Drawing on a mobile phone

How we draw depends on the tools we have: drawing with a pencil is very different from drawing with a brush. The 12Pixels project attempts to create a new type of digital "brush", a set of techniques and algorithms that allow us to draw with very simple input devices, such as the twelve keys of the mobile phone.

Creating such a "brush" leads to a whole new range of creative applications that can be enjoyed anywhere casually without having to use a PC. Examples include, but are not limited to, annotating digital photographs taken on a mobile phone, creating personalized emoticons for text communication, drawing characters for mobile games, and sharing all this new content with millions of other people.

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12Pixels on Sony Ericsson Cedar™

Sony Ericsson has just released a new phone called the Cedar™. Aside from being environmentally friendly using recycled plastics, waterborne paint, and reduced packaging – 12Pixels comes pre-installed on the phone.

Best Presentation Award for 12Pixels

Our paper “12Pixels: Exploring Social Drawing on Mobile Phones” was awarded the Best Presentation Award at the Pervasive 2010 conference in Helsinki.

Tokyo Interactive Ad Award for 12Pixels

12Pixels was awarded a Bronze prize in the application category of the Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards! Here are the full details of the prize winners.

12Pixels Color Release in Japan

We are pleased to announce that a new color version of 12Pixels has been released in Japan through Sony Style. They are also running a cool new campaign and collaboration with Japanese singer and personality Neeko!

12Pixels in New Scientist Magazine

12Pixels has also been covered in the March 7, 2009 issue of New Scientist magazine. Visit the New Scientist website to check out the article.

12Pixels Japan Release

We are pleased to announce that 12Pixels has been released in Japan in association with Sony Style. Please click on the banner above to visit the official Sony Style site and download 12Pixels for Docomo, AU, or Softbank phones. 12Pixels press release fron Sony Style.

12Pixels in Color!

Check out the updated video above, to see the new version of 12Pixels in glorious full color!

Pervasive 2010 Research Paper

12Pixels: Exploring Social Drawing on Mobile Phones (PDF 1.2M)
A paper presented at Pervasive 2010 detailing the release of the 12Pixels drawing system in the Japanese Market.

Sony ExploraScience Exhibition

For two months over summer in 2008, 12Pixels was featured in an exhibition entitled 'Open Science' at the Sony ExploraScience centre in Tokyo. An impressive range of drawings were created by visitors to the exhibition.

CHI 2008 Research Paper

TwelvePixels: Drawing and Creativity on a Mobile Phone (PDF 628K)
A paper presented at CHI 2008 detailing the rationale and development of 12Pixels.

Science Gallery Workshop

During February 2008 we ran a 'Low-tech Creativity' workshop featuring 12Pixels at the Science Gallery in Dublin Ireland. Check the video above for a closer look.

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