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Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

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Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#11

Post by fl0wenol »

wodenokoto wrote: post #6
fl0wenol wrote: post #2

Should have focused on a specific sub-market at first, used it to proof-out internal tools and design->front door delivery processes, show the potential. Something boutique-ish but simple, maybe a few internal configurables, that could use customization. Like headphone amplifiers (since headphones are becoming like fashion accessories). Or e-ink pens.

That seemed to be what they did. Only a pod cast radio instead of a headphone amp.

But that's not how they marketed themselves from the get go. It was more about enabling the end user to come up with stuff (I remember reading they were basically targeting other software developers who had a hardware itch they wanted scratched). I think that was _specifically_ the leap too many.

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#12

Post by jeremybell »

fl0wenol wrote: post #2

Should have focused on a specific sub-market at first, used it to proof-out internal tools and design->front door delivery processes, show the potential. Something boutique-ish but simple, maybe a few internal configurables, that could use customization. Like headphone amplifiers (since headphones are becoming like fashion accessories). Or e-ink pens.

I spoke about that in the post - we had narrowed our efforts to just be hardware focused, but soon realized that wasn't enough. We then narrowed even further and were going to simply offer a podcast radio with a number of customizations. But that decision was made too late.

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#14

Post by soneca »

fl0wenol wrote: post #2

Should have focused on a specific sub-market at first, used it to proof-out internal tools and design->front door delivery processes, show the potential. Something boutique-ish but simple, maybe a few internal configurables, that could use customization. Like headphone amplifiers (since headphones are becoming like fashion accessories). Or e-ink pens.

I agree. My personal choice: they should have focused on "build your own personal digital alarm clock - make it snooze however you want: shouting at it, moving it or just placing the snooze button on a particular hard to reach place".

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#15

Post by joslin01 »

wasd wrote: post #7
fl0wenol wrote: post #2

Should have focused on a specific sub-market at first, used it to proof-out internal tools and design->front door delivery processes, show the potential. Something boutique-ish but simple, maybe a few internal configurables, that could use customization. Like headphone amplifiers (since headphones are becoming like fashion accessories). Or e-ink pens.

It's really easy to say this is why someone failed and this is what they should have done instead but take a moment to walk in their shoes. Do you really think it never occurred to them? Every decision has incredible amount of weight to it and only they had to the bear the consequences of the those decisions.

You sound defensive. He's just voicing his opinion.

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#16

Post by jkestner »

The good news is the vision of mass-customized electronics is a huge deal. The bad news is, Apple proved it in 2007-2008 with the iPhone + App Store.

The points that you could've focused on a specific object are good. It would've made you think like your intended customer, the designer. You would've been forced to answer the question "Who wants this?" instead of planning layers of abstraction.

You should've taken a smaller slice not only so that a small team could execute it well, but also to make the concept much more graspable to customers. That's the true brilliance of the App Store.

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#18

Post by shin_lao »

The idea is interesting, but I think the technology isn't there for scalability (need of better 3D printers like the OP said).

Just allowing me to customize a radio (do people still buy radios? I'm curious) isn't of incredible value right now.

I'd wager that "custom drones" would have been a more successful start point, but scalability would have been a problem.

Re: Well, We Failed – Wattage is shutting down

#19

Post by jkestner »

soneca wrote: post #14
fl0wenol wrote: post #2

Should have focused on a specific sub-market at first, used it to proof-out internal tools and design->front door delivery processes, show the potential. Something boutique-ish but simple, maybe a few internal configurables, that could use customization. Like headphone amplifiers (since headphones are becoming like fashion accessories). Or e-ink pens.

I agree. My personal choice: they should have focused on " build your own personal digital alarm clock - make it snooze however you want: shouting at it, moving it or just placing the snooze button on a particular hard to reach place ".

I had a speculative-design project in the back of my head, where objects physically evolve over successive versions, using only existing use data fed into a generative design. The alarm clock was the specific object I chose (what method of waking you up works the best for you?), and this would've been the perfect platform to realize it. Just a silly concept, but you need to come up with a reason to do millions of one-offs, rather than letting a designer doing her job well for a single universal model.
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