MIT has created a worm-like device called Lineform that shape-shifts to handle a wide variety of tech-related tasks. The slithering robot was designed by MIT Tangible Media Group. They used wires and the re-imagining of cords to bring their creation to life. In the video above, you can see how quickly the device changes forms and is made to help you with many tasks. According to the Tangible Media Group, the device is supposed to assist you by providing you with a range of motions, interaction with daily objects, and abstractness of data.
According to the Daily Dot, Ken Nakagaki, an Interaction Designer at MIT Media Lab told the publication that he was thinking of a new shape-changing interface after joining the group last year. "The origin of the idea was coming from the notion of daily line-based materials such as string, wire or rope," he said. "A lot of questions came up in my mind. 'What if these materials can transform to any kind of shape? ... How can we design interaction with such material?' ... We realized that the form of 'line' can play quite impressive role."
There is one major problem with the robot—it is meant to interact with people but since it looks eerily similar to a snake (and most people are terrified of snakes), the device has yet to get people to want to interact with it.
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