As a society, we are quickly losing our presence. In this multi-tasking, technology-mediated age, our attention to any one person, thing or idea is ephemeral, holding on only until the next blink, beep, or buzz. Devices and systems in our environment provide a constant stream of interruptions that remove us from our current context.The uniformity of interaction possibilites across different technologies further distances us from the activity at hand, making engagement (to speak nothing of meaningful engagement) difficult. Our experiences have as a result become distracted, disjointed, and disconnected.

This thesis project rethinks the design of products & systems and how they can support/enhance instead of detract from our engagement in the world. In his famous soliloquoy, Hamlet asks: "To be or not to be- that is the question...." And actually, that is the question.