 |
| Amazon allows voting to develop new products |
Amazon announced a new program called Build It, which will allow consumers to give their opinions about some new products from Amazon.
Through efforts similar to Kickstarter, Amazon customers can support products. If you get enough support within 30 days, Amazon will create it.
If you just develop and ship products, you charge customers a fee. The program is designed to help Amazon identify popular products before making them.
Amazon has used similar software (Day 1 Editions) in the past to develop experimental products like Echo Frames smart glasses.
Amazon has not disclosed whether it intends to use the software for all of its products or whether it will be made available to outside inventors.
Customers who support the product will get a discount on order automatically. If the product becomes generally available, the price will increase.
Over the past few years, Amazon and Alexa have launched a range of products from microwave ovens to wall clocks and eyeglasses.
Many of these products have not worked, and the Build It program allows Amazon to gauge customer interest in an idea before it goes into production.
The company stated that it will not state how much money to invest in a specific product, but will instead display a bar graph showing the percentage of support the producer needs to finish the product.
The current concept products are available for purchase at a special price before March 19, and more ideas have been announced by Amazon.
Build It released three concept products: smart note printers, smart energy meters, and smart cuckoo clocks, all of which can be used with Alexa.
Smart Note Printer $ 89.99:
This smart hands-free note printer used with Alexa uses voice printing technology to easily print shopping lists, to-do lists, reminders, calendar events, or important items. The printer uses thermal technology, so there is no need for ink or toner, and the paper roll is easy to fill.
Smart Nutrition Scale $ 34.99:
Smart Nutrition Scales can be used in conjunction with Alexa, giving you hands-free instant nutritional information on thousands of ingredients and foods based on your weight. Alexa will remember the foods you use the most. For example, you can ask Alexa to learn more about blood sugar. Measure the amount of sugar in the blueberries.
Cuckoo Bird Smart Watch $ 79.99:
The smart cuckoo clock is a fun way to help you and your family stay organized as it can be used with Alexa. It has 60 LED lights, a mechanical cuckoo bird built in timers and alarms. A loudspeaker and a movable pendulum clock for mounting on a wall or on a shelf. You can also set it to sound an alarm 24 hours a day, or set it to silent and move on at a specific time.