Close
0%
0%

Linki

Linki is an open standard for physical medium of digital content. Linki players are open hardware devices to make use of the linkies.

Similar projects worth following
Linki is an open standard for physical medium of digital content. Linki is a rectangular object of any material linking to online content through a NFC tag. Everybody are free to create, release, sell their own linkies for music, video, streams, games, apps etc. Linki is built on the technologies of the web - it uses URLs and NFC to combine the physical and virtual worlds.Linki players are a open ended devices that extend and use the linki format to play online or offline media content. Currently the focus has been music, but it is extendable to video or games a well. Current players are based on ESP32 audio boards and PN532 NFC readers to make very cheap devices. Linki is an open source design, hardware and software project initiated by artist Timo Toots and his Studio Maajaam. Collaborators welcome to join, we currently need help in software!

The idea of the Linki project is to create a physical medium that would use the powers of the internet, but still would provide a possibility for physical interaction between people. It's a simple object that could be used to link online dynamic media content in the physical space. The return of the cassette and vinyls shows that there is a need for physical objects tied to media content. Linki provides a method to share the content in a simple, cheap and creative way.

The plan is also to make it possible to record new linkies, similar to the culture of cassette recordings in the 80s. Linki standard does is meant to be accessible for anyone, even without the linki devices.

The hardware and software is still being developed and would need some helping hands. Hardware and software is open source under MIT license.

The devices will be sold as kits. Workshops will be organized how to build linki devices and linkies themselves as well. It's a great way to teach simple interaction design projects involving a little programming and little physical design.

  • Third prototype of Linkibox

    Timo Toots08/23/2019 at 08:34 0 comments

    The third prototype were made for friend's daughter's birthday. It's smaller and a bit lighter. Also hardware choice of ESP32 for audio playing was made for extended battery life. Software is still in development.

  • Linkidrive prototype

    Timo Toots08/23/2019 at 08:30 0 comments

    Linkidrive is a device for home use. It should be connected to external amplifier to play music.

    It could also be extendable to video if connected to computer and a screen.

    The material of plywood is chosen to be easy to build and accessible.

  • Linkibox second prototype

    Timo Toots08/23/2019 at 08:27 0 comments

    For the second birthday for my daughter I created a new version that would also play sounds samples by touching the metal hooks.  It shows how open ended this project could be. Linkies could be used to change the sounds samples for simple synthesizers etc.

    It used Raspberry Pi for sound playing.

  • Linkibox first prototype

    Timo Toots08/23/2019 at 08:07 0 comments

    Linki project has been ongoing research project since 2016. I wanted to create a physical audio player for my daughter's first birthday that would not have a screen and be fun for her. It turned out so well that I wanted similar player for my own favorite internet radio streams (at WFMU radio station). In the beginning I used old floppies to hide NFC tags and write or draw on them. Floppies are great as the physical size is small enough to be portable and big enough to fit an artwork. Later I understood that it could be made of anything and the plywood and cardboard linkies were made.

    This project is about home-grown playful media format that could use the powers of the internet. It could be used for also making new content.

    It used Adafruit sound trigger board and Arduino for sound playing.

View all 4 project logs

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

Similar Projects

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates