> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.protein.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The Happiness Machine
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/the-happiness-machine/
- Published: 2012-09-24T11:48:45.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-28T11:02:00.000Z
- Description: An interactive design project explores the anonymity of our digital lives.
- Author: Protein
- Tags: Seeds, Art & Design, Technology, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:15, #author-change-2025-05-28

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3789/6f2d5c4d-38d5-41f1-b5e5-81b4354f5f4e.jpg)

In the past few months we've featured plenty of analogue responses to digital behaviours, from [Instant Lab](http://prote.in/feed/2012/09/the-instant-lab?ref=protein.xyz) to [Pulse](http://prote.in/feed/2012/08/pulse?ref=protein.xyz), [The Descriptive Camera](http://prote.in/feed/2012/05/the-descriptive-camera?ref=protein.xyz), and [OKSU](http://prote.in/feed/2012/07/oksu?ref=protein.xyz). As part of the [Brompton Design Festival](http://www.bromptondesigndistrict.com/?ref=protein.xyz) at this year's [LDF](http://www.londondesignfestival.com/?ref=protein.xyz), design collective [FieldGuide](http://findplaymake.com/?ref=protein.xyz) exhibited a similar concept with their interactive Happiness Machine.

As part of their exhibition, A Spotter's Guide to the Post-Digital Wold, digital artist [Brendan Dawes](http://brendandawes.com/?ref=protein.xyz) created an Internet connected printer which prints out random happy or sad thoughts found from Twitter streams and blog posts across the web. Using conductive inks, users could touch one of two pieces of paper to physically print out either a 'happy' or 'sad' post. As the artist explains, 'By placing a small piece of paper in your hands with the feelings of someone you've never met, reminds us that this isn't a network of machines but more importantly a network of human beings.'

It's another interesting project which explores the anonymity of our digital lives. Check our more info [here](http://brendandawes.com/blog/reworked-the-happiness-machine-to-show-trains?ref=protein.xyz).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3789/8e1e984b-310e-4317-929a-0fb41385dea7.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3789/c4bdfb38-91b9-493f-84d1-0e3d075cad38.jpeg)