TEDxAmsterdam is all about ‘ideas worth spreading,’ and here’s one idea we heard about recently that we couldn’t resist spreading. Although, it’s not like this one needs any extra publicity. Read on.
It’s the story of Martijn Aslander’s rise to prominence in the one of the world’s most exclusive (and populist) cults: Apple.
Speaking at Standup Inspiration on Tuesday night (a kind of TED ‘lite’ where people get a place on stage for 3 minutes), Martijn told of how he recently asked a friend in the US to send over a new iPad. All was well and good, until, when the iPad arrived, Martijn realised that he’d forgotten to order the essential dock - that little piece of plastic that keeps the thing upright (and for which you pay $29 for the privilege).
Martijn called a friend who had a lathe, took a block of wood, and the two quickly made a solution. For a laugh they posted the images on Martijn’s website. It wasn’t long before Apple’s insider blog picked up the story, followed by Wired magazine, the Twittersphere, and, well, the rest is viral history. Fans praised the stand’s “simplicity and ingenuity,” while others postulated that the stand was “inspired by the Dutch national shoe, the clog.”
Martijn was soon inundated with requests for one of his ‘organic’ stands, which he’s selling for a mere €4, and is now going into production. (And of course, you can also make your own dock – instructions were posted on Instructables).
Since we’re kind of prone to eating, sleeping and breathing wow-factor ideas, to us this was a great example of what can happen in that tipping point when a simple idea sparks to create a wildfire. You’ll be able to experience more of this kind of inspiration at TEDxAmsterdam this November. Now there’s an idea worth spreading.
Photo: Rene Wouters.
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