in At any point, there are about 200 million different crowdfunding campaigns on the web. Walk through kickstarters or Indiegogo and you'll never run out of weird, useless and dumb projects with real gems. We've cleaned up the fidget spinner and the squeaking iPhone case to finish off the most unique, ambitious, and exciting new crowdfunding project this week. Even with the best intentions, crowdfunding projects can fail, so do your homework before checking your dream tool.
13 October
Adaptalux — Flexible Lighting for Macro Photography
If kickstarters are good for you, they are very original photo accessories. The latest addition? Adaptalux Flash Arms — Super unusual but completely original lighting solution designed for macro photography. Basically, the xenon bulb flash system attached to the end of the goose neck flexible arm allows you to place it closer to the subject and theoretically get a better picture. It's too clever for big companies to follow, but too niche would not have been possible without crowdfunding.
Legion Solar 4 — Simplified Solar Panel
These are not common solar panels. In addition to the perfect plug-and-play (i.e. no professional help in installation), a very clever inverter system is provided that can use grid-connected solar energy without special permission from the utility company. The company said, “We created SolarRegulator, an artificial intelligence computer that contains the energy generated behind meters that are not owned by the utility company. “The energy production of each micro inverter is controlled so that the energy production is less than or equal to the energy consumption, so that you can generate your own electricity without limits. [Your] Power companies reduce consumption, not grid-connected solar systems. As a result, there is no need to find the interconnection rights associated with the grid tie photovoltaic system approved by the power company. ”
Orbi Marine — waterproof, 360 degree video glasses
There are dozens of 360-degree cameras these days, but like most action cams, you have to hold the camera or mount it somewhere on your body. It's not ideal if you're trying to shoot while doing active work. In addition, there is little waterproof, but Orbi Marine aims to solve these problems at once. Basically, it's a set of rugged waterproof glasses with a built-in camera at several points on the frame / body. So not only can you shoot hands-free, but these glasses can go anywhere, including on the lake. Do not wear it on the catwalk!
Whistler — Self-Healing Windbreaker
High performance fibers have come a long way in the last decades. Now gear manufacturers have a boat full of different materials to choose from when designing materials. There are also ultralight things like Dyneema, crazy things like Spectra, and waterproof things like GoreTex or Futurelight. But the Whistler windbreaker's material makes the textiles mentioned above appear to be from the Stone Age. This sucker is made of a material with its own healing properties called HeilTech nylon. If a hole is drilled, you can just pick the cloth around the hole and rub it between your fingers. Due to the unique structure of the material, slight friction and heat causes the fibers to join together and fuse again, filling the puncture.
Zero Co — low waste household items
Disposable plastic is going the way of dodo. I started with a plastic bag and moved it to a plastic straw. Recently, there has been a movement to eradicate plastic appliances. The next time Zero Co advances, it will throw away disposable containers for household items. The company has developed a reusable container system with a subscription-based mail-in refill program. The idea is to send a new bottle when you run out and mail it to an empty container instead of buying a new bottle cleaner, laundry detergent or anything else.
6 October
Bijou — Pocket Size Projector
At this point, the small projector is not new but very small. Small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket. But despite the fact that it is about the same size as a deck of cards, it has some decent features. For example, MEMS laser beam scanning technology can be used to better focus and project deeper blacks over longer distances than DLP projection. I don't know how much to believe this claim, but if the creators fulfill their promises, this is actually great.
Hunt23 — Free Bar Flashlight
Flashlights are always convenient to carry around, but most people would agree that looking around full-size flashlights is a bit of a pain. Often it is easier to skip the flashlight and use the app on your smartphone. But what if the flashlight is so small that you hardly notice what you are carrying? This is where Hunt23 comes in. Not only is it one of the smallest torches in the world, but at the end is equipped with a full-featured fryer bar. Now if you've ever been in a situation where you need to lift staples off the wooden floor in the dark, you're ready to go!
Tetra Cube — Sustainable Smartphone
Smartphones are an important part of the modern digital life, but unfortunately they are very terrible for the environment. Not only is it filled with rare earth metals that can be obtained only through environmentally harmful mining operations, but also has a relatively short lifespan, and if disposed of incorrectly, it can filter out toxic chemicals. Tetra Cube aims to solve all these problems. how? Phone that can last more than 4 years
Shine-Automatic Toilet Cleaner
Cleaning the bathroom is the worst thing in the home, so there are a variety of cleaning products that are easier and more hassle free. Shine is the latest participant in this old product category and will help you keep your sleeves neat and differentiate them from the rest of the pack. It uses electrolyzed water that sounds like a total BS to clean the throne, but was developed in Japan to sanitize high bacterial environments such as sushi restaurants without actually introducing legitimate and harmful chemicals. Best of all, Shine is activated by voice, so you can shout commands like Alexa.
