Wake them geeks ! The machine has just started. The machine ? A small yellow box, with a red lever that we activate when desired, and a black hood that opens for a few seconds for … for not much, in fact! Despite its perfect futility and filthy uselessness, the aircraft, imagined by Olivier Mével (one of the French fathers of connected objects), however risks hitting. 20 Minutes Explain to you why.
Originally, the Nabaztag rabbit…
If you read 20 Minutes Since its origin (in short, if you are over 20 years old!), The name of Nabaztag probably tells you something. Recognized as the ancestor of connected objects, the bright rabbit whose ears were moving, connected to the Internet. According to the programming that was made on the web, he could give the weather, read our emails, press titles, sing, etc. Please note, we are in 2005: no application, nor smartphone so it was the prehistory of tech! Co Creator of the rabbit not too moron (because visionary!), Olivier Mével returns.
Ce « maker » has never disarmed after the euthanasia of the Léporid, after the liquidation in 2011 of the Violet company which was originally (read box). Today at the head of “Multiplié”, a “publishing house of technological objects”, Olivier Mével has already launched mininga small case that allows you to revive the minitel. Or Nanikaan autonomous robot co-developed with the ceramist and architect Laetitia Perrin. Small things often poetic, doomed to be sold only live and in small series. The machine will be one!
A tribute to a machine that dates from 1952
Old project by Olivier Méviel, this box is a tribute to “the ultimate machine” invented in 1952 by Marvin Minsky, today considered a pioneer of artificial intelligence. He then imagined a wooden box with a switch.
When activated, a lid was lifted, a small hand appeared and came to turn off the switch! A concept “Shadokien” before the hour that made Arthur C. Clarke say, one of the popes of science fiction: “There is something inexpressively sinister in a machine that does nothing, absolutely nothing, if not getting off” …
The machine concocted by Olivier Mével will go a little further. If the device, which will work on battery, can also go out on its own like that of Minsky, it will also offer many other animations, mechanics and sounds, short or long. With each interaction with him, it will be a bit of a “pouch-underprise” atmosphere. Hence a perfect uselessness of the object. Which will necessarily make it essential!
Our “Connected objects” folder
Designed by the French of Elium Studio (we owe them the design of the Lexon brand aircraft, Withings, the Freebox Pop, etc.), The machine started its evangelization program with crowds. After an advertisement campaign on Facebook in the United States, Olivier Mével targets this summer the Facebook subscribers in France to tell them the good news and the upcoming arrival of the one he calls “the most useless and addictive object”. Incidentally, he invited them to order their copy from September 9 at 9 am, for a delivery in… February 2026!
On the Meta network, the first comments range from total enthusiasm (“I want mine”, comments Daniel), to complete indifference (“no interest”, sums up Yves), including cold cynicism (“I already have Windows, thank you”, tackle Maximilien). Many also compare The machine At the “Cuckoo Box”, once a favorite gadget of Johnny’s puppet in the show Les Guignols de l’Info on Canal+. The expression “Ah, hello!” »Has since made its way …
Olivier Mével counts on the enthusiasm of at least 2,500 buyers, God ex Machinaready to press the button to invest 79 euros (the price of The machine) To be able to launch its production… in Normandy! The potential is there. Small boxes like his own elsewhere and even have their dedicated blind.
