# Affordable Portable Microscope Kits The Community Microscope Kit Allows You to Explore On-the-Go By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-05-17 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microscope-kit References: [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/publiclab/the-community-microscope-kit?ref=recommended&ref=discovery) Public Lab develops a cost-effective and elegantly designed way for individuals to explore their immediate environment in detail -- The Community Microscope Kit. The product is perfect for both grown-ups and children, who find excitement in actively discovering the wonders of science and life. The portable lab can be assembled in 15 minutes and [connects to a smartphone](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/martvsen-magstack) or a laptop. The Community Microscope Kit features a webcam, a set of nuts, double-sided adhesive strips, bolts and rubber bands, as well as a platform of corrugated plastic. The simplicity in the design makes the [DIY microscope kit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/science-activity-kits) highly accessible. With Public Lab's wonderfully educative initiative, individuals are able to identify objects as small as 5 microns -- "such as plant cells and the single-celled organisms that swim around in pond water and puddles." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Affordable Microscopes:** Creating low-cost, portable microscopes that can be used by anyone for scientific exploration of their environment. - **DIY Science Kits:** Developing educational kits that make exploring science accessible and fun. - **Smartphone Microscopy:** Incorporating smartphones into scientific exploration by creating microscopes that can connect to smartphones. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Education:** Providing affordable and accessible tools for students to learn science through hands-on exploration. - **Consumer Electronics:** Creating innovative and cost-effective scientific exploration tools that can be easily assembled and used by consumers. - **Environmental Science:** Developing portable and low-cost microscopes that can be used for environmental monitoring and analysis in the field. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Transformational Cell Phone Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cell-phone-tools.md) - [STEM Microscope Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microscope-explorer-series.md) - [Supplemental Smartphone Lens Microscopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imicro-q3.md) - [Smart Toy Microscopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microscope-toy-for-kids.md) - [All-in-One Digital Microscope Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darwin-mx-pro.md) - [Detachable Display Digital Microscopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beaverlab-darwin-m2.md) - [Block Puzzle Microscope Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/functional-microscope.md) - [Mobile Magnification Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/macroscope-2.md) - [High-Power Palm-Sized Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/konsivy-pro.md)