by: Dominic Basulto
Earlier in the week, I had the unique opportunity to hear Peter Semmelhack, CEO of New York-based Bug Labs, describe how his start-up company was radically disrupting the traditional consumer electronics industry. Using a modular, open source approach, Bug Labs is focused on bringing the Long Tail of Gadgets to everyday consumers.
Instead of developing a few devices for millions
of consumers, the business model is to make millions of devices
available for relatively few numbers of consumers. His company has
already generated buzz on gadget blogs like Gizmodo, and now Bug Labs is featured in this week’s issue of Springwise:
“For a while now, web developers have been mixing and matching web
services such as Google Earth and Yahoo Weather to create mash-ups that
perform useful new functions. Likewise, programmers have grown adept at
tweaking the code used by open-source software programs. The result in
both instances has been unique applications the developers of the
original technology likely never dreamed of.
US start-up Bug Labs wants to
harness some of that same creativity by enabling tech-savvy
do-it-yourselfers to create their own mobile devices. The company has
designed several basic hardware modules that snap together like
building blocks to perform whatever mobile function their owners can
think of. âThere are so many great gadget ideas that haven’t been
thought of yet,â the founders note. âWe want to unlock and inspire the
discovery and creation of as many of these devices as possible.â
Besides letting them add whatever they want, the snap-together
components also let consumers leave out what they don’t want, which is
a far cry from many pre-packaged mobile phones and PDAs that come
crammed with features their buyers have no use for.”
By the end of 2007, at least a few of the modules should be
available for sale. According to Semmelhack, the plan is to make the
modules available online first, before extending availability to big
box retailers like Best Buy sometime in 2008. If you check out the Bug Labs website,
you’re probably thinking, “Wow, those products doesn’t look at all like
a phone or camera that I own.” That’s the whole point. As Springwise points out, “Gadgets built with Bug Lab’s block-like components may not satisfy
those who lust after branded mobile devices poured into seamlessly
sleek designs. It will, however, appeal to people who enjoy making
things, and like having control over elements of a product’s design.”
This is a company to watch. Mad props to Peter and team at Bug Labs!
Original Post: http://endlessinnovation.typepad.com/endless_innovation/2007/12/bug-labs-innova.html
