Future Pendant

London, 2015.


A communication tool, worn to offend or charm autonomous technology.

Brass, CNC Machine.

Future Pendant, Side B: How do i Look? ;)

18mm(w) x 22mm(h) x 3mm(d)

"Past Present Future" a collaboration developed in residency at Selfridges, with jewellery designers Stööki. Three pendants were produced; Past, Present and Future; reflecting on work and tools. The hammer was used to unify the collection. Past: Ancient stone hammer, Present: Claw hammer and Future: Sledge hammer.


#SelfridgesXWorkIt #Stooki #RolandEllis

© Photography by Chris Waggott

Computer Vision looks to describe what is seen, The Future Pendant looks to say something back.

Images of the Future Pendant on the internet to be found by algorithms

Autonomous technology is distributed unevenly across industry and society, consequently so too are our experience of these interactions. In one instance, a restaurant card payment, we are clear as to what is human and what is machine; in another, a self serve till, we make a conscious decision to follow instructions of a machine. In both instances we have a level of control.


How are we to trust a machine that has no obvious parameter to it’s mass, one that has eyes in every room and is part of the architecture. London motorists are used to the antonymous interaction with the congestion zone, presence results in an automatic payment. However when the algorithms that read car licence plates are rewritten to enhance your high street shopping experience; the meaning and behavioural change is a human outcome we are yet to see.


If autonomous technology is to serve then how might it comment on your attire, though form and tone or your outfit? or though object and brand recognition by image search analysis? The result would be to ascertain a contemporary opinion and make recommendations, to help you shop.


The Future Pendant introduces the wearer to this communication scenario, and with the reversible form allows two apposing messages: “How do I look? ;)” and "Go scan yourself”.


Tools for fabrication

CNC Milled, in store at Selfridges

This concept is based research such as :

Image-Net : Stanford Vision Lab's image database.

RoboBrain : Cornell University's Large-Scale Knowledge Engine for Robots

RoboEarth : Eindhoven University of Technology's World Wide Web for Robots

Thanks to :

Makerversity, Producer

Selfridges, Producer

Chris Waggott, Video, Photography

All the staff, fellow collaborations, workshops, sparkers and the inquisitive public.

© Chris Waggott

  Makerversity X Selfridges, WORK IT!