LittleBits
{{for|analogue modular synthesiser|littleBits Synth Kit}}
{{short description|Electronics company in New York, United States}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = littleBits
| logo = LittleBits_logo.png
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| founded = September 2011
| founder = Ayah Bdeir
| hq_location = New York, New York
| industry =
| products =
| website = {{URL|littlebits.com}}
}}{{lowercase title}}
littleBits is a New York City-based startup that makes an open source library of modular electronics (open-source electronics), which snap together with small magnets for prototyping and learning.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/25/littlebits-raises-big-44-2-million-round/|title=LittleBits Raises Big $44.2 Million Round|last=Loizos|first=Connie|website=TechCrunch|date=25 June 2015 |access-date=2017-04-16}}{{cite web|title=What is littleBits?|url=http://littlebits.cc/about|website=littlebits.cc|publisher=littleBits|access-date=20 February 2015}} The company's goal is to democratize hardware the way software and printing have been democratized.{{cite news|last1=Lagorio-Chafkin|first1=Christine|title=LittleBits: On a Mission to Make Electrical Engineering Fun|url=http://www.inc.com/christine-lagorio/35-under-35-littlebits.html|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Inc.com|date=24 June 2014}} The littleBits mission is to "put the power of electronics in the hands of everyone, and to break down complex technologies so that anyone can build, prototype, and invent."{{cite news|last1=McHugh|first1=Molly|title=The home of the future is inside littleBits' Smart Home Kit|url=http://www.dailydot.com/technology/smart-home-kit-littlebits/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=The Daily Dot|date=18 November 2014}} littleBits units are available in more than 70 countries and used in more than 2,000 schools.{{cite news|last1=Tsotsis|first1=Alexia|title=littleBits And NASA Bring Space Down To Earth With New 'Space Kit'|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/24/littlebits-and-nasa-bring-space-down-to-earth-with-new-space-kit/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=TechCrunch|date=24 April 2014}} The company was named to CNN's 10 Startups to Watch for 2013.{{cite web|title=The CNN 10 Startups|url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/06/tech/tech-list-startups/index.html|website=CNN|access-date=20 February 2015}}
History and funding
littleBits began as a small project in 2008 that Ayah Bdeir, the company's founder and CEO, created for a group of New York designers.{{cite web|last1=Nguyen|first1=Nicole|title=Why We Love LittleBit's Rock Star Founder|url=http://www.geeksugar.com/LittleBits-Founder-Ayah-Bdeir-Interview-34322187#photo-34322943|website=Pop Sugar|date=17 March 2014 |access-date=20 February 2015}} She launched littleBits in September 2011.{{cite news|last1=Kolodny|first1=Lora|title=Helping People Play With Electricity, LittleBits Closes $3.65M Series A|url=https://id.wsj.com/auth/proxy/refresh?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.wsj.com%2Fventurecapital%2F2012%2F07%2F18%2Fhelping-people-play-with-electricity-littlebits-closes-3-65m-series-a%2F|access-date=20 February 2015|work=WSJ.D Venture Capital Dispatch|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=18 July 1830}} In June 2015, littleBits raised $44.2 million in Series B funding led by DFJ Growth.{{cite news|last1=Loizos|first1=Connie|title=LittleBits Raises Big $44.2 Million Round|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/25/littlebits-raises-big-44-2-million-round|work=TechCrunch|date=25 June 2015}}
In November 2013, littleBits received $11.1 million in funding led by True Ventures and Foundry Group, with participation from Two Sigma Ventures, Vegas Tech Fund, and Khosla Ventures, among others.{{cite news|last1=Lunden|first1=Ingrid|title=LittleBits Connects With $11.1M To Transform Its Electronics Kit Business Into A Hardware Platform|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/20/khosla-ito-backed-littlebits-connects-with-11-1m-to-transform-its-lego-style-electronics-kit-business-into-a-hardware-platform/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=TechCrunch|date=20 November 2013}}
Products
