🔆 Staples' 5-in-1 Productivity Light is LIVE. Back it now.

This campaign is closed

MESH: Creative DIY Kit for the Connected Life

MESH is a creative DIY platform that lets you make your own “inventions” in just minutes.

MESH: Creative DIY Kit for the Connected Life

MESH is a creative DIY platform that lets you make your own “inventions” in just minutes.

1 Campaign |

Tokyo, Japan

$64,875 USD by 616 backers

$60,173 USD by 526 backers on Mar 8, 2015

Story

FAQ

Updates 15

Comments 41

Visit our website for the latest information.

meshprj.com

MESH is a creative platform that lets you make your own “smart projects” in just minutes.

Get an email when your home front door opens. Buzz your co-worker down the hall to go for coffee break. Automatically send someone a goodnight text by just tapping a button next to your bed. Get an auto reminder to bring your umbrella if it’s raining outside.

With MESH’s visual design app Canvas and wireless functional Tags, anyone can now invent and build their own projects and “smart things”, and bring more creativity to life at home and at the office.

MESH project - Press & Events

Create in Just Minutes

No coding required! Simply drag and drop.

Attach MESH Tags to or position on just about anything - doors, trash can, toys, closets, wall, etc. On the MESH Canvas app, just drag and drop, and draw a line to connect the Tags. There - that’s it. Simple, right?

Unlimited Inspiration = Infinite Creations

* GPIO means General Purpose Input / Output. It can connect to other sensors and actuators.

By connecting various Internet services and applications to MESH platform, the possibilities of the new applications and “smart things” you’ll create are limitless. You will also be able to share your invention with the MESH global community.

... and your invention!

MESH Canvas: Making without Coding

MESH Canvas is an application with drag & drop-based intuitive user interface to make MESH Tags work. It will be available on iPad. (* iPad 3rd generation or later, iPad mini 1st generation or later).

MESH Tags work with MESH Canvas app on iPad. (iPad 3rd generation or later, iPad mini 1st generation or later required) MESH Canvas app will be released for free.
We will ship to US and Japan only. Add $5 at checkout for shipping. One time addition is fine even if you contribute more than one MESH Tag.

MESH Tags: Huge Potential in Small Wireless Tags

Each MESH Tag has unique features and wirelessly communicates. First, we are going to produce Button, LED, Acceleration and GPIO Tags as below.

Button

You can make simple shortcuts, controller of something, or recorder of pressed time/counts by using Button Tag. It receives multiple pressing patterns below.

Press / Double press / Long press

LED

LED Tag has multiple colors LED. You can create notification or visualization with this. You can control color and patterns as below.

Colors by mixing level of red, green and blue
Lighting patterns (ex. light up steadily, blinking, slow turn on/off)

Acceleration (Sensor)

Acceleration Tag is an input device that can detect motion patterns. You can use this for detecting movement of something, or creating interaction. It can detect various motion patterns as below.

Shake / Flip / Tap / Orientation

GPIO

GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) Tag is for advanced users. It has digital and analog input/output which connect other sensors or actuators such as light sensors, motors and written circuit with conductive pen. For more details, see the section for developer below.

Common Spec.

Wireless Communication: Bluetooth Low Energy
Range: 10 m
Power: Rechargeable battery
Interface: Micro-USB charge only
Size: 48 mm × 24 mm × 12 mm

We plan for the MESH Tag lineup grow in the future

We are planning to add many more types of Tags such as Thermo-hygrometer, IR Receiver/Transmitter, Light and UV Sensor, CO2 Sensor, Motion Sensor, DC Motor, Vibrator etc. in the future.

Software Tags on MESH Canvas

MESH also provides software Tags which let you use certain Web services and cloud devices as with MESH Tags.

For Advanced Users and Developers

GPIO Tag: Control other sensors and actuators as you like

MESH GPIO means General Purpose Input Output. If you are knowledgeable about electronic circuits, you can connect a sensor, an actuator or other electronic circuit as you like and control it. GPIO Tag has 10 pins which consist of the following.

Digital In
Digital Out
Analog In
Analog Out (PWM)
Vo: 3.3~3.7V / 100mA (max) (working with internal battery), 4.3~4.5V / 250mA (max) (working with AC (Micro-USB) powered)
GND

MESH SDK: Develop original software Tags with JavaScript

If you have programming experience, you will be able to develop your original software Tags using MESH SDK.

Prototyping history of MESH

MESH project started from a paper prototype as a minimum viable product for testing the concept. Our dream is everyone can make what they want by adding functions to the physical objects.

We made several prototypes using rapid prototyping tools such as Arduino and 3D printer. We tested several user interfaces, then finally selected current one.

Meet MESH project team

We are a small team of passionate engineers at Sony's seed acceleration program. MESH is designed as a creative development platform for connected life, and you can turn your ideas into real life with MESH.

