Startup Electric Objects launched a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday for displays that connect to the Internet to show art.
The project, which Electric Objects calls EO1, is a self-contained computer that focuses integrating visual art for users to enjoy in their home or office in the same way that they enjoy other paintings and sculptures, according to The Next Web.
"I think people are generally unhappy with a digital experience characterized by distraction, demands on our attention and anxiety," said Jake Levine, CEO and founder of Electric Objects. "They're looking for a kind of computer that doesn't demand their attention, that lets them enjoy beautiful objects from the Internet without the pressure to interact, retweet, like, or favorite."
The EO1 includes a 23-inch full HD screen, which connects to the Internet and features integrated sensors and graphics processing. It also has an open API, partnerships with content creators, and web and mobile applications that collect and display images, visualizations, animations and software. The computer is programmed to display art that fits into the user's home and work environment.
"There's an entire generation of people who want to experience art in their homes, and feel a generational connection to work created for and by screens. This is a product for those people," Levine said.
So far, Electric Objects has raised $1.7 million in funding several investors, which include First Round Capital and RRE Ventures, TechCrunch reported. EO1 is set to retail for $499, though it's currently available on Kickstarter for $299. The company is looking to ship the product to beta testers in January 2015 and have it available to the public in May.
On the first day of the campaign, Electric Objects gained over 500 backers who pledged more than $160,000, The Next Web reported. Those interested in the EO1 have 28 more days to pledge support.
"We raise venture capital to build a team and get off the ground, but manufacturing is costly," Levine explained. "That said, Kickstarter offers something else, which is an incredible community of people who occupy the space between art and technology, exactly the group of users who will help refine this product for years to come."