File:LittleBits.jpgIn August 2013, the company released the Base, Premium and Deluxe Kits, the first kits to feature the current bits and modules. The goal is to make getting started with littleBits easier and containing the most important modules than other kits.File:LittleBits2.jpg In July 2014, littleBits introduced cloudBit, a WiFi-enabled module that lets builders add Internet connectivity to their designs.{{cite news|last1=Buckley|first1=Sean|title=LittleBits' latest module lets you connect your creations to the internet|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/07/23/littlebits-wifi-module/?ncid=rss_truncated|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Engadget|date=23 July 2014}} The goal is to give "the average person an easy and open way to contribute to the Internet of Things" using an open-source platform comparable to Linux or Android{{cite news|last1=Estes|first1=Adam Clark|title=LittleBits Now Lets You Build Your Own DIY Smart Home|url=https://gizmodo.com/littlebits-now-lets-you-to-build-your-own-diy-smart-hom-1609215918|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Gizmodo|date=23 July 2014}} to build such things as a remote control for coffee makers, heating/cooling systems, or other appliances.{{cite news|last1=Senese|first1=Mark|title=LittleBits New CloudBit Module Simplifies Internet-Controlled Projects|url=http://makezine.com/2014/07/23/littlebits-cloudbit-module/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Makezine|date=23 July 2014}} In November 2014, the company released the Smart Home Kit, designed to let builders "hack together versions of familiar smart-home concepts—connected coffee pots and presence-aware lamps—or create solutions of their own devising."{{cite magazine|last1=Vanhemert|first1=Kyle|title=LittleBits' New Kit Lets You Create Your Own Smart-Home Gizmos|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/11/littlebits-new-kit-lets-create-smart-home-gizmos/|access-date=20 February 2015|magazine=Wired|date=18 November 2014}} Using the modules, builders could test smart home gadgets of their own designs to "feel out this new territory for themselves" instead of "taking some company’s word on what your smart home should be."
Uses and partnerships
LittleBits consists of small circuit boards with specific functions built to snap together with magnets{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfqyDQAAQBAJ&q=littlebits+modules&pg=PA287|title=Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education|last1=Papadopoulos|first1=Pantelis M.|last2=Burger|first2=Roland|last3=Faria|first3=Ana|date=2016-12-19|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|isbn=9781786350671|language=en}} without soldering, wiring, or programming. Each bit has its own specific function, such as light, sound, sensors, or buttons. There are "trillions of billions of combinations" possible in the littleBits open source library. NASA has collaborated with littleBits to design projects for a littleBits ‘Space Kit.’{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Richard|title=NASA success for littleBits platform|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/embedded-systems/nasa-success-littlebits-platform-2014-05/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Electronics Weekly|date=19 May 2014}} Projects include building a model Mars rover and the wireless transmission of music to a model of the International Space Station. In October 2014, the Space Kit won a Fast Company "Innovation by Design" award.{{cite web|title=Design Is Changing How We Innovate|url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3035110/innovation-by-design-2014/design-is-changing-how-we-innovate#chapter-Ayah_Bdeir|website=Fast Company|access-date=20 February 2015}} In 2013, littleBits partnered with the Museum of Modern Art Stores in New York to build two window displays, which included a giant ferris wheel "propelled by a miniature cyclist" and a "mad scientist controlling a nearly life-sized puppet."{{cite news|last1=Bautista|first1=Camille|title=LittleBits Brings Big Installations to the Museum of Modern Art|url=http://mashable.com/2013/04/09/littlebits-moma/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Mashable|date=9 April 2013}} Also in 2013, littleBits collaborated with KORG to create the Synth Kit, allowing users to build a DIY synthesizer or create musical instruments.{{cite news|last1=Aguilar|first1=Mario|title=LittleBits Makes Building a Modular Synth as Easy as Lego Time|url=https://gizmodo.com/littlebits-makes-building-a-modular-synth-as-easy-as-le-1460843604|access-date=26 May 2015|work=Gizmodo|date=8 November 2013|ref=Gizmodo}} In 2018 LittleBits STEAM Student Set was certified by the Education Alliance Finland for pedagogical quality.{{cite web |title=Education Alliance Finland |url=https://educationalliancefinland.com/products/littlebits-steam-student-set |website=Catalog of certified products |date=28 November 2017 |access-date=12 May 2020}} In 2017, littleBits partnered with Disney to develop the Droid Inventor Kit, codeveloped with the design team at Lucasfilm. {{cite web|title=Turn Everyone Into An Inventor: The Story of the littleBits Droid Inventor Kit|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/turn-everyone-into-an-inventor-the-story-of-the-littlebits-droid-inventor-kit|website=Star Wars|access-date=16 November 2017}} The Droid Inventor Kit was named Top Creative Toy of the Year by the Toy Foundation.https://toyawards.org/toyaward/custom/ActivityToy.aspx {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
