Kickstarters 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,
At the same time, there are also
online apps for services like Khan Academy, Wikipedia, and educational
games. Overall, the project sounds quite interesting, and if you like
the idea but don't think this is something for you then you can even
select a reward where Habitat for Humanity gives the computer you paid
for to a school in a developing nation.
The
project is accepting funding until May 15. It's already crossed its
$100,000 (nearly Rs. 63 lakh) goal. If you pledge $169 (over Rs. 10,000)
you will get the Endless 32GB model. For $189 (over Rs. 11,000) you
will get the 32GB model with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a built in
speaker. For $229 (over Rs. 14,000) you get a model with 500GB storage,
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a built in speaker. You can also donate an endless
for the same amount. These computers will be shipped by June (for the
32GB models) and July (for the 500GB model) 2015, anywhere in the world
