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Tuesday, March 9. 2010

Combinatory manufacturing: Cell Phones & Android instead of Arduinos

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Combinatory manufacturing is the combination between the unique and the mass produced. 3D printing for example can deliver unique shapes and functionality for a relatively low per unit cost. Mass produced items with millions of copies will be much cheaper per unit but will not be unique in their shape or functionality. But, by being standardized they can pack a lot of functionality into a cheap package. By combining the best of both worlds you can come up with great products.

As a technology platform the cell phone is hard to beat. They are inexpensive, ranging from $25 and up, and within the mobile phone's suite of applications a myriad of technologies are packed. Messaging, speech, speakers, screen, microphones, calling, geolocation and an OS can now be found on the simplest of devices. I believe that a cell phone would be very exciting and powerful technology technology platform for Makers and Designers to build around. Not only straightforward things such as interchangeable personalized covers but also things such as hacking a standard phone so it becomes a tracking device for your car or automatically sends out messages if leaves the county.

This is why I was so happy to see a post on Make about an inexpensive robot that uses a cell phone as its brain. The Android based phone Truckbot is also easy to programme.  As much as I love the Arduino these kind of developments really make me think that for the Make community cell phones could lead to a lot of exciting products. Arduino's are great and also really pack a punch but they don't go over the counter in their millions. Check out the Truckbot video below.

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Posted by Joris Peels in Art, Community, Gadgets, Inspiration, Shapeways, What's Hot at 15:07

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Hi Joris.
Great find and nice thoughts on the importance of cellphones in bringing 'hardware-hacking' to more people.
However i believe that he is using an arduino (a more expensive version of arduino as he says ini the video).
but perhaps a more open platformed cellphone in the future would allow us to go sans arduino indeed for quicker sketches.
#1 Artur on 2010-03-09 15:22 (Reply)
Artur,

That is what I meant: IDE for cell phone & cheap phone = awesome maker stuff. He does use both the cellphone and the Arduino. But the huge technology in a cheap standard package of the cell phone is what excites me.
#1.1 Joris Peels on 2010-03-09 15:26 (Reply)

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