Ricoh presents SynTact prototype exploring how intelligent environments could transform future workplaces

Interactive prototype at Ars Electronica Festival 2026 demonstrates how advanced sensing technology could enable more-than-human interaction in responsive environments

Ricoh will present SynTact, a new interactive prototype developed in collaboration with Ars Electronica Futurelab, at Ars Electronica Festival 2026 in Linz, Austria, from 9 to 13 September. SynTact explores how intelligent environments could transform the way people interact with technology, physical spaces and each other. 

Built using Ricoh's proprietary sensing technology and machine learning, SynTact demonstrates how physical surfaces and objects could evolve beyond passive tools to become intelligent interfaces capable of understanding and responding to human interaction in real time. The technology can recognize nuanced touch interactions, including what is being touched, how it is being touched and the nature of the interaction itself, opening up new possibilities for responsive environments.

SynTact image: Susanne Kiesenhofer, with Adobe Firefly

At the heart of the installation is a living plant enhanced with robotic tendrils that respond differently depending on how visitors interact with it. As participants engage with the prototype, they experience a possible future in which workplaces, public spaces and connected environments can adapt to human presence and behavior in more intuitive and meaningful ways.

Yasuyuki Nomizu,  Senior Corporate Officer and CTO, Ricoh Company, Ltd., said: "For decades, Ricoh has focused on improving the relationship between people and technology. As AI, robotics and digital twins continue to evolve, the opportunity is no longer just to build smarter technologies, but to create experiences that feel more natural, intuitive and meaningful.

"SynTact allows us to explore that future in a tangible way. By inviting people to interact with emerging technologies in a real-world setting, we can better understand how interaction, perception and feedback may shape the next generation of environments and help inform our long-term research and development."

The project reflects Ricoh's ongoing research into sensing and feedback technologies that could one day underpin intelligent workplaces, digital twins and responsive environments. While SynTact is an experimental prototype rather than a commercial product, it provides a tangible demonstration of how advances in sensing and feedback technologies could enable environments that respond to interaction, not just activity.

As organizations continue to rethink workplaces in response to changing employee expectations, AI adoption and sustainability goals, understanding how people interact with physical spaces is becoming increasingly important. Many organizations already use sensors to measure occupancy, energy consumption and space utilization. SynTact explores what comes next by expanding the focus of traditional Human-Computer Interaction to More-than-Human-Computer Interaction, which encompasses interactions involving non-human entities such as plants and robots. Through these experiences, the project investigates new forms of communication and connection between the people and the diverse entities around them, offering a glimpse into future environments that may foster richer customer experiences and spaces that respond more naturally to human needs.

Since 2022, Ricoh and Ars Electronica Futurelab have collaborated on projects that explore the future of work through technology, creativity and societal insight. SynTact is the latest example of that collaboration, bringing together advanced sensing technology, robotics and design to spark conversation about the future relationship between people, technology and the spaces they inhabit. 

About Ars Electronica

Founded in 1979, Ars Electronica is a globally recognized creative and cultural organization dedicated to exploring the relationship between art, technology and society. Each year, the Ars Electronica Festival brings together artists, researchers, companies and educational institutions from around the world as a platform for presenting cutting-edge technologies and artistic expression.

Ars Electronica

Theme: FUTURE BEGINS – NEGOTIATING HUMANITY
Dates: September 9-13, 2026
Location: Linz, Austria
Exhibition: Open Futurelab, Ars Electronica Center   
Open Futurelab is a program showcasing research outcomes and prototypes developed by Ars Electronica Futurelab.

Ricoh Contact for Ars Electronica Festival Inquiries
Email: [email protected]