Knock On Wood: IoT device lets users perform superstition remotely
Created by designers Shashwath Santosh and Nithin Eluvathingal, this connected device brings the ancient ritual online.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Knock On Wood is an internet-connected device designed to perform the traditional ritual of knocking on wood remotely.
- The project was created by industrial designers Shashwath Santosh and Nithin Eluvathingal as part of their series Machines Responding to Superstitions.
- Users interact with the system via a web application, pressing a digital button that triggers a physical wooden knocker in real time.
- The setup relies on a Wi-Fi connection, utilizing a portable hotspot for woodland installations as shown in the project visuals.
Blending modern connectivity with ancient folklore, a new invention allows people to practice the familiar superstition of knocking on wood even when no wooden surface is physically nearby. The system bridges the digital and physical worlds through a specialized internet-connected mechanism.
This innovative project is part of an ongoing series titled Machines Responding to Superstitions, developed by designers Shashwath Santosh and Nithin Eluvathingal. By combining industrial design, engineering, manufacturing, and critical thinking, the series uses machinery to examine everyday beliefs and cultural rituals.
This project highlights how contemporary design can translate intangible cultural practices into interactive digital experiences. By allowing remote physical actions via the web, the designers create a bridge between digital convenience and traditional psychological comfort, demonstrating how technology can reinterpret human rituals in a globalized world.
Operationally, each knocker connects to the internet and communicates with a central server, enabling multiple devices to respond to users worldwide. For instance, an individual sitting in a Tokyo café can trigger a knocker located in New York’s Central Park using only a standard web browser, provided the device maintains an active Wi-Fi connection.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
For the woodland setup showcased in the project's official visuals, the designers utilized a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to maintain network connectivity for the machines in an outdoor environment. Key project details include:
- Project Name: Knock On Wood
- Designers: Shashwath Santosh and Nithin Eluvathingal
- Control Interface: Web application connected via Wi-Fi
Source: designboom
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