Still need to crack the final step-- how does a hobbyist make an accessory and get it to mass production. Kickstarter is one way, but I'm eager for JIT Manufacturing... or something.
I've been interested in that concept for a few years--the idea of "craft consumer electronics": small run, customised to a particular niche that isn't viable at large volumes.
I'd be really interested in finding people who were interested in exploring this area. I've had some conceptual thoughts around solutions but nothing concrete.
The thing with Quirky is that they're still gatekeepers. I've got to go through some pretty significant game mechanics. What would be useful is self-serve small run manufacturing. Or a lendingtree.com model for manufacturing, where you have a prototype and manufacturers bid on the project.