Transformer Table 3.0 — Extending Tables and Benches
This is wonderful. Basically, when fully extended, it's an extension table that can accommodate 12 people, but it's small enough to be a two-person table. The secret is hidden beneath it, and it's a very clever rail system that not only supports table leaves, but also extends to the desired length. This is actually the third iteration of the Transformer Table and now comes with a nice coffee table that can store unused leaves or use it as a piece of furniture on its own. Be prepared though: this one is not cheap!
29 September
Grocery store services directly to go-consumers
Do you know how Warby Parker has disrupted the eyewear industry with a direct consumer business model that can block brokers (glass retailers) and sell luxury glasses at a much lower price than their competitors? Do you remember that the same thing happened in the mattress industry when companies like Tuft & Needle and Casper figured out how to ship mattresses directly to the door? Now a company called Move is trying to apply the same idea to grocery shopping. By cutting out brokers, the company claims to be able to deliver groceries home for less than buying groceries in stores. Now we are the idea to fall behind!
Doer — Compact Handheld Tool Shed
This is not surprising. It is basically an intersection between the tool warehouse and the Swiss army knife. Inside there are cordless drills, drill presses, scroll saws, circular saws, table saws, two types of hot wire cutters, table sanders, mini lathes, work lights and lanterns. But thanks to black magic or extremely advanced Tetris technology, all of these tools are packed in boxes no larger than an average size cooler. Shut up. Take your money!
Keychron K4 — Optimized Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Kickstarter has hosted hundreds of thousands of keyboard projects over the years, of which Keychron lags behind the top three. Now the company is back with the fourth project, Keychron K4. According to the producers, “96{7be40b84a6a43fc4fae13304fce9a2695859798abfc41afd127b9f8b21c5f9c5} wireless mechanical keyboard. It features a full-size feature in a compact design with 100 required keys. There are two premium switch options that allow for the highest productivity, excellent tactile typing experience, and a minimal, unique and rugged design. With more than 15 RGB backlights and a large capacity battery of 4000mAh, the K4 is a powerful keyboard for all keyboard lovers. ”
Mudita Pure-Minimalist E-ink Phone
It is no secret that at this point the screen is mentally and physically unhealthy. Science is very crucial. Focusing on an object at a certain distance for a period of time weakens the eyeballs and impairs vision, while light of blue light on the rods and cones interferes with the natural circadian rhythm. And do not start how addicted we are to the phone. Mudita is an attempt to mitigate this problem. Instead of a bright and colorful screen, it uses an e-ink display that does not emit artificial light. In theory, this helps to avoid too much blue light exposure and the urge to check all of the colorful notification icons.
Tilt Five — Hologram Desktop Game System
As for augmented reality, everyone in the consumer electronics industry seems to be racing towards the same goal: making all the powerful multi-purpose AR eyewear sets. But AR doesn't have to be versatile. What happens if you apply augmented reality to a very specific use case? This is the idea of Tilt Five, an innovative and highly specialized AR focused on desktop games. I will not try to explain more than that. This is where the pitch video draws a lot more vivid picture than I can.
22 September
Print Pen — Handheld Printer
Did you want to carry the printer in your pocket? Maybe not, but someone has created an inkjet printer that fits in the palm of your hand. Despite its small size, this printer can print much larger than it is. Just shake it over the surface you want to print and the ink will magically build up on it. It's similar to one of the label making machines, but it's supercharged and not limited to printing on small paper.
Chase Dory — Small Underwater Drone
Underwater drones are quite common these days, but despite the dozens of choices to choose from, the majority can be large and bulky and difficult to transport to the beach. But Dory drones are designed to be small and portable. Nevertheless, don't let the small keys fool you-it seems to have the same features as other aquatic drones, including 1080P video capability, 8G onboard storage, five propellers for propulsion, headlights and even smartphone control .
