I just had published a blog entry on CES and the implications of gadget-hungry consumer saturation when I stumbled upon this article about a Star Trek door chime offered by ThinkGeek. (See “Sorry, You Can’t Have This Star Trek Electronic Door Chime”) This is a pretty simple electronic gadget that sells for $29.95. A $1 microcontroller can pretty much do everything needed in the way of electronics. The appeal comes from the chime’s industrial design, packaging, and tie to pop culture. It sold out in three days. Can you spell “saturation.” ThinkGeek can’t.
Would you settle for a Tardis cookie jar? Same level of electronics and it’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
