By Martin
Gardiner in Improbable
Research
Improbable
recently drew attention to the field of Fridge Magnet Research. For those who wish to further
investigate the ethnographical aspects of fridge magnets, may we also recommend
a study by Dr. Laurel Swan (previously at Brunel University, now a
research fellow at the Royal College of Art, UK) and Alex Taylor of
Microsoft Research Cambridge Lab, UK.
‘Notes on Fridge Surfaces’ (in: Proceedings CHI
2005) In which the researchers ask (and then give an answer to) the simple
yet crucial question : “Why the fridge?”
“[...] one is compelled to ask, why the fridge? Yes, the fridge offers a relatively large surface available to all and, yes, its surfaces provide a space for the haphazard arrangement of multi-functioning and ever changing items, but still, why the fridge? There are bulletin boards, doors or even walls that can be equally expansive and allow for things to be affixed to them using thumbtacks or tape. Missing in these surfaces is, of course, a magnetic quality. It is this that allows fridge surfaces, with their handy counterparts, magnets, to be inordinately easy to interact with.”
BONUS
[1] Neo Teng Yi (of
the Mechatronics Engineering dept. at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia) and his experimental
investigations into the possibilities of constructing perpetual motion (free
energy) devices using fridge magnets. ‘Investigation
on Free Energy Magnet Motors’
BONUS
[2] : Are unsightly
refrigerator magnets driving you crazy? Why not get a magnet-removing kitten from Seacliffe Siberians?
- See
more at: http://www.improbable.com/#sthash.RTwURnFB.dpuf