So you really want your child to learn about hard work and entrepreneurship? Offer to buy little Johnny or Jane a cell phone, stand back and watch creativity take over.
The parents of 11 year-old Dino Zaharakis of Bethlehem did just that, and the result is a patent-pending iPad stand that addresses flaws in existing docks for iPads and iPhones that’s made in Pennsylvania.
According to a company-issued news release today, the new dzdock accommodates iPads, Kindles, nooks, tablets, iPhones and other smartphones. It boasts viewing angles that are optimized for video conferencing, use with or without a device case, landscape and portrait viewing and ‘no fishing’ wire management. It’s available for $29.99 in seven colors. The news release offered a promo code “DZPRNEWS” for a $10 discount.
Zaharakis and his parents were reviewing summer camps on the family’s iPad, for which his father rigged an impromptu stand. Zaharakis found several flaws and suggested he could do better, so that’s when his dad made the offer of a new phone if son could design an iPad dock and a website.
With an initial design concept, he used the Fab Lab at Northampton Community College to create 3D models and produced a prototype at Hill Metal Co. in Allentown. Zaharakis even took the advice of his lacrosse coach, who happens to own Bracalente Manufacturing in Trumbauersville and suggested giving the dzdock an anodized finish. Then came the website, packaging, bar code, a listing on Amazon.com, and a new corporation called ZLabs Inc. Electro Space Fabricators in Topton were enlisted for manufacturing.
We’ll have more on this great story, including comments from young Dino himself, in next week’s edition.
Joe Petrucci is managing editor of Keystone Edge. Send feedback here.