Novotel and Microsoft have partnered on an uber-high-tech guestroom at the Novotel Paris Vaugirard Montparnasse. Known as Room 3120, the space allows guests to control the environment via body gestures and voice recognition. Designed by architecture firm Naço, the guestroom is divided into two main spaces dedicated to entertainment and rest. Each space has its own Xbox 360 console with Kinect, which uses motion-sensor technology. The first, intended for the adults, has a fold-up bed. The second, designed more as a playroom for the kids, has a tatami mat that rises up on one side to form a bench containing a Surface table, which responds to users’ hand gestures and is able to recognize several users simultaneously. The table’s applications range from web browsing and board games to interactive maps that guests can use to select their destinations in the city. In addition, a Sensorit interactive mirror displays a variety of information in graphic or text form.
The furniture disappears to make way for integrated, modular functions, complemented by diffracted volumes and geometric shapes. The adults’ area is white (think TRON), and the children’s side is more playful and colorful. A green capsule, visible from the exterior, replaces the first room’s balcony and offers occupants a high-tech area without sacrificing comfort.
