The Grass Scanner

The Grass Scanner is a product (hypothetical, I believe) dreamed up by designer Alice Wang. She offers this description:

In wealthier neighbourhoods, the size of the house and how well maintained the garden is, often represents status. The Grass Scanner is a device designed to measure how green the grass is. It takes reading from 3 random patches of the grass and outputs a Pantone* colour code for one to reference and compare. With the codes, one can then refer to the PARKTONE** cards which contains true grass colours of Royal Parks and other green areas in the UK for people to match up with their own garden.

Where it might fail is on fake lawns, which are becoming increasingly popular here in Southern California. Though fake lawns aren't cheap, so having one might indicate a moderate level of status. (via We Make Money Not Art)

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 14, 2008
Category: Inventions | Technology

Comments

I think it is a hoax. Even if it is parody, isn't the invention of hypothetical products that make fun of people's petty obsessions still a form of hoaxing?

Posted by BenS on 07/15/08 at 08:55 AM

So I should have posted it on the Museum of Hoaxes, not here! I just didn't think it was hoaxy enough. Too obviously an art project.

Posted by Alex on 07/15/08 at 09:15 AM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.