Ink and Switch Interactive Homepage

Ink & Switch presents itself as an independent research laboratory dedicated to exploring and building the future of 'tools for thought.' Their overarching vision is to create a new computer system designed to amplify human intelligence, fostering clearer thinking, more effective collaboration, and ubiquitous accessibility. This ambitious goal drives their diverse research, which spans theoretical computer science to practical user experience design.

Here's a breakdown of their core focus and work:

• Research Themes: The lab centers its efforts around four primary themes:
  • Local-first Software: Developing architectures that prioritize user data ownership and enable seamless collaboration by keeping data on the user's device first.
  • Malleable Software: Designing environments where users can dynamically customize tools to fit their immediate needs and workflows.
  • Programmable Ink: Investigating dynamic mediums where digital sketching can be as intuitive as physical ink but with added programmability and interactive behaviors.
  • Universal Version Control: Building tools that allow exploration of alternatives, comprehensive history tracking, and improved collaboration across all media types.
• Featured Work: They publish their research findings and practical projects, including:
  • Ambsheets: A novel spreadsheet concept for scenario exploration.
  • Keyhive: A local-first access control system emphasizing secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption.
  • Patchwork: A research project for dynamic environments tailored for creative work.
  • Livelymerge: A collaborative programming kernel where object memory is shared simultaneously by multiple users.
  • Inkbase: An exploration into programmable, hand-drawn sketches.
  • "Local-first software" essay: A seminal piece arguing for user data ownership in the cloud era.
• Production Software: Several research endeavors have matured into widely-used tools, notably:
  • Allume (formerly Muse): A digital workspace for visual brainstorming, organization, and connection of ideas.
  • Automerge: A library for building collaborative applications using Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) for offline-first syncing.
• Lab Meta and Appearances: Ink & Switch is supported by various individuals, corporations, and grants. They actively present their work at industry and academic conferences, such as Local-First Conf and GodotCon, further disseminating their research and fostering community engagement.

In essence, Ink & Switch is a forward-thinking entity pushing the boundaries of how software can augment human capabilities, with a strong emphasis on user empowerment, data sovereignty, and intuitive interaction design.