2013-06-26: meet the blinky tape
DESCRIPTION
By Marty McGuireTRANSCRIPT
Meet the BlinkyTape Art + Open Source + Shenzhen + Kickstarter
Marty McGuire Applica;ons Developer, Blinkiverse
June 26, 2013
Your Storyteller • “SoGware Guy” – 10+ years of soGware – Academic Research labs – 3D Prin;ng Startup
• “Hardware Hacker” – Joined Hackerspace movement in 2009
• This story is mostly not about me
In the beginning… was NYC Resistor
• NYC Resistor – “Hackerspace” – Art & Tech collec;ve
• Group buy of a few thousand dollars of LEDs
• Interac;ve LED installa;on for Burning Man 2012
In the beginning… was DomeStar
Open Source Hardware • Release all files!
– Hardware designs – Firmware
• Pros • Leverage
exis;ng designs
• Leverage exis;ng communi;es
• Cons (?) • Maybe get
cloned
Arduino
• arduino.cc – Cheap (~$30) electronics prototyping board
– Designed for students
– Free programming environment
– Huge online community
Processing
• processing.org – Programming environment designed for ar;sts and students
– Built-‐in libraries • Graphics • Interac;vity • Interop with Arduino!
– Huge online community
LEDs are Hard
• DomeStar development ;me spent mostly on: – Power distribu;on – Network architecture – Enclosure design
• Lifle ;me leG over for actual LED art! • This made the DomeStar difficult to duplicate – A few savvy folks reproduced or built on it – Many more requested an out-‐of-‐the-‐box version
Along came… HAXLR8R
Along came… HAXLR8R
• Hardware + Accelerator = HAXLR8R • 4 month program in Shenzhen, China • $25,000 seed money • Office/Prototyping Space – Located in the Hua Qiang Bei electronics district
• Mentors, Factory Tours • Na;ve Administra;ve Assistance
The Heart of the Electronics District
Making LEDs Easier-‐ BlinkyBoard • Pros – Arduino-‐compa;ble – Cheap to manufacture
• Cons – Not cheap enough – Exper;se required – Must bring your own LEDs
– Must solve your own power problems
– Must solve your own enclosure problems
Making LEDs Awesome -‐ BlinkyTape
• BlinkyBoard + 1m LED strip + silicone tubing
• Pros – Usable out of the box – Power and programming over single USB connec;on
• Cons – Fixed number of LEDs – Not chainable
• hfp://www.kickstarter.com/ • Let the crowd fund your project • Backers give money in exchange for rewards • Failure only costs ;me and a prototype • Success means many things: • Passionate community of backers • Demonstrated demand
• Limita;ons/Risks of Kickstarter • One reward per backer (no distrib. deals) • 10% cut to Kickstarter, payment processing • Once you succeed, you’re on the hook! • You will have to eat unforeseen expenses
• Most hardware projects run late and over-‐budget
• Plan accordingly!
• What you need • A working prototype • Excellent manufacturing cos;ng es;mates • Quotes in hand for 100, 500, 1000+ qty
• Reward levels (more than just the product) • Tons of applica;ons for your product • A story • An awesome video
hfp://kck.st/17m3Rwq
• Our Campaign Strategy • Release new content (demos) every week • Minimal Marke;ng • Social -‐ friends and friends-‐of-‐friends • Kickstarter internal -‐ Being featured is key!
• Respond quickly to ques;ons/feedback
• Your Mileage May (Will) Vary!
What’s Next?
• Working with distributors • Manufacturing • Itera;ng on soGware/applica;ons • Keeping backers in-‐the-‐loop • Delivering on ;me!
Thanks! • More about BlinkyTape – Twifer: @BlinkyTape – hfp://blinkytape.com/
• More about HAXLR8R – hfp://haxlr8r.com/
• More about Marty – Twifer: @schmarty – hfp://crea;ngwithcode.com/
Photo Credits • DomeStar at Burning Man 2012
– hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/52076395@N00/7974621586/ • DomeStar Strips
– hfp://www.jplt.com/domestar-‐gallery/dome-‐strips.jpg • HAXLR8R Photo
– hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/worldworldworld/8454484674/ • Hua Qiang Bei Photos
– hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/3299326319/ – hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/3300154884/ – hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/3300182910/ – hfp://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/3300168364/
• Open Source Hardware gEDA images – hfp://www.evilmadscien;st.com/2011/the-‐open-‐source-‐hardware-‐logo/
• Arduino – hfp://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardUno