A new Paradigm of Remembering
Keepsake redefines the way individuals connect with the past by transforming everyday objects into vessels of memory. Rather than relying on digital galleries or static photo albums, users embed personal narratives into familiar items—a watch, a toy, a mug—bringing them to life with voices, sounds, and stories. When placed on Keepsake’s surface, these objects trigger the playback of associated memories, creating a dynamic, tactile experience that integrates seamlessly into daily life.
Developed as part of a tangible UI project, Keepsake was designed with a strict screen-free constraint, encouraging direct sensory engagement. By allowing users to curate and assign memories to specific objects, it grants full agency over how personal narratives are preserved and evolve over time. The system functions by capturing an object’s image through a built-in camera, which is then processed by a locally hosted LLaVA model to extract key characteristics. A custom web application determines whether a memory is already linked to the object, either playing the associated story or inviting the user to record a new one.
Privacy and user control were central to the decision to use a locally hosted model, ensuring that personal memories remain secure and independent of external servers. The physical form factor was carefully designed as a box featuring a visible camera, a defined object placement area, a microphone holder, and a button, ensuring intuitive interaction. To maintain user engagement during recording, a pop-up microphone and hold-to-record mechanism prevent accidental long recordings while encouraging intentional storytelling. Since the analysis phase can take up to ten seconds, LED animations and subtle sound cues provide reassuring feedback, reducing frustration and keeping the experience seamless.
Keepsake has wide-ranging applications, from preserving family heirlooms and creating personal memory journals to curating home museums and fostering community storytelling. By anchoring memories in physical objects, it transforms everyday items into powerful carriers of personal and shared histories, ensuring that the past remains immersive, accessible, and deeply meaningful.
