Hackdesign Content Network Deep Dive

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Content Networks: Deep Dive ReportHackdesign: Fall 2012

At sparks & honey, we synchronize brands with culture.

Using a proprietary cultural mapping platform, we track and identify cultural bursts and trends in real time, score their energy level, project their lifespan and analyze their cultural resonance.

This data is aggregated into what we call Content Networks. Content Networks are a mapping system used to model and understand dynamic, interconnected webs of cultural activity. These Content Networks help brands understand and connect with popular culture in order to make more strategically informed business decisions.

We are monitoring for both signals of longer term change and fast moving cultural buzz. This enables us to identify both cultural waves that are ripe with immediate opportunity (Fast Culture) and longer term shifts that will play out over time (Slow Culture).

Examples of Fast Culture include: fads, memes, fashion, viral content, natural language, trending topics, news events and micro trends. Slow Culture includes: macro trends, consumer behaviors and movements that have cultural impact over a period longer than 3-6 months.

sparks & honey makes no claim regarding ownership or trademark of the language used to name or describe the Content Networks herein. Any usage of similar language by other individuals or organizations is purely coincidental.

Introduction

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Introduction

We invented the concept of Content Networks as part of our Wave Branding offering and have identified a total of 56 dynamic Networks that are most resonant in popular culture today.

We monitor online sharing and conversations, media stories and specialized influencer groups to understand the energy levels of each Content Network and discover examples in real-time.

This document takes an in-depth look into the Hackdesign Content Network, which has been bursting with energy over the past 180 days.

The trends and insights in this Deep Dive Report are valuable for marketing professionals, innovation specialists and for anyone tracking the future of design, technology, manufacturing and retail. This research can help guide you your decision making process and strategic thinking over the next six months.

Introduction

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About The Hackdesign Content Network Report

Throughout this report you will see icons representing Energy, DNA and Prediction Scores*. These scores can help you contextualize the information and examples in this document.

How To Read This Report

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ENERGY SCORE

low high

The energy score is rated on a scale of 1-5. It is represented by these icons:

DNA

PREDICTION SCORE

short long

The prediction score is rated on a scale of 1-40. It is represented by these icons: A unique set of attributes

that describes each example.

The Energy Score is the speed and volume of buzz and reach of the example.

The Prediction Score reflects potential duration or life of the example.

*The scores contained in this report are reflective of energy levels as of September 17, 2012. All scores are dynamic and change over time.

customizationDIYimprovisationcreativityself-reliance+9 more

HackdesignDesign principle of the new “makers movement” that updates traditional DIY ideas of repair, often through open source technology and craftiness.

CC Image Courtesy of Rain Rabbit on Flickr

ENERGY PREDICTION

customizationDIY

improvisationcreativity hacking

self-reliance

DNA

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About HackdesignThe DIY ethos traditionally associated with niche groups such as computer hackers, punk rock enthusiasts and car modders is evolving and spreading throughout popular culture. The Hackdesign Content Network tracks a technology-focused movement whose members aim to create and design new inventions and innovations on their own.

Accelerated by the rapid sharing of ideas, plans and tips via the Internet and easy access to tools, the Hackdesign movement is gaining strength amongst enthusiasts who want to remix, modify and upgrade their world. Though some examples from this Network are merely one-off experiments, this is the space being watched by designers and product development specialists for signals of what is possible.

Communal workshops (aka "hackerspaces") which offer tools and advice are growing in number as well, providing shared resources that are helping bring ideas, which often seem like something straight out of science fiction, into reality.

Hackdesign is being manifested in a growing number of areas throughout culture. We expect to see sustained energy and momentum within this Content Network over the next year.

World Maker Faire

Star Wars Speeder Bike

Umbrella Windmills

Defcon

3D Printed Liver

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Exploding a Watermelon With Your Mind Kinect-powered Email

Makedo: Transforming Trash Into Toys TechShop 7

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Exploding a Watermelon With

Your MindKinect-powered Email

Makedo: Transforming Trash Into Toys

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TechShopDescribed as a "Kinko's for

makers," TechShop is a workshop

that offers members access to hi-

tech tools, equipment, instruction

and a supportive community. A

wide variety of systems, from 3D

printing to woodworking tools to

electronics design supplies, makes

it the ultimate accessible

playground for those looking to

create and hack.

An Australian company has

created a simple yet versatile play

kit which enables kids to create

toys out of trash and scrap

material. The set of plastic

connectors is designed to inspire

imagination and take playing with

used boxes to the next level.

Louisville-based hackerspace LVL1

has created a device which allows

users to blow up a watermelon with

the power of their minds. A modified

Star Wars Force Trainer toy

measures electrical activity along

the scalp and translates it to a signal

which triggers a cannon. If a user

relaxes and focuses his mind in the

right way, the fruit will explode.

Attempting to bridge the "keyboard

gap" for sufferers of aphasia,

blogger Dadhoc created a visual

dashboard to help his mother

compose simple email messages.

Using a Microsoft Kinect, Dadhoc

combined gesture recognition code

and the Processing programming

language to create a simple,

graphical interface that makes

communication easier.

September 8, 2012 May 13, 2012

September 11, 2012 May 13, 2012

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

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hackingEEG

mind controlremote controlhackerspace

kinectgestureprocessinggraphic interfacetranslatingcommunication

toyskids

upcyclingcreativityplay

makerspacehacking

toolscommunityDIY

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Evan’s Lightning McQueen 3D Gun Printing

RoboDoc iTypewriter

Evan’s Lightning McQueen 3D Gun Printing

RoboDoc

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Designer Austin Yang has mixed

archaic and cutting edge

technologies with the iTypewriter.

