product hacking
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the term hacking holds many varying definitions. the predominant meaning of the word used to refer
to illegal activity performed by computer experts, however a new definition is slowly taking over.
this new form of hacking is not done by expert computer users or digital criminals, but is in fact done
by everyday people. this new terminology for hacking refers to the act of modifying or customizing
everyday products to improve their functionality, repurpose them or just for fun.

product hacking isn’t new either, in fact this practice is a basic expression of human ingenuity.
anyone who has tinkered with their telephone or turned an old chair into something else is a product
hacker. so while this idea has been around for a long time, the internet has served as a mechanism
to amplify it. websites, blogs and forums have all been created to spread the practice of product
hacking. hobbyists will post pictures, how-tos and tutorials online making it as simple as possible for
anyone wanting to replicate their clever ideas.

another aspect of product hacking is that everyday people become designers. by taking the resources
at hand and turning them on their head, anyone can practice design. this has additional benefits for
companies producing certain products. if enough people are modifying a product for the same purpose,
it sends a clear message to the manufacturer that this is a consumer desire. smart companies see this
practice and learn from it, taking inspiration from the hackers and integrating their ideas into their
products. some companies have even began making products that encourage users to hack them,
making it part of the appeal.

while examples of product hacking are endless, some ideas are hard to ignore. we have selected
a number of product hacks which demonstrate creativity, humor and inventiveness. these examples
cover a broad range of disciplines too, from furniture and architecture to toys and other electronic
devices. as you will see, product hacking can be applied to almost anything and performed by anyone:
no product is safe!

links
http://hackszine.com
http://makezine.com
http://www.instructables.com
http://hackedgadgets.com
http://hacknmod.com