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Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

jewelbots.com

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Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#21

Post by sarajo »

kdamken wrote: post #8

Holy moly that website does a bad job of describing what they actually do. Apparently you can program the lights and vibrations? I looked up a YouTube video, apparently they can be programmed for notifications from your phone? Marketing team really dropped the ball on this one.

Thanks so much for your feedback! Sounds like we have some things to add to the FAQ!

Jewelbots can be programmed just like an Arduino using C++. Real code! Because we believe that kids are super smart (Also, I starting writing C++ at 11).

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#22

Post by sarajo »

sudosteph wrote: post #11

I want to be cynical because I hate the idea that a gadget has to have "jewel" in the name and be a fancy "friendship bracelet" to appeal to girls. But it's a neat little trinket that somebody worked hard on, and if it really was a young woman who designed it to enjoy with their friends, I can't really hold that against them. I don't think scaring away guys from it by saying it's "for girls" is doing them any favors…

Hi! We talked to over 200 girls when making this product, rest assured that every design decision was made with their feedback in mind.

Boys also love playing with Jewelbots, but there are already a lot of coding toys aimed at boys!!! Our market primarily identifies as female, but we'll broaden down the road.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#25

Post by daveguy »

This would be a lot better if it was priced closer to cost. $70 is excessive for an a few RGB LEDs, microcontroller and a buzz motor. These things can't cost more than $10 to manufacture even at low scale. You have to buy at least 2 for it to be interesting they should sell them for $20-$40 each. Maybe the pricing will come down as they get orders.

Very cool concept though.

I hope they have some patents on it or they will be seriously undercut.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#26

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

sudosteph wrote: post #11

I want to be cynical because I hate the idea that a gadget has to have "jewel" in the name and be a fancy "friendship bracelet" to appeal to girls. But it's a neat little trinket that somebody worked hard on, and if it really was a young woman who designed it to enjoy with their friends, I can't really hold that against them. I don't think scaring away guys from it by saying it's "for girls" is doing them any favors…

Goldieblox does the same thing. Everything is stereotypically girly.

You have to assume they did some research and that's what girls want.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#27

Post by KGIII »

kdamken wrote: post #8

Holy moly that website does a bad job of describing what they actually do. Apparently you can program the lights and vibrations? I looked up a YouTube video, apparently they can be programmed for notifications from your phone? Marketing team really dropped the ball on this one.

What they will do is make the nearly inevitable drama of teen girl lives more expensive as the devices are discarded as rapidly as BFFs and boyfriends.

The drama in a young teen's life seems to know no limits. It's all very important to them, at least for the moment. As a parent, you're sort of obligated to take it Very Seriously.

These are just one more thing to be taken Very Seriously.

I do find it amusing that marketing has decided to latch onto STEM for young ladies. It's a noble goal, but I'm not sure trinkets are the way to go about it.

Sort of related: I'm a bit proud that my daughter is an MD, but my only help, aside from paying for it, was just offering to support her, regardless of her career choices - and trying to keep a good sense of humor.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#28

Post by tyingq »

daveguy wrote: post #25

This would be a lot better if it was priced closer to cost. $70 is excessive for an a few RGB LEDs, microcontroller and a buzz motor. These things can't cost more than $10 to manufacture even at low scale. You have to buy at least 2 for it to be interesting they should sell them for $20-$40 each. Maybe the pricing will come down as they get orders. Very cool concept though. I hope they have some patents on it or they…

You are leaving out a few things, like battery, charging, bluetooth, etc.

Agree that lower pricing would help though. Perhaps hoping that early adopters can pay off things like the plastic molds, phone apps, and design.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#29

Post by mixologic »

daveguy wrote: post #25

This would be a lot better if it was priced closer to cost. $70 is excessive for an a few RGB LEDs, microcontroller and a buzz motor. These things can't cost more than $10 to manufacture even at low scale. You have to buy at least 2 for it to be interesting they should sell them for $20-$40 each. Maybe the pricing will come down as they get orders. Very cool concept though. I hope they have some patents on it or they…

Maybe it changed since you posted this, but 129$ for a three pack sounds like a decent price, and pretty close to what you're saying.

That being said, however, I think they should figure out a way to get the multi packs able to be purchased by multiple groups of parents. This looks like great fun for a group, and sad on its own, but parents probably don't want to buy expensive-ish toys for their kids friends.

Then again, the easy thing to do here would probably be to have each one come with a few one time use coupon codes to give to their friends parents. "Recruit a friend into your squad and get 30$ off" etc.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#30

Post by sarajo »

daveguy wrote: post #25

This would be a lot better if it was priced closer to cost. $70 is excessive for an a few RGB LEDs, microcontroller and a buzz motor. These things can't cost more than $10 to manufacture even at low scale. You have to buy at least 2 for it to be interesting they should sell them for $20-$40 each. Maybe the pricing will come down as they get orders. Very cool concept though. I hope they have some patents on it or they…

We do have patents, thank goodness! Our manufacturing costs are no where near $10, that would be amazing. We have a more advanced chipset than a Fitbit and all the capabilities of an Apple Watch (without the screen). Jewelbots can have 8 simultaneous central and peripheral relationships via bluetooth. We are the only wearable device that talks to other wearable devices! (we are also completely open source!)
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