Media Lab alumna Ayah Bdeir will discuss how she started littleBits, an open-source kit of electronic modules that snap together with magnets for prototyping and play. Bdeir will talk about the LittleBits technical platform, an entirely analog, modular, "object-oriented" hardware platform. On the heels of her
Ayah Bdeir is an engineer, interactive artist, and founder of littleBits, an open-source kit of electronic modules that snap together with magnets. Only six months after its creation, litteBits has been acquired by MoMA for the museum's permanent collection, won best of ToyFair, been featured by TED, the BBC
Bdeir received her master's from the MIT Media Lab, where she was a student in the Computing Culture group led by Chris Csikszentmihalyi. Prior to that, Bdeir studied Computer Engineering and Sociology in the American University of Beirut.
After the Media Lab (and a brief stint in Finance), Ayah got a fellowship and senior fellowship at Eyebeam Art+Technology center. She taught graduate classes at NYU and Parsons, and taught numerous workshops to get non-engineers, and particularly young girls, interested in science and technology. Bdeir was a mentor in the regional reality tv-show Stars of Science, promoting science and technology innovation in the Middle East.
Bdeir was named a 2010 Creative Commons fellow in recognition of her work, including spearheading the first Open Hardware definition
Bdeir is also the founder of Karaj, Beirut's lab for experimental art, architecture, and technology.
