With the new decade in full swing I wanted to share my areas of interest for the coming year. Two old themes are returning and two newer ones are keeping me excited for the decade to come.
1. Mass Customization
I’m sure print-on-demand companies will continue to roll on into the new year, as will customizers of chocolate bars, granola, and the odd purveyor of 3D printed collectibles. What I’m hoping to see in 2010 is the emergence of a company with customization at its core that has billion dollar potential.
One area I’m excited to watch is home building. All the key requirements are met. The technology is ready for prime time, capable of producing high quality quality products at reasonable prices. CNC Routers like those offered by ShopBot enable the creation of amazing structural components while services like Artaic and others provide the capability to rethink surfaces in this case, tile. There is a network of folks who do home improvement either professionally or as a hobby. Materials are easily found and great design software like SketchUp is available for free. Now all that is needed is a service to combine it all with a digital Norm Abram at its head to vanquish boring McMansion design forever.
2. 3D Printing, Laser Cutters, CNC, and More!
I’m not expecting much on this front in 2010. The horrible economic conditions of the last 18 months are probably going to dampen any major R&D related announcements for the year. I am holding out hope for Team MakerBot as they have promised multiple color materials, larger format machines, and 3D scanning capabilities in 2010.
3. Consumer Product Design as a “Hobby”
Make: and BoingBoing do a great job covering hobby product projects like iPhone accessories made of Lego’s. Less attention gets paid to companies like Lime Tree Cove which is basically two guys, a 3D printer, who are boot strapping a kitchen product to the shelves of mass market retailers. “Hobby” sounds a bit pejorative, but I use it to describe activities that the creator doesn’t need to pan out financially, though success is likely the goal. I think the LTC team is a harbinger of things to come and will have an impact on the world of products.
Old “Hobby” Product Design:
New “Hobby” Product Design:
4. Wrapping the Internet in Plastic
Web connected digital picture frames and the Ambient Orb are old news. Web Video start up Boxee releasing a set top box and remote control is an in interesting development. Boxee has a larger hardware partner supporting the project, but the fact that a relatively young, modestly funded start up is now able to create a Tivo-esqe experience is an exciting development of those interested in the world of bits and atoms. There seems to be momentum in this area with PogoPlug, Nanovor, MagicJack, and many others bringing web/plastic hybrids to market. I hope to cover it further in 2010.
Let me know what you see as the big trends for this year and beyond!
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