MESH project at Maker Faire Bay Area 2014.

Why we need your help

We believe everyone can access technologies and realize their own ideas by their hands like a "magic". As the first step, we are launching a MESH crowdfunding campaign to make it into mass production and deliver it to you!

We would love to hear any feedback from you on how to make MESH even better. We want to see what you will create!

Timeline

Designed in Japan

MESH Tags will be designed in Japan. Sony’s world leading manufacturing and quality control resources stand behind this project. If you support our dream, we can assure the manufacture and delivery of MESH.

Thank you

Creators of amazing use-cases

Intuitive lighting controller by Tetsunori Nakayama

Automatic watering machine by Takeo Inagaki

Smart "Mail box" by Masashi Takeuchi

Risks

Our team will use the resources of Sony to manufacture and deliver your order. Since this is a new type of product, and it will initially be shipped with beta software, we anticipate strong involvement of the user/"maker" community in improving it. We expect this platform to evolve and plan to include the insights we get from the community--that is another way of saying that the initial version will not be perfect. We don't anticipate delays in production and shipping, but will communicate to you if any occur. We have complete operating prototypes and are finalizing plans for commercial manufacturing.

Planned additional features and Tags, software improvements, and future support will depend on continued success of the MESH concept with users like you and the developer community. Since this platform provides for almost unlimited options for user innovation, Sony is not warranting or supporting specific use cases.

FAQ

Contributing

1. Can you ship MESH Tags outside the US or JP?

We will ship to US and Japan only. At this moment, we have designed MESH for compliance with US and Japanese regulations only. We will consider regulations for other countries and will make sure to update the community if we can expand distribution.

2. How much is shipping?

Add $5 at checkout for shipping. You don't need to pay the additional shipping fee after first order for MESH Tags

3. I missed to add shipping cost. How should I do?

Choose this perk“$5 Add Shipping” to contribute an additional $5 for shipping for first order, if you failed to add $5 for the shipping. You don't need to pay the additional shipping fee after first order for MESH Tags.

4. Is it okay to contribute several times?

Yes you can. If you wish to select an additional perk, you can do this in a separate contribution until the close of this Campaign. Please confirm Contribution Amount Restrictions at https://support.indiegogo.com/hc/en-us/articles/526846-Common-Contribution-Errors#maximums

How to use

1. Can I order and use any one of MESH Tags?

Yes, please check our "Unlimited Inspiration" use cases. There are several examples of using one MESH Tag.

2. How do I attach MESH Tag to a surface?

You can stick it to surface by using adhesive or so. We plan to release attachment. And also plan to open 3D data to the public, you can create your own attachment.*

3. Can I use MESH Tags outside?

You can. The operating temperatures are around 32 to 95F (0 to 35C). MESH Tag is not waterproof or dustproof.

4. Do I need other tools for using MESH? Which devices are compatible with the MESH?

iPad 3rd generation or later, iPad mini 1st generation or later, Micro-USB cable to charge.*

5. How do I pair MESH Tags?

Push the registration button on Mesh App on iPad, and power on the MESH Tag close to the iPad at the same time.

6. Is it possible to add the software components by myself?

We plan to add the software Tag feature in a future release. First version of the Canvas App does not support this feature.*

7. How do I charge the battery?

Please use your Micro-USB cable to charge. (MESH Tag does not have any cables.)

8. How to power on MESH Tags?

Push the icon of MESH Tag. Each MESH Tag function represented by the icon, and this icon is also the button of power, reset, and status.

Specification

1. How do MESH Tags and iPad communicate?

MESH Tags use Bluetooth Smart, Bluetooth Low Energy（BLE） to communicate with your iPad.

2. What is the range of my MESH Tag?

MESH Tags work up to 30 feet (10 meters) away from your iPad.

3. What is MESH Tag's battery life?

1 month in ordinary use (defined below) if the battery contained in MESH Tag is fully charged.
Button: 10 times click per day
LED: 10 sec light up per day
Acceleration: 10 times detect per day
GPIO: it depends on usage conditions

4. How many MESH Tags can I pair to one device?

Maximum 10 Tags.

5. Can the battery be replaced?

No, but it is rechargeable.

Others

1. Who should I contact with questions about my order?

Please contact us on the page of MESH project

2. Where can I see your privacy policy?

Please see a privacy policy of us.

3. Does MESH Tags have warranty?

1 year limited warranty for MESH Tags. For MESH Canvas app, we will provide the software "AS IS" without warranty.

4. What language do you support?

English only.

(*)Planned additional features and Tags, software improvements, and future support will depend on continued success of the MESH concept with users like you and the developer community. Since this platform provides for almost unlimited options for user innovation, Sony is not warranting or supporting specific use cases

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ

Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Tags for this project