Designed by Carlo Ratti Associati, in partnership with Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra, the Lift-Bit is described as an "internet-of-things sofa." It comprises individual upholstered stools that combine together to form a digitally-reconfigurable piece of furniture.
"Lift-Bit draws on the potential of internet-of-things technologies to transform our interior landscape, giving form to an endlessly reconfigurable environment," explains Ratti. "In the future, we could imagine an architecture that adapts to human need, rather than the other way around – a living, tailored space that is molded to its inhabitants' needs, characters and desires."
Lift-Bit changes shape by way of motorized linear actuators built into each of the stools. These allow the height of the stools to be raised up or lowered in seconds. Any number of stools can be combined in a modular manner, staying together with the help of magnets. Carlo Ratti Associati suggests that two can form a chair, four a chaise longue or nine a large sofa.
The designers say that the height of stools can be adjusted by hovering a hand above them, though no details on exactly how this works have been made available, or wirelessly controlled using an accompanying mobile app, which also offers a variety of predetermined configurations.
When a number of stools are arranged together, it's possible for the activation of a single stool to affect the height of others and the system can even begin rearranging itself if it has not been used for a period of time and has "become bored." This is said to be a homage to British architect Cedric Price's 1970s "Generator Project" and is aimed at engaging users.
A full-size prototype of the Lift-Bit has been unveiled at Milan Design Week and is on display in the "Rooms. Novel living concepts" exhibition until September 12, 2016.
The Lift-Bit system is currently being readied for mass production by Makr Shakr, and is up for pre-order. A single stool is priced at €799 (about US$900), while a 22-piece lounge sofa will set you back €14,000 (nearly $16,000).
