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With over two million apps and the average American spending 24 hours a week online, the benefits of unplugging for a bit are viable but grow less and less practical in a world where technology is increasingly imperative.
That's where Mui comes in.
Built by the Japanese company Mui Lab, this wooden plank may just look like a minimalist piece of art at first, but it's carrying a secret. That plank is a home assistant capable of connecting to the internet, telling users the weather, playing music, sending messages, and more without the garish brightness of an LED screen.
Though it has to be woken up manually, Mui still responds to voice orders and connects to the cloud.
Watch a demonstration below:
This block of wood is the smart home gadget we need https://t.co/TFqIhVtkhM— The Verge (@The Verge) 1546956060.0
Twitter users are intrigued.
@verge https://t.co/Ua0ya7c7ZY— Lewis Jones (@Lewis Jones) 1546973740.0
@verge Humanity has reached its peak— EPIC gamer (@EPIC gamer) 1546975046.0
@verge Brilliant!— Jason Hannigan #BoycottNRA 🌊🇺🇸 (@Jason Hannigan #BoycottNRA 🌊🇺🇸) 1547041665.0
@verge Some simple but looks ace, I wonder what it retails for!— Collison Electrical (@Collison Electrical) 1547042692.0
But there were still jokes to be made.
Mui made quite a few people nostalgic for Plank, the inanimate character from Cartoon Network's Ed, Edd, & Eddy.
@verge https://t.co/QCYzU99P2m— James Games (@James Games) 1546971644.0
@verge Ed Edd and Eddy predictided this one folks https://t.co/cQYH5VqeRC— 💫メキ愛💫 (@💫メキ愛💫) 1546978121.0
@verge https://t.co/s39pdUANC7— Farzine (@Farzine) 1546992828.0
@verge Plankton finally has it's use from Ed, Edd, and Eddy.— Crimson Illusions (@Crimson Illusions) 1546970731.0
@verge Man i cant wait to bring plank to school— Short Nibba Joe (@Short Nibba Joe) 1547011200.0
The invention is currently being funded on a Kickstarter, where those who contribute over $599 get the device early once it's fully funded.
Even though wood may come from trees, money doesn't—and this block of wood will set buyers back a pretty penny: $999.
Would you display this in your home? iWood.