Linger, a map, not a mentor A product of TwoFeetUp (opens in a new tab)

A calm poster on the TV that keeps a good conversation going.

One diagram about ‘visiting’ kept the founder’s own conversation going for about 30 minutes.

Linger turns the topic you are discussing into one poster on your TV. Say ‘Put it on the wall’, then keep talking.

Watch the film See it on the wall

Made by TwoFeetUp, still in development. At home it runs in Chrome on a Mac, shown on the TV by HDMI or AirPlay, and listening is off until the host turns it on.

Ways of visiting
That diagram, as Linger draws it today.

Usually, it goes the other way.

Something good comes up at the table, and before anyone can hold on to it, another topic takes its place. Starting a conversation is one thing. Staying with a good topic is another.

That is why there is Linger.

Someone says the phrase. The topic appears as one calm poster, clear at a glance. Then the screen stays quiet.

The poster The word visit, in families, on the wall.

On the wall: the poster of the lens you picked below.

This page never listens; the button only plays a demo.

Watch the film.

One poster for any topic.

Whatever the table is talking about, Linger draws it as one calm poster. Here are four example posters, three topics in two languages. They are demo samples too.

Luck, through timeLuck, through timeA rough path, every step illustrativeearlierlaterlong agoCasting lotsan old way to decidefor agesCharms and tokenscarried for good fortunethenGames of chancecards, dice, raffleslaterLuck and skillwhere one endsa modern sayingSelf-made luckshowing up, trying againInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Cultural, Spiritual and 6 more
Luck Historical lens
Luck, for funLuck, for funGames, charms and oddities of fortuneGAMESnakesand laddersthe dice alone decideTREATThe fortunecookiea slip of paperin a biscuitSUPERSTITIONKnockon woodto keep the luck inODD FACTThe four-leafcloverrarer than thethree-leaf kindWORDPLAYBeginner’sluckthe first throw that landsSONGLuck Bea Ladya song for the dice tableTOYThe diesix faces, no memoryInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Luck Playful lens
Introvert or extrovertIntrovert or extrovertWhere people sit between the quiet and the crowdIntrovertExtrovertNeeds long quieta whole Sunday aloneone close friend at a timeA small circlea book over a partya talk in the kitchenBoth, dependinga party, then a quiet daycompany for an hour or twoLikes a crowda call just to chata busy table of friendsEnergy from peoplea big dinner, then moretalking things out loudInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Introvert or extrovert Spectrum lens
Manieren van gelukManieren van gelukLeeftijd, tegenover waar geluk zich laat zienwaar geluk opduiktSpellenGebeurtenissenGeloofleeftijdKindVolwasseneOudereeen geluksgetalkruis of munteen verjaardagswensnieuwe schoenengekruiste vingerseen wensputeen lotbordspelleneen gelukkige wendingop de juiste plekafkloppeneen geluksshirtkaartspel thuisbingonet gemistgoede jarenzegeningenkleine tekenenVerzonnen voor de demoAndere lenzen: Wetenschap, Geschiedenis, Zingeving en nog 6
In Dutch: geluk Cultural lens

The rest of this page uses one example topic, visiting, to show all ten lenses.

What Linger does.

  • Say “Put it on the wall”

    The topic you are talking about becomes one poster, and then the screen stays quiet. It runs in Chrome on a Mac and shows on the TV by HDMI or AirPlay.

  • Ten lenses, picked for you

    Auto picks the lens that fits the topic. Every other lens is one tap away. See the lenses.

  • The Bench, only when called

    A fact checker, a Nuancer, a translator and a debate assistant. They show their source and leave. Meet the Bench.

  • Tonight

    Every poster of the evening is kept, up to twelve, and goes back up with one tap. A phone can do it too, from the controls.

  • Topic chips

    With Refresh topics on, the topics with the most talk appear as small chips. A tap puts one on the wall. Linger never puts anything up by itself.

  • Listening you can see

    The Live button on the wall starts at Stopped. It moves through Live, Live auto, Muted auto and Stopped, so the room always knows.

  • Stays on the Mac

    Speech is transcribed on the Mac itself with Whisper, by default. No transcript or audio is kept unless the host switches it on, and then only in memory.

  • English and Dutch

    Topics can be spoken or typed in either language.

  • Wrong or flat

    Regenerate or hide a poster in one press.

Ten ways of looking at one topic.

Linger picks the lens that fits the topic, and every other lens stays one tap away. Here all ten are drawn for one example topic.

