Ayah Bdeir is the founder and lead engineer of littleBits, a Brookyln-based startup that makes an open source library of color-coded electronic modules that stick together using magnets. littleBits is a great way to introduce people to electronics prototyping without soldering or accidentally frying components. I met Ayah at TED2012, and interviewed her on video there.

I also interviewed Ayah on the Make: Talk podcast, where she broke the exciting news that littleBits was launching its littleBits Community, a website where people can share their creations.

You can try out littleBits yourself by coming to this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area, taking place on May 19 and 20 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. Ayah will be on hand for demonstrations and a presentation, and we’ll be selling littleBits kits in the Maker Shed.

We interviewed Ayah at Maker Faire in 2001.

Maker Faire Project Profile

littleBits Electronics

Just as LEGOsâ„¢ allow you to create complex structures with very little engineering knowledge, littleBits are simple, intuitive, space-sensitive blocks that make prototyping with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together. Each bit has a simple, unique function (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, motors, etc), and modules snap to make larger circuits. With a growing number of available modules, littleBits aims to move electronics from late stages of the design process to its earliest ones, and from the hands of experts, to those of artists, makers, students and designers.

• Project Website
• Video
• Maker Faire Page