The Physical Intimate Object is a metal box with a button and a red LED that is plugged into an internet connection. Each member of a couple has a PIO: pressing the button on one box makes the remote LED glow brightly. It then fades over time. A smaller red LED located on the side of the box shows the current brightness of the remote partner’s light.
Source: Boehner, K., David, S., Sengers, P., and Kaye, J. 2005. Critical Technical Practice as a Methodology for Values in Design. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Quality Values and Choices (CHI’05). ACM Press, 5–10.
