Who says crowdfunding is only for startups? Now, even the big players can make the most out of the amazing process of crowdfunding, and Sony has jumped right in to prove that fact. Crowdfunding is, as you probably know, one of the best ways to make your dreams into reality by asking a bunch of people to fund your project for you. This is, of course, something that people do not usually expect from tech giants like Sony, who has been in the industry longer than anybody could remember. It seems to be working though, considering the positive feedback from a lot of the projects that their employees proposed. Sony has even launched their own crowdfunding site, First Flight, which does not only allow their employees to ask for funding for their own pet projects, but to sell these projects as well once they are ready to be released to the market.
Here are some of them:
- MESH Creative DIY Kit. The MESH is actually geared toward kids that seem to have creative promise within them. The visual design kit allows you to put together inputs and outputs by combining different tags. Because the kit is fairly easy to understand, it allows users to be as imaginative as they can without being put off by the complexity that usually comes with more advanced technology. The colorful pieces do not hurt either, especially when you think about how attractive it could be for younger generations. Although it was initially introduced through Indiegogo, it is now available for preorder through Amazon and through First Flight.
- FES Watch. With all the hype surrounding wearables, Sony shows off their own watch which, to be clear, is not actually a smartwatch. What does it do, then? Well, it’s your average watch that tells time, but it does something cool that no other smartwatch is able to do: it has an e-paper display that does not just cover the screen, but the entire strap too. Users can then wear the watch and cycle through 24 different designs, all of which are cartoonish in nature. It’s almost surreal, with your watch transforming itself every few minutes. What’s even better is the fact that the watch’s batteries can run for 2 straight months on a single charge.
- HUIS Custom Remote. First of all, HUIS is actually pronounced as “haus”. Secondly, universal remotes are not exactly new technology, but this specific one actually adds a more modern face to it. With its e-paper touchscreen and almost iPod-like look, this is definitely one remote control you have never seen before. It uses a micro-USB to charge, which means that you won’t even have to worry about putting batteries into it, and it is just as responsive as other gadgets that work with an e-paper screen like Kindle. With amazing new projects like these being turned into reality, it does seem like Sony is headed towards the right direction with this surprising move. Pretty soon, you’ll have people running to stores that sell electronics not because they want their latest dose of the usual iOS and Android gadgets, but because they want their share of the latest Sony toys as well.
Cesar is a Product Manager at Gadget Salvation, a leader in the refurbished electronics industry. An avid technology enthusiast, he’s always on top of the latest tech trends and applies that knowledge to drive product innovation.
