Proponents of ubiquitous computing hope to build computers into objects that fit naturally into daily life. One application is Ambient Devices’ Orb, a large glowing egg that tracks trends in a variety of subjects (such as stock-market performance) and transmits the information visually.

The idea behind Orb came out of MIT’s Media Lab, where “Tangible Bits” research led by professor Hiroshi Ishii aims to replace computers’ graphical user interface with tangible representations of the data they produce — giving physical form to information.

Orb spinoffs in development include interactive, color-changing picture frames that let people inform loved ones far away when they are “thinking about them” and a watch on which prescription-related icons light up at doctor-recommended medication times.