Ink & Switch, a research lab focused on advancing computing tools, marked its tenth anniversary by releasing Tenfold, an interactive art piece designed with collaborators. According to the lab’s website, Tenfold—described as “ten letters, ten years”—was built using technology developed through the lab’s research efforts and is designed for interactive exploration.
The lab describes its mission as envisioning “a new computer that amplifies human intelligence. A system that helps you think more clearly, collaborate more effectively, and is available anywhere and anytime.” To pursue this vision, Ink & Switch conducts research spanning theoretical computer science and practical user experiences, organized around four primary themes: exploring software architecture that enables user data ownership and collaboration; designing customizable software environments; discovering dynamic mediums for sketching ideas with programmable interactions; and building tools for exploring alternatives and tracking history across media types.
Ink & Switch publishes its research through essays on its website and in academic venues. Several of its research projects have evolved into active tools. These include a digital workspace for brainstorming and organizing ideas visually; a library for building collaborative applications that sync offline using conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs); a system exploring live data enrichment for travel planning; and a local-first access control system with end-to-end encryption for collaborative work.
The lab’s research also explores new spreadsheet designs for exploring possibility spaces, programmable hand-drawn sketches, and collaborative software that lets users retain data ownership. According to the site, Ink & Switch’s ongoing work is supported by individual sponsors, corporate sponsors, and grants from organizations globally.
Members of the lab present at industry and academic conferences. Recently, the entire lab gathered in Berlin for Local-First Conf, where they shared progress on projects including Patchwork, PlayBook, and Automerge.
Key facts
- Ink & Switch released Tenfold, an interactive art piece, to celebrate its tenth anniversary
- The lab focuses on developing computing tools that amplify human intelligence and enable better collaboration
- Research is organized around four themes: data ownership, customizable environments, dynamic sketching mediums, and collaboration tools
- Several research projects have become active tools, including a visual workspace and a library for collaborative applications with offline syncing
- The lab is supported by individual sponsors, corporate sponsors, and grants from organizations worldwide