Annike Tan (@ubeboobey) built a functional computer inside an old purse and went viral. The mermaid-themed cyberdeck runs on a Raspberry Pi, looks like an accessory, and attracted coverage from The Cut and Wired. She has since built an MP3 player and a solar-powered cyberdeck.
Cyberdecks are no longer niche hobbyist boxes shaped like tiny laptops. DIYers are now hiding Raspberry Pi boards inside jewelry boxes, toys, and art projects, and posting the results to TikTok for millions of views. The form factor is the statement.
The full piece is worth reading for the details on how these builds work and why the aesthetic shift matters. The move from functional-looking hardware to disguised, personal objects says something specific about who is building these machines now and what they want from them.
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