Aiming to create an object imbued

with memory that offers a more

physical experience, the hybrid

device could be useful to users

unfamiliar with touchscreens.

A designer has created a better way

for doctors to measure the pulse of

children. Using a

photoplethysmography sensor,

which reflects light off a finger bone

and records the number of

heartbeats per minute, the RoboDoc

offers an engaging, more enjoyable

experience for kids.

A Lightning McQueen Powerwheel

was tricked out with real tires and

metal rims, a 500 watt .66

horsepower electric motor, disk

brakes and more. Over the course of

a few weeks, the toy was transformed

into a speedy mini race car.

A new project called Wiki Weapon is

looking to prototype the world's first

fully printable gun. Initial experiments

have demonstrated that it could be

possible, but regulating the process

may prove challenging.

August 5, 2012 August 29, 2012

August 28, 2012 August 30, 2012

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

ENERGY

PREDICTION

Imag

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iTypewriter

nostalgiamechanical

typingcreativity hacking

carstoy

motorawesome modification

nostalgiamechanical

typingcreativity hacking

+6 more

nostalgiamechanical

typingcreativity hacking

+6 more

gun control3D printing

homemadeconstruction terrifying

kid-friendlyDIY

usefulrobotdoctor

Create on Demand

Recycle & Reuse

InnovativeInterfaces

Energy: 5/5

Energy: 4/5

Energy: 4/5

Energy: 4/5

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Hackdesign Topic Clusters

ENERGY

PREDICTION

DNA

CONTENT NETWORK

TOPIC CLUSTER

EXAMPLE

Cool Master Beer Delivery SystemArticle date: 7/9/12

Umbrella Windmills Article date: 8/29/12

MetroDeck - Up-cycled MTA Subway Cards

Article date: 8/24/12

3D Print ShowEvent date: 10/21/12

The Printed BikiniArticle date: 8/21/12

Super Angry Birds Slingshot ControllerArticle date: 8/5/12

Piano Playing ScarfArticle date:7/4/12

Power Racing Series Coming to Maker Faire NYC

Article date: 8/29/12

Archaic Revival

Energy: 5/5

KEY

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customization

DIY

improvisation

creativity

self-reliance

manifestations:

create on demand:http://www.wearedesignbureau.com/projects/the-printed-bikini/?pid=37303D Showhttp://3dprintshow.com/

archaic revival:http://hackaday.com/2012/08/29/umbrella-based-windmills/http://www.newsfactor.com/blog_article.php?aid=4225443

innovative interfaces:http://www.soundplusdesign.com/?p=5428http://www.wired.com/design/2012/07/knit-scarves-power-a-piano/http://www.psfk.com/2012/08/glasses-translate-foreign-languages.html

extreme upgradePower Racing Series Coming to Maker Faire New Yorkhttp://blog.makezine.com/2012/08/29/power-racing-series-coming-to-maker-faire-new-york/

recycle and reusehttp://www.notcot.com/archives/2012/08/metrodeck---mta-upcycled-playi.php

Extreme Upgrade

Basement ScienceEnergy: 5/5

Scientists Bring Maker DIY Culture into the Lab

Article date: 9/13/12

Teen Takes Pictures Of Earth From Space

Article date: 9/12/12

HACKDESIGN

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INFLUENCERSNATURAL LANGUAGE

TIMELINE OF RECENT KEY EVENTS

Current November 2012

July 2012

PhreakNIC 16

Maker FaireNYC

HOPENumber Nine

RadioShackHackerspace Challenge

Red Bull Creation

Brain TankConference Open Hardware

Summit

toorcamp

DEFCONBurning Amp

Disrupt Hackathon

Content Network: Hackdesign

SXSW Make Magazine Arduino David Pogue

I3 Detroit Chris Anderson Bre Pettis Catarina Mota

Mason Peck Hack A Day Stephen Wolfram

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Zach Lieberman

09/17/12

Takeaways

Mainstreaming of Hackdesign

• Increasing mainstream access to information shared by other hack-designers will inspire more people to upgrade and enhance their possessions, pushing the limit of what's possible. The growth of both commercial and community-based workshops will also encourage people to join the movement.

• Through the growth of the “hacker” meme in pop culture and inspired by toys such as K'Nex and Makedo, more children and teens will try their hand at hack-designing.

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09/17/12

Takeaways

Recycle & Remix

• Watch for older technologies being repurposed and combined to create novel gadgets and systems. Inspired by a sense of nostalgia, these hybrid devices could point to future technological advances.

• Out of a sense of thrift and conservation, waste material reuse practices will become more sophisticated and pervasive.

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09/17/12

Takeaways

New Economies & Social Implications

• 3D printing and other such create-on-demand systems will disrupt traditional manufacturing models and offer new ways to create and distribute products. Additionally, the ease of creating objects with 3D printers will bring about new challenges around issues of of intellectual property, pirating and printing of regulated items such as guns and drugs.

• The rise of Hackdesign will lead to a growing number of shops and marketplaces (similar to Quirky or Esty) that offer highly original and custom products.

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09/17/12

Takeaways

Play to Purpose

• The inherent sense of fun found in the experimental projects of the Hackdesign movement will make its way into the mainstream, inspiring and informing products that provide unexpected or more enjoyable experiences.

• Fun, extreme or unusual science-themed content will continue to fuel interest and participation in serious scientific endeavors.

• Following in the footsteps of organizations like Facebook and Google, watch for the hacker ethos to be adopted by more companies looking to pursue rapid (and inexpensive) research and development.

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If the Hackdesign Content Network is critical to your business, then please

contact us to explore deeper insights, additional reports and real-time

approaches to help synchronize your brand with the latest high energy shifts in

culture.

Stay Tuned For Our Next Deep Dive Report!

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