FirstBuild™, GE Appliances’ global co-creation community, will preview
two new products at Maker Faire Bay Area 2015 starting today.
During Maker Faire Bay Area on May 16-17, FirstBuild will showcase ChillHub, a refrigerator with two USB ports and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. (Photo: GE)
FirstBuild is a physical and online community dedicated to conceiving,
designing, engineering and building the next generation of major home
appliances. It fosters co-creation among engineers, designers, makers
and home enthusiasts worldwide by enabling them to participate in the
development of appliance breakthroughs to ensure FirstBuild brings
products to market people actually want.
ChillHub: The only fridge as smart as you
During Maker Faire Bay Area on May 16-17, FirstBuild will showcase
ChillHub, a refrigerator with two USB ports and built-in Wi-Fi
connectivity. It also has an open-source iOS app that provides seamless
integration in the refrigerator by allowing a user access to sensor data
and control of the refrigerator’s components. This is a
first-of-its-kind platform that enables the development of new hardware
products that can operate inside a cooled space.
Developed by FirstBuild community members, ChillHub is not only a
refrigerator, but an open development platform designed for makers,
hackers, tinkerers and developers. Through rapid design iteration on the
FirstBuild.com website and in the microfactory, community members
collaborate on products and features to customize and create new uses
for their refrigerators. ChillHub, an 18-cubic-foot, top-freezer
refrigerator, will retail for $999 and can be ordered through
FirstBuild.com. Limited pre-orders will also be available at an
early-bird price of $799. http://market.firstbuild.com/products/chillhub-smart-refrigerator-top-freezer
The Opal Nugget Ice Maker
Based on online surveying, consumers prefer nugget ice over crescent ice
four to one. Ice lovers praise nugget ice for being easy to chew and for
its fast beverage chilling abilities. To satisfy nugget ice fans,
FirstBuild has created the Opal Nugget Ice Maker for home use. This
countertop nugget ice maker will be both fast and affordable, making ice
at a rate of one pound per hour. The idea was generated by the
FirstBuild online community and will be available for purchase via
crowdfunding this summer.
“These two products illustrate how FirstBuild can foster innovation in
home appliances by teaming up with a diverse community,” said Taylor
Dawson, FirstBuild product enthusiast and GE Appliances engineer.
“FirstBuild is a way to create appliances collaboratively with the best
minds from around the world and bring them to market in only a matter of
months.”
About FirstBuild
FirstBuild is a new model for designing, building and bringing home
appliances to market. A partnership between GE Appliances and Local
Motors, FirstBuild brings together an open community of industrial
designers, engineers and other innovative minds to collaborate on new
product designs that are rapidly brought to life at the FirstBuild
Microfactory. For more information on how to get involved, visit FirstBuild.com.
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