Our Kickstarter of the Week
series is a look at the world of crowdfunding. We search through sites
like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to find interesting projects for you to
back.
Some of the most interesting new products we've seen - ranging from fun oddities to what could conceivably be the next big thing - have come from these sites instead of big companies. Not every project we highlight has to be the next Oculus Rift virtual reality headset or Pebble smartwatch - some of the projects we pick are just fun and weird.
And of course, there is always the chance that a project will not work out even if it gets funded. But if you're willing to take a risk and can afford to write off a little money, then there's a lot to look at and maybe fund. One project we thought was interesting was the Endless computer.
The idea behind Endless is that the mobile revolution happening in India and the rest of the developing world is not because people prefer using mobiles as their only computing experience, but because this is the only affordable system available. The idea behind Endless is to use mobile hardware to create a cheap computer that can be plugged into a TV, and be more useful than a mobile phone thanks to a custom operating system.
With Endless, the target is not the poorest people in developing countries but rather those people who live in tier-2 or tier-3 cities, for whom this would be a cheaper alternative than a full computer, though still more expensive than some Android set-top-boxes. The difference is that the Endless computer would come pre-loaded with most software that people need, and could be used completely offline if required.
The design of the Endless box is unique - to us, it looks something like one of the ghosts from Pac-Man, all bright colours and cheerful curves. The team has also put together a Linux-based operating system that is easy to use and suited for desktop users. The OS is open source and while the applications on the computer are proprietary for now, the team plans to open up the OS for third-party apps as well.
The goal was to create something that is affordable, easy to use, and suitable for both entertainment and education. Since Internet connections in many parts of the developing world are not dependable, the team also pre-installs the computers with over 100 applications that can be used offline. There are apps ranging from spreadsheets to accounting tools for small businesses, Libre Office which would be useful for students as well,
Some of the most interesting new products we've seen - ranging from fun oddities to what could conceivably be the next big thing - have come from these sites instead of big companies. Not every project we highlight has to be the next Oculus Rift virtual reality headset or Pebble smartwatch - some of the projects we pick are just fun and weird.
And of course, there is always the chance that a project will not work out even if it gets funded. But if you're willing to take a risk and can afford to write off a little money, then there's a lot to look at and maybe fund. One project we thought was interesting was the Endless computer.
The idea behind Endless is that the mobile revolution happening in India and the rest of the developing world is not because people prefer using mobiles as their only computing experience, but because this is the only affordable system available. The idea behind Endless is to use mobile hardware to create a cheap computer that can be plugged into a TV, and be more useful than a mobile phone thanks to a custom operating system.
With Endless, the target is not the poorest people in developing countries but rather those people who live in tier-2 or tier-3 cities, for whom this would be a cheaper alternative than a full computer, though still more expensive than some Android set-top-boxes. The difference is that the Endless computer would come pre-loaded with most software that people need, and could be used completely offline if required.
The design of the Endless box is unique - to us, it looks something like one of the ghosts from Pac-Man, all bright colours and cheerful curves. The team has also put together a Linux-based operating system that is easy to use and suited for desktop users. The OS is open source and while the applications on the computer are proprietary for now, the team plans to open up the OS for third-party apps as well.
The goal was to create something that is affordable, easy to use, and suitable for both entertainment and education. Since Internet connections in many parts of the developing world are not dependable, the team also pre-installs the computers with over 100 applications that can be used offline. There are apps ranging from spreadsheets to accounting tools for small businesses, Libre Office which would be useful for students as well,
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