Escape-S — Self Charge Smart Bag
In fact, every smart suitcase has a built-in battery that allows you to charge your device on the go. However, when the battery is exhausted, most smart suitcases still rely on external power to charge the battery, so it is better to pray if the outlet is nearby. Escape -S is different. Thanks to the smart wheel design, this suitcase can capture and store the energy generated by rolling. According to the creators, an additional 2 hours of battery can be supplied to the smartphone with only 10 minutes of rolling.
Bundl — self-regulating heated sleeping bag
Need a "smart one" sleeping bag? Probably not, but someone has made one anyway. Bundl is a thermal sleeping bag designed with a built-in sensor that monitors and regulates the temperature during the so-called night, ensuring that your comfort never fluctuates regardless of cold. Still, it's more than a heated mummy bag. It is also equipped with an incompressible footbox, armholes and device pockets that can be worn around the camp like a goofy hip poncho before going to bed.
Axibo Pan / Tilt / Slide — A.I. DSLR Camera Control
A.I. to automatically track the subject over the last year. Based cameras are on the rise, but so far they are usually designed to work on low-end cameras or smartphones. If you want to give AI, the only way to give DSLRs a powerful performance was to build your own rig. Axibo Pan aims to solve this problem. Basically, it's a full-featured camera rig that gives AI the ability to pan, tilt and slide the camera, effectively transforming it into a one-person video production team.
15 September
Ecoflow Delta — battery powered generator
We covered this at the beginning of this week, so here is a brief description of the whole article: “If you're looking for a portable power plant that can keep all your devices charged and powered on the go, I'm disappointed in your options and introduce EcoFlow Delta. Launched from kickstarters last week, this charging station promises to deliver plenty of power as well as many ports. Too much, designers claim to be able to charge Tesla.
EcoFlow's latest portable power plant has six amazing AC outlets that allow you to connect multiple laptops, LCD monitors, TVs, small appliances and many other items. The device is equipped with six USB ports, including two standard USB-A ports, two quick-charge 28-watt USB-A ports, and two 60-watt USB-C ports. It also has a 12 volt port (aka car port), which allows Delta to charge up to 13 devices at the same time. ”
Lifesaber — a versatile electronic survival tool
Think of the lightsaber as an electronic swiss army knife for outdoor lovers. It can supply light, charge the equipment, and also purify the water. There are also plasma arc lighter attachments that can set fire in hell, even in wind or rain. And the best part? Equipped with a manual crank, it can be powered manually no matter where it is, even in rain or gloss. The only thing missing is the ability to brew a hot coffee pot
Haven — Hammocks / Tent Hybrids
Hammocks are now all angry at the camping / backpacking scene, but sleeping in a hammock is not for everyone. Hammocks are not ideal if you are a side slipper, navel slippers, or can't sleep anywhere other than on a flat surface. This is where Haven Tent came in. Basically half tent, half hammock. So you can enjoy the best of both worlds. It is easy to install because it hangs like a hammock, but unlike the hammock it is designed to hold the air pad and place it on a flat surface. Best of all, there's a built-in bug net so you don't have to worry about being pushed by mosquitoes while relaxing.
Accompaniment-Imported Toothbrush
Tired of all the squeezing, rubbing, spitting, rinsing, brushing and flossing needed to keep the pearly white clean? For decades, the only will of this light work was the electric toothbrush. However, while this automatic vibrating tooth cleaner is a step in the right direction, it does not eliminate both boredom and time wastage from brushing teeth. How does it take almost no time after doing the same and achieving the same level of cleanliness?
Encompass uses a new toothbrush to finish the job in a short time. Here's how it works: Rather than the traditional toothbrush shape, Encompass uses a j-shaped bristle module that completely covers half of it. mouth. From there, a pneumatic air system vibrates the bristles at high speed, which can clean everything in about 20 seconds.
Ferroflow — Iron Fluid Clock
The full text of this article, released earlier this week, reads: “What would everyone's favorite Marvel symbiote Venom look like a watch? It may sound like a riddle, but it is not. Kick starter campaign. Called simply the Ferrofluid Clock, it is an analog desktop clock made of an oily dark magnetic liquid called ferrofluid, with the hour and minute hands held by magnets hidden behind the face. ”
“This magnetic liquid was invented by NASA in the 1960s for use as a possible rocket fuel. Since then, because of the unique and alien appearance and movement, many creative types have captured iron fluid as a material. Now you can also use it to tell time. (Note: Unlike the original version of NASA, the liquid used here is nonflammable. "
Editors' Picks