Our Humble Beginnings Continued The last and most recent of our oldies but goodies. The FamliTemp concept was created in 1986, while the final model, pictured here, was constructed in 1988. Although we came very close to licensing it, and still believe it's a viable product from a consumer's point of view (meeting the needs of families with infants and older children at a price point of $20 US) its timing was about 10 years too late. Around the time we created the concept model, news was breaking of a new thermometer technology on the horizon..."infrared" thermometers that accurately took one's temperature through the ear. First introduced in hospitals, as tethered devices with separate control units, a hand held version soon entered the consumer marketplace around 1989. Although the initial retail price point was high, approximately $100 (US), as compared to traditional thermometers (glass/mercury at $3 to $5 and digital thermometers at $10 to $15), our manufacturing clients felt the price would drop, making an investment into FamliTemp too much of a short term proposition. They were right. Today, hand held, infrared thermometers can now be purchased for prices as low as $35 (US), and they will probably get down to the $20 to $25 price range in the very near future. So why do we include it in our Photo Album? Because FamliTemp represents a very good consumer product idea while, at the same time, a very poor license product idea. It's a good example of the difference between consumer "purchase" criteria and manufacturers' "licensing" criteria. It also exemplifies how timing plays an important role in product licensing. |