If Snapchat taught us something, it was that individuals are uncomfortable with the thought of persistent digital communications that exist within the digital ether for all of eternity. Snapchat’s killer characteristic was the power to ship self-destructing messages that the recipient may solely view a single time. That enabled protected sending of risque photos, but additionally of embarrassing heartfelt written statements. Simone Giertz needed to recreate that performance in the actual world, so she constructed this machine that gobbles up notes after the recipient reads them.
Upon getting into a room, the meant recipient ought to instantly see this field and perceive its significance. They will then stroll over and open up the lid. Once they do, they’re going to be introduced with a chunk of paper. That paper may comprise a written proclamation of affection or a homicide confession. The recipient could have a second to learn the observe, then the machine will robotically shred it and deposit the scraps into an inner bin. Assuming that’s the solely copy of the observe, the knowledge it comprises will probably be misplaced without end — besides within the reminiscence of the reader.
That performance could seem sophisticated, however Giertz’s implementation was fairly intelligent in its simplicity. The first element is a USB-powered miniature paper shredder. Usually that might run for a number of seconds every time the person pressed its button. However Giertz wanted to offer the recipient time to learn every observe earlier than the shredding commences, so she added a timer relay module. After the button press, that waits for a set time frame (possibly 10 seconds or so) earlier than activating the shredder.
Giertz put the shredder and relay right into a small aluminum field, which seems to have been a lunch pail. A custom-cut piece of bamboo wooden covers the shredder mechanism. The activation button sits on the skin of the field the place a small bracket will push on it every time the lid opens. To organize a observe, the sender simply must open the lid, look ahead to the whirring to cease, stick the observe into the shredder slot, after which shut the lid. Upon opening once more, the countdown will begin and shredding turns into inevitable.
This will have restricted practicality, however we expect it’s a actually cute method to “ship” notes that disappear after studying.