Ask HN: hardware startups, where to begin? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: hardware startups, where to begin?

#11

Post by IgorCarron » Tue, Jul 13, 2010, 8:09 PM UTC

epynonymous wrote: post #8

i'm based in shanghai, china, there are lots of factories in china that can produce a prototype for sophisticated hardware on the cheap, i mean, they have all the machinery and processes in place to assemble all sorts of today's most sophisticated products (ipad, iphone, android phones, etc). all it takes is some negotiation to get the price down, but you can accomplish this by selling them on the potential of creati…

it looks like there is indeed some potential:

http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/07/the-manufacturing-future.ht...

Re: Ask HN: hardware startups, where to begin?

#12

Post by schwonder » Tue, Jul 13, 2010, 10:20 PM UTC

wfjackson3 wrote: post #9

There are a few EE's lurking around here, myself included. Can you elaborate on what you are trying to build?

My latest thought was to make a bluetooth transmitter which would help me locate my cat using my Android. :)

Re: Ask HN: hardware startups, where to begin?

#13

Post by dbro » Thu, Jul 15, 2010, 5:16 PM UTC

mahmud wrote: post #6

I am investigating the possibility of a tiny tablet the size of iPod Touch, with 3G and Android. Either touch-screen or a folding keyboard; all that matters is it has to be pocket sized. Any ideas where to start investigating.

What is the goal for the project?

There are many platforms that might be appropriate. Why not start by writing code for an iPod Touch and then see how it goes from there? You will probably refine your ideas during prototyping, so starting with a flexible (if expensive) platform that is easier to program can be helpful.

Another example of a small device that could be interesting is the "IM-ME", which sells for about $15 retail, and is pink! see http://hackaday.com/2010/01/06/update-more-pink-wireless-ter... and http://hackaday.com/2009/11/30/pink-wireless-terminal-of-won...

Re: Ask HN: hardware startups, where to begin?

#14

Post by dbro » Thu, Jul 15, 2010, 5:25 PM UTC

schwonder wrote: post #12

wfjackson3 wrote: post #9

There are a few EE's lurking around here, myself included. Can you elaborate on what you are trying to build?

My latest thought was to make a bluetooth transmitter which would help me locate my cat using my Android. :)

A few questions: Is this a hobby project or are you hoping to build and sell many units? If it's a hobby project, are you doing it primarily to learn about building hardware? Or do you want this information so much that you'd be willing to buy some product that would do it for you? (eg http://www.surprisinggift.com/GPS-Tracker-Locator-Portable-G...)

Can you constrain the problem? Can you assume the cat is inside your house and you want to know which room it's in? Or is this lowjack for lost pets that wander away from their homes?

Getting a fix on the pet's position is probably the most challenging part. Transmitting information from pet to the web is easier.

You may want to look at the snif tag as an example of pet activity monitoring. It is like fitbit for dogs (or cats). http://www.sniftag.com/