peoples’ reactions, however, it provides a situation for them to interpret. The Tablecloth is made using electroluminescent material printed onto a flexible substrate. It is essentially a very large, low-resolution display. Each display element is in the form of a complex lace-like pattern, however, giving the design a domestic appearance. We loaned the History Tablecloth to a couple of volunteers for a period of about three months. Complementary methods were used to capture and assess their experiences. We hired an independent film-maker to shoot a documentary of the test, with only a minimal briefing about the project’s aims and intentions, in order to see how her interpretation might be added to those of the volunteers. In addition, the ethnographer John Bowers undertook long-term observations and interviews to understand some of the issues regarding the Tablecloth’s deployment. See the Domestic Environment for more information. |