It all started with Lulu. Just like Amazon, you can browse and buy books. With a difference – you can also sell your books. I’m not referring to old used books, I’m referring to books you wrote. From your sofa, you can sell hardcopies worldwide. And you can do the same with cds!
And then, Cafepress. You can upload books, cds but also t-shirts, cups and all sort of objects. From designer to customer. No zero-added-value intermediaries, no hang-arounds.
So, when will 2.0 make it to consumer electronics?
For example, a gifted user can design a toaster set from his/her home, and sell it worldwide. As long as creators have the right tools to communicate with manufacturing plants, it is possible. And technology is there, off-the-shelf. That’s products on-demand, that’s world 2.0.
Actually, major manufacturers do not manufacture anymore. So what’s the difference? And many already let you customize your product, like Dell or Apple computers. So, why do not take it to the next step? Why do not let customers directly define the products? Millions spent in focus groups, market research and strategies… why don’t let the market define the products they will buy in the first place?
And then, we can take it to a real 2.0, where products are defined collaboratively. But that’s been enough for a first post…
What do you think?