Example topicvisiting, through all ten lenses

The word "visit", in familiesThe word “visit”, in familiesSenses of the verb, grouped by what they dovisitMovementgo to see someonea neighbour·an aunt·a friendtour a placea museum·the old town·a castleopen a web pagea link·a site·a tabPurposestay for a whilea weekend·a few nights·a guest roomInspectioninspect officiallyan inspector·a site check·an auditSocial talkchat (visit with)porch talk·a natter·a catch-upAfflictingafflict (formal)a plague·a hardship·old textsIllustrative sampleOther lenses: Historical, Cultural, Spiritual and 6 more
Visiting, through timeVisiting, through timeThe word on its way into English, then branching outearlierlaterthe rootLatin visitare“to see repeatedly”samplethe bridgeOld French visiterthe step into Englishsamplec. 1175-1225Middle Englishvisitenfirst recorded in Englishsamplelater centuriesVisiting asa customcalling cards,the good cupsover timeSenses branch outinspect, stay, a web pagein today’s dictionariesvisit with“to chat”, informal,American usagesampleSample, solid outlineIllustrative sampleInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Cultural, Spiritual and 6 moreSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
Ways of visitingWays of visitingHow close the people are, against what the moment issituationIn passingSocialWorkHeavyclosenessStrangersAcquaintancesFriendsClose onesa nodqueue chatsmall talkparty chatpleasantrieslift talka kind wordsympathya wavecorridor helloa natterfence chatshop talkcoffee breaka check-incondolencesa quick hia texta catch-upbantera sounding boardlunch talkventinga long listena hug hellopet namesloungingin-jokesa pep talkcheering ona heart-to-heartsilence togetherIllustrative sampleOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Spiritual and 6 more
How a visit deepensHow a visit deepensFrom the surface to the soul of itsurfaceGreetinga nod over the fenceSmall talkthe weather, the weekCatching uphow things really areConfidingthe things on one’s mindJust being therecompany without wordssoulInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Where visiting leadsWhere visiting leadsNeighbouring topics, and where they overlaphospitalityoffering a seatthe kettle onguestshouse guests · drop-insfirst-timershomethe front doorthe garden · the kitchenneighboursover the fenceborrowed toolsritualSunday calls · teathe good cupstravela trip · a stopoverarrivalsvisitingwelcomedoorstepstreet lifegreetingspilgrimageinnskettleporchinvitationslettersstoriesgoodbyesInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Dropping by or booked aheadDropping by or booked aheadWhere a visit sits, from spontaneous to plannedDrop byunannouncedPlannedweeks aheadDoor always openwalks in without knockingthe kettle is already onA text from the doorsteppassing by anywaya call from the cornerSame-day plansa call in the morningdinner if it suitsA week’s noticea date in the diarya reminder the day beforeBooked weeks aheada calendar invitea fixed hour, a fixed endthe good cups readyInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
A visit, step by stepA visit, step by stepThe hands-on side, from invitation to thank-youBeforea day andan houra small giftthe way tothe door1Arrivingthe doorbellcoats andshoesthe first cup2Duringthe good chairsnacks onthe tablea look aroundthe house3Leavingthe longgoodbyeleftovers totake home4Aftera thank-you textthe return visit5Invented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Visiting, for funVisiting, for funGames, words and oddities around a visitJOKEKnock, knockthe joke thatstarts at the doorPROVERBFish andguestsboth go offafter three daysTOYThe doll’shousevisits in miniatureGAMEHide and seekthe classic withvisiting cousinsSONGComing roundthe mountaina visitor on the wayODD FACTCalling cardsa folded cornersaid who calledCUSTOMThe guestbooknames, datesand doodlesInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
Visiting through a lifeVisiting through a lifeMoments many people know, from small to oldChildhoodSundayat thegrandparents’the biscuit tinon the tableTeenage yearsThe firstsleepovera sleeping bagon the floorYoung adultGuests in afirst homechairsborrowed fromthe neighboursMiddle yearsThe in-lawsfor dinnerthe housetidied twiceLater lifeBeing theone visitedthe door openfor grandchildrenInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
What lifts a visitWhat lifts a visitIdeals, feats and small acts of showing upShowing upA small actVisitingsomeone alonean hour thatcarries a weekAn idealHospitalitythe strangerwelcomed as a guestA traditionOpen housea door open to allon a feast dayA featAcrossan oceana long journeyto see familyA callingThe districtnursea visit as careA small actSitting withthe sickcompany whenwords run outInvented for the demoOther lenses: Scientific, Historical, Cultural and 6 more
1 of 10, scientific

The word "visit", in families

visit

  • Movement
    • go to see someonee.g. a neighbour, an aunt, a friend, a patient
    • tour a placee.g. a museum, the old town, a castle, a garden
  • Purpose
    • stay for a whilee.g. a weekend, a few nights, a guest room, a short stay

More in the whole poster.

