In this weekly column on crowdfunding, we look at the best new projects on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. We're always on the lookout for great new projects to back, ranging from the next big thing to the weird yet cool tech products that won't find traction in a big company.
Not every project we highlight has to be the next Oculus Rift virtual reality headset or Pebble smartwatch - and of course, funding a project does not guarantee that you'll get something for your money.
But if you're willing to take a risk and can afford to write off a little money, then there's a lot to look at and maybe fund. This week, we look at Parrot, a compact teleprompter for use with DSLRs. It's the kind of idea that is actually a great fit for crowdfunding - this kind of a product will have a large niche user-base amongst YouTubers and other people who need to make professional looking videos without spending too much money.
The Parrot uses your phone as the display for the teleprompter, and attaches to a DSLR camera. Of course such products already exist in the market, but are usually quite expensive. Since the Parrot uses your phone for the display, it is very cheap (and also more portable) when compared to the tablet-sized tele-prompters you can buy - for example, the Autocue iPad Prompter costs $1,299 (approximately Rs. 82,700) and that does not include an iPad.
On the other hand, you can get the Parrot for $100 (approximately Rs. 6,370) - early bird backers can get it for $80 (approximately Rs. 5,100). You'll still need pair this with an app that lets you move the text on the screen - Parrot is working on one according to the page, but there are other apps you can find on the App Store already.
This video shows how the whole thing works:
There are two funding options - for $90 (approximately Rs. 5,370) you can get the mirror which is compatible with 77mm lenses; for $100 (approximately Rs. 6,370) you can get this with an adaptor ring that can be connected to other popular lens sizes as well. In both cases, delivery is estimated for May 2015, and this includes worldwide shipping.
To see more picks from the world of crowdfunding, click here.
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