littleBits exhibit description:

Electronics as Material: littleBits
April 30th 2009 - May 16th 2009
Eyebeam Atelier

Electronics are everywhere. We now produce, consume and throw out more electronic gadgets and technology enhanced products than ever before.

Over the past years, technology has moved from being an integral part of our lives, to helping define who we are.

Yet, engineering is mysticized, electronic objects are black-boxed and creativity is limited by the tools and materials available to each discipline.

Well, disciplines are dead (we think), engineering is not that hard, and until creativity is less constrained, we will continue to see more of the same, and waste more of the same.

With the growing DIY community and open source movement, technology creation has been moving from the hands of large corporations and big development labs to those of small studios and individuals. With the democratization of technology gaining more momentum, creativity with electronics will explode when they can be used as, and combined with other traditional materials such as paper, cardboard and screws. Materials are intuitive, accessible, self-contained, expressive, and most of all, can be integrated early in the creative process.

The following exhibit showcases one experiment in an ongoing series entitled Electronics as Material comprising art work, research and workshops.

littleBits is a growing library of preassembled circuit boards, made easy by tiny magnets. All logic and circuitry is pre-engineered, so you can play with electronics without knowing electronics. Tiny magnets act as connectors and enforce polarity, so you can’t put things in the wrong way. And all the schematics will be shared under an opensource license so you can download, upload, suggest new bits and hopefully see them come to life.

We believe in the power of technology in shaping our identities. So we want to take ownership, and have fun in the process. Besides, haven’t you heard? Geek is in.

ayahBdeir – littleGeek

A project by:
Ayah Bdeir

in collaboration with:
Axel Esquite
Youngjin Chung
Jie Qi

Mega Thanks:
Luma Shihab Eldin - art
Jessica Banks - mechanical design
Spencer Russel, Robert Vlacich - electronics design
Jeff Hoefs and Smart Design for initiating and supporting early prototypes of littleBits

littleBits is supported by Eyebeam.

About:

littleBits is a growing library of pre-assembled circuits, made easy by tiny magnets!

Get on the littleBits mailing list below to keep updated, and give us comments and feedback, we love it!

Back to littleBits main page

See pictures of the littleBits Launch Party

See pictures of littleBits version 1

See pictures of littleBits at Maker Faire

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All pictures courtesy of Jonathan Hokklo 2009