Visiting, through time

earlier

  1. the rootLatin visitare"to see repeatedly"SampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  2. the bridgeOld French visiterthe step into EnglishSampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  3. c. 1175-1225Middle English visitenfirst recorded in EnglishSampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  4. later centuriesVisiting as a customcalling cards, the good cups

later

More in the whole poster.

Ways of visiting

Strangers

  • In passinga nodqueue chat
  • Socialsmall talkparty chat

Acquaintances

  • In passinga wavecorridor hello
  • Sociala natterfence chat

More in the whole poster.

How a visit deepens

surface

  1. Greetinga nod over the fence
  2. Small talkthe weather, the week
  3. Catching uphow things really are
  4. Confidingthe things on one's mind

soul

More in the whole poster.

Where visiting leads

visiting

  • hospitalityoffering a seat, the kettle on, a spare bed, a warm welcome
  • guestshouse guests, drop-ins, first-timers, regulars
  • homethe front door, the garden, the kitchen, the good chairs
  • neighboursover the fence, borrowed tools, a wave, street talk

More in the whole poster.

Dropping by or booked ahead

Drop by unannounced

  1. Door always openwalks in without knocking, the kettle is already on
  2. A text from the doorsteppassing by anyway, a call from the corner
  3. Same-day plansa call in the morning, dinner if it suits
  4. A week's noticea date in the diary, a reminder the day before

Planned weeks ahead

More in the whole poster.

A visit, step by step

  1. 1. Beforea day and an hour, a small gift, the way to the door
  2. 2. Arrivingthe doorbell, coats and shoes, the first cup
  3. 3. Duringthe good chair, snacks on the table, a look around the house
  4. 4. Leavingthe long goodbye, leftovers to take home

More in the whole poster.

Visiting, for fun

  • JokeKnock, knockthe joke that starts at the door
  • ProverbFish and guestsboth go off after three days
  • ToyThe doll's housevisits in miniature
  • GameHide and seekthe classic with visiting cousins

More in the whole poster.

Visiting through a life

  1. ChildhoodSunday at the grandparents'the biscuit tin on the table
  2. Teenage yearsThe first sleepovera sleeping bag on the floor
  3. Young adultGuests in a first homechairs borrowed from the neighbours
  4. Middle yearsThe in-laws for dinnerthe house tidied twice

More in the whole poster.

What lifts a visit

Showing up

  • A small actVisiting someone alonean hour that carries a week
  • An idealHospitalitythe stranger welcomed as a guest
  • A traditionOpen housea door open to all on a feast day
  • A featAcross an oceana long journey to see family

More in the whole poster.

The word "visit", in familiesSenses of the verb, grouped by what they do

visit

  • Movement
    • go to see someonee.g. a neighbour, an aunt, a friend, a patient
    • tour a placee.g. a museum, the old town, a castle, a garden
    • open a web pagee.g. a link, a site, a tab, a landing page
  • Purpose
    • stay for a whilee.g. a weekend, a few nights, a guest room, a short stay
  • Inspection
    • inspect officiallye.g. an inspector, a site check, an audit, a school visit
  • Social talk
    • chat (visit with)e.g. porch talk, a natter, a catch-up, no agenda
  • Afflicting
    • afflict (formal)e.g. a plague, a hardship, old texts, a stern tone

Dashed outline: illustrative sample.

Visiting, through timeThe word on its way into English, then branching out

earlier

  1. the rootLatin visitare"to see repeatedly"SampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  2. the bridgeOld French visiterthe step into EnglishSampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  3. c. 1175-1225Middle English visitenfirst recorded in EnglishSampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit
  4. later centuriesVisiting as a customcalling cards, the good cups
  5. over timeSenses branch outinspect, stay, a web page
  6. in today's dictionariesvisit with"to chat", informal, American usageSampleSample source: Dictionary.com, entry for visit

later

Solid outline and “Sample”: a sample item with a sample source. Nothing was looked up. Dashed outline: illustrative sample. Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

Ways of visitingHow close the people are, against what the moment is

Strangers

  • In passinga nodqueue chat
  • Socialsmall talkparty chat
  • Workpleasantrieslift talk
  • Heavya kind wordsympathy

Acquaintances

  • In passinga wavecorridor hello
  • Sociala natterfence chat
  • Workshop talkcoffee break
  • Heavya check-incondolences

Friends

  • In passinga quick hia text
  • Sociala catch-upbanter
  • Worka sounding boardlunch talk
  • Heavyventinga long listen

Close ones

  • In passinga hug hellopet names
  • Socialloungingin-jokes
  • Worka pep talkcheering on
  • Heavya heart-to-heartsilence together

Dashed outline: illustrative sample.

