Glass (Object Lessons)

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. Pause and look, and you will see that you are surrounded by glass: light reflects off and refracts through your windows; it encircles a glowing filament above you; it's in a mirror hanging on the wall; it lies shattered in a dented corner of an iPhone; you're drinking water out of a pint glass. Taking up a most common object, rarely considered because assumed to be transparent, this book draws evocative connections between historical depictions of glass and emerging ideas within the technology sector that envision glass as holding unique promise for new forms of interaction. Grounded in everyday examples, Glass offers a series of surprising—often counter-intuitive—insights into how we see the world and see ourselves in the world. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. Pause and look around: you will see that you are surrounded by glass. It reflects and refracts light through your windows; it encircles a glowing filament above you; it's in a mirror hanging on the wall; it lies shattered in a dented corner of an iPhone-you're drinking water out of a pint glass. Taking up a most common object, rarely considered because assumed to be transparent, John Garrison draws evocative connections between historical depictions of glass and emerging visions that see it as holding a unique promise for new forms of interaction. Grounded in everyday examples, this book offers a series of surprising insights into how we increasingly find ourselves living in a world made of glass. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. "Pause and look around: you will see that you are surrounded by glass. It reflects and refracts light through your windows; it encircles a glowing filament above you; it's in a mirror hanging on the wall; it lies shattered in a dented corner of an iPhone-you're drinking water out of a pint glass. Taking up a most common object, rarely considered because assumed to be transparent, John Garrison draws evocative connections between historical depictions of glass and emerging visions that see it as holding a unique promise for new forms of interaction. Grounded in everyday examples, this book offers a series of surprising insights into how we increasingly find ourselves living in a world made of glass."--Publisher description Prés. de l'éd.: Pause and look around: you will see that you are surrounded by glass. It reflects and refracts light through your windows; it encircles a glowing filament above you; it's in a mirror hanging on the wall; it lies shattered in a dented corner of an iPhone-you're drinking water out of a pint glass. Taking up a most common object, rarely considered because assumed to be transparent, John Garrison draws evocative connections between historical depictions of glass and emerging visions that see it as holding a unique promise for new forms of interaction. Grounded in everyday examples, this book offers a series of surprising insights into how we increasingly find ourselves living in a world made of glass Intro; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; "A Day Made of Glass"; Macbeth; Minority Report; Microscopic vision; Telescopic vision; Earrings and landscapes; Photography; Shakespeare's sonnets; "Heart of Glass"; Sea glass; Google Glass; Trademark; Microsoft HoloLens; Strange Days; A glass, darkly; Surfaces; "A World of Glass"; Postscript: What's in my pocket?; Further reading; Acknowledgments; Notes; Index Explores An Object That Is All Round Us, From Windows To Iphone Screens, And The Fascinating And Strange Ways It Reflects Our Inherent Desire For Connection.