SAMEN smart tablecloth

Smart tablecloth

A signal-blocking tablecloth that silences your smartphone for undisturbed dining. These days, we don't seem to be able to function without our phones. The phenomenon prompted designer Ralf Lambie to create SAMEN, a social tablecloth that encourages people to ignore their phones while eating. The special pockets in the tablecloth work like a Faraday Cage: no messages or calls come in, nor does the phone vibrate or illuminate. The temptation to quickly google something or share pictures of your meal on Instagram recedes so that diners can just focus on each other.