LIRO
LIRO is a service that enables silent recognition through books as visible symbols of identity.
3rd semester 2025
A semester project by Erisa Behluli
Lecturers: Sebastian Haase, Tanja Hakl, Romina Marsico, Tsunemitsu Tanaka, Tomas Zebis
Recognition in motion
The spaces between the everyday
A large part of our daily lives does not take place in fixed locations, but in the spaces in between. Between home and university, between arriving and moving on, between being alone and being in the same space as others. On trains in particular, people move in close physical proximity to one another, yet often remain socially separated.
Public spaces are characterised by parallel presence, reduced attention and the need for one’s own inner space of retreat. These situations are neither clearly social nor entirely private. They allow for perception without requiring interaction.
Many of these moments are fleeting and are scarcely reflected upon consciously. Nevertheless, they shape our experience of public life and a sense of belonging.
Books as visible symbols of identity
Whilst out and about, visible signs repeatedly appear that offer clues to people’s interests and attitudes. Books play a special role in this regard. They are visible in public spaces and, at the same time, an expression of personal themes, ways of thinking and inner preoccupations. Those who read find themselves in a world of their own, yet remain physically present.
The book thus becomes a silent symbol of identity. It can facilitate recognition without the need for conversation. Meaning arises through perception and interpretation, not through action. It is precisely this restraint that makes books, in our mobile everyday lives, a suitable starting point for a creative exploration.
The concept
The project uses the book as a starting point for a discreet service in public spaces. At its heart is a digital bookmark that blends into existing reading habits. It features a rechargeable battery, Bluetooth Low Energy and a small indicator light with two states. The indicator signals whether people are open to being recognised or wish to remain focused on their own reading experience.
The device is complemented by a minimalist, browser-based web app. Here, the visibility status can be enabled or disabled. When the status is active, books being read in the immediate vicinity become visible, though without any personal data or profiles. Only contextual information such as title, author or genre is displayed.
Books encountered can be saved and managed in a personal collection. This collection can include books that one has read or would still like to read. New titles can be added via their ISBN and marked, for example, as ‘Currently Reading’. This creates a tranquil reading ecosystem that connects the physical object with the digital realm.
Design principle
At the heart of the project lies the principle of recognition without obligation. The project does not initiate a dialogue nor does it prompt interaction. Rather, it creates an occasion in which perception becomes possible without expecting a reaction. The decision remains with the participants at all times.
This form of micro-interaction is voluntary, context-dependent and can be discontinued at any time. It respects privacy and autonomy in public spaces. Here, design is not understood as a trigger for action, but as a means of facilitating a brief, quiet moment of mutual recognition.
Interaction scenario
The following video shows a prototype simulation of how LIRO is used in a mobile context. The status changes and visibility of books are demonstrated in a real-world application scenario.
LIRO in use 👇