Hiding a screen inside a decorative panel is a clever design. Most smart home displays sit there blinking at you all day. The Mui Board just looks like a nice piece of wood until you need it.
This Japanese home controller combines technology with organic-looking materials so you can have the best of both worlds. It looks like a simple piece of wood until it's turned on, when bright, pixelated words and images appear on it. You can interact with it like a touch screen. Can I please have a wooden phone that works like this?
The device is called the Mui Board, made by Kyoto-based Mui Lab and unveiled at CES 2019. The concept behind it is "calm technology" — the interface stays hidden until you need it, so your space stays quiet and free of constant digital noise. Touch the wooden surface, and soft light appears through it, showing controls for lights, weather, and messages. It connects with systems like Google Home for simple touch-gesture control of your whole home.
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