One of the projects leads of the Apple iPod has come up with a novel design for a household thermostat. Tony Fadell’s Nest thermostat has the brains of a smartphone and the looks of a product made by Apple. Instead of complex programming steps, the device learns from every day use. It can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad and through a computer. It will be interesting to see if this product really catches on. Optimal adjustments to the temperature in a home can potentially save a lot of energy. There also seems to be ample R&D and funds behind the product. Just purchasing the domain nest.com was probably quite an investment. The Nest thermostat should be available for sale late this year for $249.
Social product development
Developing a new product is a costly and time consuming enterprise. It requires countless hours of research, prototype creation, and plenty of funds for materials and legal fees if attempting to patent the idea. Quirky has come up with a different approach. They have a network of over 30,000 volunteers that can help influence to improve and eventually launch a product. The process starts by someone submitting an idea. The concept is then presented to the community for feedback. The best ideas are selected to move on to actual product development, design, and branding. Continue reading “Social product development”
A multifaceted iPad case
There have been a hundreds of options for iPad cases in the market. Most do a good job protecting the iPad, but fail in increasing usability. Brenthaven 5-in1 case does a great job. The case has three pieces: a top, bottom, and overall cover. The pieces are then customized to achieve five functions: (1) full, hardshell protection of the iPad when not in use, (2) a horizontal viewing stand, (3) a strap system to hang the iPad for viewing videos, (4) a stand to make typing on a flat surface easier, and Continue reading “A multifaceted iPad case”
An easy to carry, ultra small USB drive
Attach this USB drive to you key chain and you will always have a place for data with you. The LaCie MosKeyto is one of the smallest USB drives in the market. It probably cannot get any smaller because of the actual form of the USB connector. The drive is available in 4 GB and 8 GB capacities. LaCie has been making reliable storage devices since 1987. Continue reading “An easy to carry, ultra small USB drive”
Read about architecture and new design ideas
I often visit the Contemporist blog to discover new design products and stay updated with innovative construction projects around the world. The blog is tailored mainly for architects and interior designers, but also has interesting articles for anyone interested in good design. The site covers categories like furniture design, interiors, lighting, and mostly architecture related topics.
Build your own car
Have you ever wanted to build your own car? It can be a very expensive enterprise. A new venture called Local Motors is doing just that. They are an American car company that is using a method similar to open source to design and build cars locally. Customers form part of a design and build team. The design process is open to customers globally. Participants vote for the most desired features and car characteristics. The best designs are built in local micro-factories and only a limited amount of cars are produced. Customers can actually participate in the build process. They currently have about five models and many more to come.