Mui is a stylish touch-sensitive wood panel you can use to control your home

The superstitious say “touch wood” to bring them luck. Touch the wood surface of mui ($599), though, and you get the internet – or at least bits of it. And that’s because this unassuming wall-mounted wooden panel temporarily becomes a smart controller when touched, but then fades back to being a refined hunk of tree when you’re done. In a world of glowing glass displays, the notion of making technology invisible is welcome. And via IFTTT, mui can connect to existing smart home services, over and above its built-in messaging, news, and weather forecast capabilities. One for getting yourself a bit more connected to nature, then, rather than gawping at whatever new shiny tablet or smartphone is already stealing too much of your attention.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.