How a visit deepensFrom the surface to the soul of it

surface

  1. Greetinga nod over the fence
  2. Small talkthe weather, the week
  3. Catching uphow things really are
  4. Confidingthe things on one's mind
  5. Just being therecompany without words

soul

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

Where visiting leadsNeighbouring topics, and where they overlap

visiting

  • hospitalityoffering a seat, the kettle on, a spare bed, a warm welcome
  • guestshouse guests, drop-ins, first-timers, regulars
  • homethe front door, the garden, the kitchen, the good chairs
  • neighboursover the fence, borrowed tools, a wave, street talk
  • ritualSunday calls, tea, the good cups, greetings
  • travela trip, a stopover, arrivals, tourists

Where they overlap

  • welcome: hospitality and guests
  • doorstep: guests and home
  • street life: home and neighbours
  • greetings: neighbours and ritual
  • pilgrimage: ritual and travel
  • inns: travel and hospitality

Further out

kettle, porch, stories, invitations, letters, goodbyes

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

Dropping by or booked aheadWhere a visit sits, from spontaneous to planned

Drop by unannounced

  1. Door always openwalks in without knocking, the kettle is already on
  2. A text from the doorsteppassing by anyway, a call from the corner
  3. Same-day plansa call in the morning, dinner if it suits
  4. A week's noticea date in the diary, a reminder the day before
  5. Booked weeks aheada calendar invite, a fixed hour, a fixed end, the good cups ready

Planned weeks ahead

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

A visit, step by stepThe hands-on side, from invitation to thank-you

  1. 1. Beforea day and an hour, a small gift, the way to the door
  2. 2. Arrivingthe doorbell, coats and shoes, the first cup
  3. 3. Duringthe good chair, snacks on the table, a look around the house
  4. 4. Leavingthe long goodbye, leftovers to take home
  5. 5. Aftera thank-you text, the return visit

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

Visiting, for funGames, words and oddities around a visit

  • JokeKnock, knockthe joke that starts at the door
  • ProverbFish and guestsboth go off after three days
  • ToyThe doll's housevisits in miniature
  • GameHide and seekthe classic with visiting cousins
  • SongComing round the mountaina visitor on the way
  • Odd factCalling cardsa folded corner said who called
  • CustomThe guest booknames, dates and doodles

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

Visiting through a lifeMoments many people know, from small to old

  1. ChildhoodSunday at the grandparents'the biscuit tin on the table
  2. Teenage yearsThe first sleepovera sleeping bag on the floor
  3. Young adultGuests in a first homechairs borrowed from the neighbours
  4. Middle yearsThe in-laws for dinnerthe house tidied twice
  5. Later lifeBeing the one visitedthe door open for grandchildren

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

What lifts a visitIdeals, feats and small acts of showing up

Showing up

  • A small actVisiting someone alonean hour that carries a week
  • An idealHospitalitythe stranger welcomed as a guest
  • A traditionOpen housea door open to all on a feast day
  • A featAcross an oceana long journey to see family
  • A callingThe district nursea visit as care
  • A small actSitting with the sickcompany when words run out

Dotted outline: invented for the demo.

The Bench: helpers who come only when called.

Choose a helper, call it, then dismiss it: a fact checker, the Nuancer (other ways to read what someone meant), a translator or a debate assistant.

When the table cannot agree on a date or a fact, it looks the statement up and comes back with an answer, a source and how sure it is.

“Let us wait for the fact checker.” Or a tap on Call.

On the bench, waiting. A called helper stays on the wall until you dismiss it.

The poster on the wall

How it is meant to behave.

Four design principles of a product in development.

  1. It does not ask questions.

    No conversation starters, nothing addressed to the table. A poster carries titles and labels.

  2. The people choose where it goes.

    A poster shows the range of a topic and names the other lenses, so nobody mistakes one view for the whole story.

  3. It is honest about what is certain.

    In use, every fact carries a tag: checked with a source, or illustrative. On this page every poster is demo content, so the sources shown are samples and nothing was looked up.

  4. It only listens when you want it to.

    Listening is a switch that starts off. A transcript is a separate setting, and it is held in memory only.