Marketplace and retail store
In September 2014, littleBits announced bitLab, a marketplace for products built using littleBits kits and modules.{{cite news|last1=Greenfield|first1=Rebecca|title=With BitLab, LittleBits Wants to Become the App Store for Hardware|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3035699/most-creative-people/with-bitlab-littlebits-wants-to-become-the-app-store-for-hardware|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Fast Company|date=16 September 2014}} The "app store for hardware" is the "first marketplace for user-generated hardware" (according to Bdeir){{cite news|last1=Bercovici|first1=Jeff|title=LittleBits Launches An App Store For Hardware|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/09/16/littlebits-launches-an-app-store-for-things/|access-date=20 February 2015|work=Forbes|date=16 September 2014}} and has the potential to become "the most extensive platform for hardware creation and innovation available."{{cite magazine|last1=Stinson|first1=Liz|title=LittleBits Asks Users to Invent Its Next Product for a 10 Percent Cut|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/littlebits-asks-users-invent-next-product-10-percent-cut/|access-date=20 February 2015|magazine=Wired|date=16 September 2014}} In July 2015, littlebits opened a retail store in Soho, Manhattan. The store has an innovative retail model that allows users to either use the littlebits product for free in-store ("Inventions to Stay"), or to build something, pay for the components, and take it away ("Inventions to Go").{{cite web|last1=Dale|first1=Brady|title=Invent Stuff and Leave It for Others at New Soho LittleBits Store|url=http://observer.com/2015/07/invent-stuff-and-leave-it-for-others-at-new-soho-littlebits-store/|website=The Observer|date=30 July 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Lawson|first1=Sarah|title=How LittleBits Went From Educational Tool To High-End Retail|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3050063/most-creative-people/how-littlebits-went-from-educational-tool-to-high-end-retail|website=Fastcompany.com|publisher=Fast Company|access-date=11 September 2015}}
Role in Maker movement
The first launch of littleBits was at Makerfaire 2009. littleBits won Editor's Choice awards in 2009 and 2011 from MAKE magazine.{{cite web|title=We won a MAKE Editor's Choice Award...again!|url=https://littlebits.cc/we-won-a-make-editors-choice-award-again|website=LittleBits|access-date=20 February 2015}} The company has organized a series of hackathons and workshops to encourage active participation in science and technology. CEO Bdeir was named to Popular Mechanics’ 25 Makers Who Are Reinventing the American Dream in 2014,{{cite web|last1=Raymond|first1=Chris|title=25 Makers Who Are Reinventing The American Dream|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/advertorial/a10276/25-makers-who-are-reinventing-the-american-dream-16604572/|website=Popularmechanics.com|date=18 March 2014 |publisher=Popular Mechanics|access-date=20 February 2015|ref=Popular Mechanics}} Inc.’s 35 Under 35 Coolest Entrepreneurs, and Fast Company's Most Creative People of 2013.{{cite web|last1=Campbell-Dollaghan|first1=Kelsey|title=The DIY Champion|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3009271/most-creative-people-2013/33-ayah-bdeir|website=Fast Company|access-date=20 February 2015}}
Sphero acquisition
In August 2019, Sphero completed acquisition of LittleBits for an undisclosed sum, giving Sphero a combined portfolio of over 140 patents in robotics, electronics, software, and the internet of things (IoT).{{Cite web|date=2019-08-23|title=Sphero acquires modular electronics company LittleBits|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/23/sphero-acquires-modular-electronics-company-littlebits/|access-date=2020-06-24|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}
Unfortunately since the acquisition, the web links included in all the original products to the original littlebits.cc website information no longer operate. As part of the company transfer, Sphero shut down cloudbit servers and discontinued support for the Littlebits Cloudbit.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-08 |title=cloudBit |url=https://support.sphero.com/article/hpqvo1pha2-cloud-bit |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=support.sphero.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://littlebits.com littleBits]