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New Crowdfunding Site Aims to Serve Makers, Protect Backers

New Crowdfunding Site Aims to Serve Makers, Protect Backers

Given the publicity surrounding Kickstarter’s rule changes for hardware projects and funded projects that fail to deliver, it was only a matter of time before someone created an alternative crowdfunding service. It’s already happened. First there was Selfstarter, a site developed by the creators of Lockitron after their project was declined by Kickstater. And now there’s Christie Street, a hardware crowdfunding site that will audit projects before they go live to help ensure product delivery for backers and product success for inventors.

Continue Reading Stett Holbrook1
A Folding Kayak Made of Corrugated Plastic?!

A Folding Kayak Made of Corrugated Plastic?!

New uses for existing materials can fuel hardware innovation. Such was the case for Anton Willis who after moving to a San Francisco apartment had to put his beloved kayak into storage. No room for big toys. By coincidence around that same time he met Robert Lang, a physicist and renowned origami expert. The ideas of kayaks and origami fused in Anton’s mind and lead him on a journey that resulted in the Oru, an innovative folding kayak.

Continue Reading TravisGood5
Lindsay’s Technical Books Ships Last Catalog

Lindsay’s Technical Books Ships Last Catalog

I think I was fourteen or fifteen when I received my first Lindsay’s catalog, ordered from a print ad in the back pages of Popular Science or Popular Mechanics—I don’t recall which. “Build Lightning Bolt Generators!” it trumpeted. “Melt Metal! Rediscover Lost Technology!” I clipped along the dotted line and sent $3.00, cash, through the US mail. I’ve been a regular buyer ever since.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan24