A Must Have Piece!
Designed by BERG, a product invention and design studio in London, Little Printer is the first in a family of connected products for the home. Receiving global press attention pre-launch.
We like the little printer a lot. It looks fun. And is an item you may not need but life is so much more nicer with the little printer.
Connected to the Internet, Little Printer is like having your own printing press, newspaper and a dog to fetch it for you, all in your front room. Use your smartphone to set up subscriptions and Little Printer will gather them together to create a timely, beautiful mini-newspaper.
Little Printer will launch with an initially limited, but highly engaged audience of design and technology-literate opinion formers. At this stage the value for publishers and content creators is not reach, but a positive association with
an inventive and charming new product. Much photographed, the launch publications will be seen not only by the subscribers but by also by the global review press, publishing on and offline.
Production and sales will scale up throughout the remainder of 2012 and in to 2013.
What is a ‘connected’ printer?
Little Printer has a zero-configuration connection to the web, via a Bridge unit. The Bridge plugs directly into a broadband router, wirelessly connecting the printer to BERG Cloud.
The printer itself plugs into a standard power socket, and can be placed anywhere in the home. The wireless web connection means that content can be gathered from a range of online sources, and Little Printer turns this content into publications.
Users subscribe to these publications, choosing the time of day they would like them delivered. At the scheduled time the content is automatically packaged and sent to the printer, and a small light illuminates to signal its arrival.
How does it print?
Little Printer holds a compact, inkless, thermal printer which prints in black on white thermochromic paper. A thermal head inside the printer selectively heats the paper as it passes, turning areas black to produce an image. The paper required is specially coated, but readily and cheaply available from high street office suppliers or directly from BERG.
How is Little Printer controlled?
A screenless device, Little Printer is controlled via a mobile website at berglcoud.com for iPhone, Android smartphones and Windows phone. This is where users set up and manage their Printers. It acts as a ‘shop front’ for the content (publications) to which users subscribe. After browsing and selecting publications, this is the place where subscriptions are scheduled and managed. Publications are delivered to the printer automatically at the scheduled time. A small light on the top of the printer will flash to signify that data is being received. When the content is ready to print, the light will ‘pulse’ until the button on top of the printer is pressed, which will begin the printing process.
Little Printer is £199 GBP ($259 USD) plus shipping.
Contact:
www.bergcloud.com/littleprinter
BERG is a design studio, working hands-on with companies to research and develop their technologies and strategy, primarily by finding opportunities in networks and physical things. More at berglondon.com
