This “smart urban furniture” idea, which originally started as a project by the MIT Media Lab before being spun off as the company Changing Environments, is so creative that it was even featured at this year’s White House Maker Faire in June.
Eventually, say the three co-founders of Changing Environments, the plan is to expand the network of Soofas to build a smart energy infrastructure that collects urban data and informs citizens and city planners about everything from air quality to noise level by connecting to the Internet.
In a statement about the launch of Soofas, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh pointed to the potential of smart benches for Boston: “Your cell phone doesn’t just make phone calls, why should our benches just be seats?”
The Soofa can be bolted into concrete or asphalt with four anchors or be free-standing. Delivered in three cartons and is easily assembled within 20 minutes.
See more: http://www.soofa.co/