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Construction is immaculate in Japan - every thing is perfectly cut, fitted, joined. It is so perfect that the builders are willing to be associated with their work. Every carpeted room (I saw) features a little tag, the size of a postage stamp, screwed into the corner of the carpeting. The tag bears the name of the installer, the manufacturer, and a batch number for control. When the US mad cow outbreak motivated a computerized meat traceability system, its effectiveness was more about comforting the public than it was about food safety. Given the quality of construction in the US, something like this carpet tag would go a long way to reassure the owner. And, by tacking these to the corner of the floor, it also highlights any errant specks of dirt left behind. Drawing attention to source of a product can also involve the owner in taking a more active role and ultimately investing more value in the craft.
. Leo is a artist, inventor and all around practical person in the Tangible Media Group at the Media Lab. He has a background in sculpture, architecture and industrial design as well as an MS from the Media Lab spent working on the kitchen of the future. He is on a search for truth.
