Google Glass & Adafruit - Obtaining Ostentatious Oculiforms

The Amp Hour · 3 Apr 2013 · 1h 09m · Episode 139

What this episode covers

Chris Gammell, a hardware educator and content creator, explains that he won a spot in the Google Glass Explorer Program but must pay $1,500 plus travel costs to receive the device. He and host Dave Jones discuss the business logic of Google using Foxconn for manufacturing in California, debating the merits of outsourcing versus owning production facilities. The conversation shifts to the risks of cloud-based tools, citing the shutdown of Tinkercad and registration walls at EE Times, before concluding with a review of audience survey data.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 17m

    140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere

    Andrew 'Bunnie' Huang, creator of the Novena open source laptop and author of Hacking the Xbox, discusses his new book, The Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen, which he funded via Crowd Supply. He explains the cultural and economic differences between prototyping in China versus the US, noting that Chinese factories use manual assembly with higher defect rates but lower upfront costs. Huang also reflects on the value of open hardware for privacy, the challenges of self-publishing physical books with unique features, and his desire to use his engineering skills to help society.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 31m

    17: Three Honda Civics

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production of the Glyph tripod, detailing the $63,000 cost of injection molding tooling and the manufacturing process. They explain how they manage supply chain logistics for components like the wrist strap and wood handle while navigating the high capital requirements of hard tooling. The hosts also analyze the strategic impact of Apple product announcements on their business, noting how rumors of new iPhone camera features drive product development and timing for accessories.

  • Making It · 1h 08m

    402: I Let The Dog Pee On The TV

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the complexities of modern manufacturing, with Diresta detailing his new Arkansas factory and the high costs of 'Made in America' production compared to overseas options. Bob Clagett shares his frustrating experience bending steel for a curved bench using a manual pipe bender and calculating compound angles for the seat. David Picciuto talks about his DIY project to create a large video wall from three cheap Amazon TVs, while also touching on the disposable nature of consumer goods.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 15m

    125: Pikachu Phone Cases

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the return of their Glif camera mount, detailing the complex injection molding process and the challenges of US-based manufacturing. They analyze the Seneca mechanical keyboard by Norbauer, contrasting its unlimited-budget craftsmanship with Studio Neat's constraint-driven design philosophy. The hosts also critique Apple's recent 'Liquid Glass' UI announcement and debate the future of merging iOS and macOS platforms into a unified ecosystem.

  • The Hardware Entrepreneur · 36m

    #032 - Why manufacturing in USA vs China is becoming interesting, with Scott N. Miller of Dragon Innovation, USA

    Scott N. Miller, co-founder and CEO of Dragon Innovation, discusses the shifting landscape of manufacturing between the US and China, highlighting how rising Chinese labor costs and the rise of crowdfunding are making US production viable for lower-volume hardware startups. He details Dragon Innovation's new software tool, Product Planner, designed to help hardware companies manage bills of materials and unit economics, and announces a partnership with Kickstarter and Avnet called Hardware Studio to support creators. Miller also shares a critical failure story from his time at iRobot involving the first 15,000 Roombas, where a design flaw caused optical encoders to fail due to rubber dust, illustrating the importance of testing and quality control.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.