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Tell HN: Saving the moment. An unobtrusive always-on audio capture device.

5 points by slackline ↗ HN
First time poster, long time fan of HN here.

After a recent impromptu brainstorming session a friend said something to the effect of "Damn it! It would have been amazing if that had been recorded!".

We've heard similar complaints over the years in numerous settings and decided to try to solve this pain in a rather unconventional way.

We're developing beautiful industrial designed lamp with a high quality omnidirectional microphone that is continuously recording audio in a circular buffer. When something interesting happens touching the lamp causes that moment in time to be marked as "interesting", to be played back and saved at a computer.

We're calling it the IdeaLamp. We plan to use it to capture our future brainstorming sessions, crazy conversations and random inspired moments at our office.

You'll be able to learn more about the project here as we progress: http://theidealamp.com

7 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 20.3 ms ] thread
noonespecial
Careful, such a device likely has legal implications in many states as it would certainly qualify as a concealed recording device.
slackline
This is something we're putting thought into. It is not intended to be used without the knowledge and consent of people being recorded. If someone wants to record you without your knowledge it is already trivial. That said we're designing it to be easily identifiable for branding as well as to signal it's dual purpose.
jacquesm
Make sure that people in the room where the thing is located are made aware that they are recorded. Unobtrusive smacks of concealed and that's a no-no in many places.

read this:

http://www.fixyourthinking.com/2004/01/recording-phone-call-...

It is really about phone calls, but it has a pretty clear section in the introduction:

"You are NOT permitted to record ANYONE (video or voice) without their specific confirmation and written release that they know they are being recorded at any time, in ANY place (even inside your residence or your business) - unless it is a telephone/cellphone conversation - THEN you must also follow each state's laws regarding such."

Neat idea though!

Edit: I see noonespecial beat me to it :)

slackline
We appreciate this concern and we want to address it completely. The "intended" use for this device is to capture the impromptu nature of brainstorming sessions. It will be branded and sold for such purposes. Yet, as with any tool we cannot dictate how it is used. That is what the law is for. The onus is on the person who is recording to make those around aware they are being recorded. As is the case with any recording device.

Glad you think it's a neat idea! Any ideas on how we can ensure it's used in the intended way?

lsc
Don't build it into a lamp. Build it into something that looks similar to one of those speakerphone things... with a big red "recording" LED flashing or something.

If it's function is more visibly obvious, I might buy it. but I wouldn't buy the lamp... it looks too much like I'm trying to hide something... and I don't like looking like I'm trying to hide something. Besides, I don't use desk lamps.

girardkelly
I like it. Smart. Simple. Functional. I've been using audio recorders for years and always wanted a simple way to record conversations and ideas I'm having with friends. If you can connect your ideas to and post them automatically to twitter, blogging and social networking API's it will blow up! Hopefully you guys go with a hipster IKEA look.
slackline
Thanks. We hope that such a device will further lower the barrier of capturing and publishing those often elusive moments of insight and humor we have amongst friends.