During the last five years of building Cozy, perhaps the most important thing I discovered was that, observing and listening to customers is one of the most effective ways to discover new products.
30 years ago, the first 3D printer was too expensive and too large for anyone but corporations to use. Today, there are versions available to the general public for as little as $500. They are used to print everything from cars to jewelry. Images by Local Motors and Design-Milk Cool as that is, this new technology is doing much more than giving people products on demand. 3D printers are dramatically changing lives. Nearly 2 million Americans have lost limbs. That number skyrockets when you look at the rest of the world. Many people can’t afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars on prosthetics. So they go through life without a hand, leg, or other body part. That’s where...
In 2001, Roger Shawyer designed the EmDrive: an engine for space travel that could theoretically run forever. Not surprisingly, people thought the idea was impossible. Image by EmDrive Shawyer’s design used microwave technology to create thrust from electrical energy, eliminating the need for propellant. This meant it could continue running forever, no stopping for interstellar gas stations, as long as the mechanical parts of the engine didn’t break down. Fast forward to 2009. Chinese scientists tested the engine and determined that it actually worked. Now, American scientists are testing it as well and coming to the same conclusion. Shawyer’s Impossible Engine, which people originally dismissed, could end up shaping the future of space exploration. Shawyer’s engine became a reality because...
It’s surprising how hard it is to get a simple design just right. At Cozy, we create simple products that solve an everyday problem and get out of your way. We call it invisible utility. That doesn’t mean we think small though. Edwin H. Land, founder of Polaroid, invented instant photography back when that sort of advancement seemed like magic.He stated “If you sense a deep human need… you make the system to fulfill that need, rather than starting the other way around, where you have something and wonder what to do with it.”Back then, Land sensed a need to remove the distractions of photography. And when he learned that the technology he needed didn’t exist yet, he pushed through innovations that...
On Earth Day last month, Apple's "Better" video inspired us to think about all the small changes we could make to be... well, better. Even small actions can add up to a major, positive impact. As part of our commitment to making the world a better place, Cozy has contributed to Solar Roadways, an Indiegogo project to turn solar panels into safer, greener highways.
We're excited to watch this project develop and progress! If you have a minute, please check it out and support them. Together, we can make a huge difference to the environment.
High five!
