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Article

Luggage 0∞

City Science

How  new mobility patterns influence what carry and possess?

People currently select a subset of their ever-expanding collection of possessions to carry for travel. With continuous and effortless motion, we only own what our luggage can contain. When travel is reduced to zero, a suitcase becomes a strange and obsolete object from the past. Trends in consumption, delivery, portability and standardization are explored. 

Storyline 

Luggage moves on an airport conveyor belt. As the world begins to diverge into 0 and ∞ motion, the objects change. On the slow side, suitcases become heavier and bulkier. On the fast side, things are small and portable

When everything comes to us

Pre COVID-19, millions of commuters grabbed coffee to-go on their way to work. Suddenly, everybody was making coffee at home. Producers had to rapidly shift from supplying large coffee bags for restaurants, to home use packaging. This is a small example within infinite ones of how mobility trends influence consumption and production.

When the social norm keeps us in the same place, the only option to access material goods is delivery. Locally produced goods are transported globally, customized for the recipient. Travel is an abstract concept, so experiences and novelty come in a box.

When we go towards everything

What would you carry with you if you cross the world everyday? Would your backpack port anything different from what you brought to work today? Maybe something to help your body adapt to the different timezones and temperatures is the only need.

When commuting extra-long distances is part of everyone's routines, traveling also loses its  meaning. Suitcases became wearables to assist us in the constant journey, and these may quickly shift into body augmentation. 

Seeing further

Large systems demand intricate ways to keep things under control. Airport security check and distribution  warehouses adopt and overlay an ever growing number of sensing technologies to monitor all the massive  movement of people and goods. 

As our global community becomes more complex and interconnected, will sensors be omnipresent like the air we breathe? 

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