The Fully Functional Tyco ‘Big Blocks' Phone Makes a Comeback
Katie Cordrey — June 16, 2009 — Eco
References: markpascua & gadgets.boingboing.net
The 1980s gave us shoulder pads and big, frizzy hair, but it also gave us a fully-functional LEGO-like toy brick landline phone from Tyco.
These phones are making a comeback as retro-cool home accessories. Refurbished models are showing up on eBay and are also available from several online vendors. The refurbished ‘Big Blocks’ phone by Tyco will set you back about $70-$120.
There may be satisfaction in knowing the purchase of a refurbished LEGO-esque phone adds a fun accessory to the buyer’s home and is an act of cultural and material recycling.
These phones are making a comeback as retro-cool home accessories. Refurbished models are showing up on eBay and are also available from several online vendors. The refurbished ‘Big Blocks’ phone by Tyco will set you back about $70-$120.
There may be satisfaction in knowing the purchase of a refurbished LEGO-esque phone adds a fun accessory to the buyer’s home and is an act of cultural and material recycling.
Trend Themes
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Retro-cool Home Accessories — The resurgence of vintage-looking home phones presents an opportunity for companies to leverage nostalgic design in creating new and improved smart home accessories.
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Cultural and Material Recycling — The popularity of refurbished LEGO-like phones highlights the potential for repurposing cultural and material artifacts to create new marketable products.
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Leveraging Nostalgia — Companies can profit from tapping into consumers' fondness for nostalgic products by creating innovative new consumer electronics and home decor inspired by old-school design.
Industry Implications
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Smart Home Accessories — In the wake of the return of vintage-looking home phones, companies in the smart home industry should consider creating products with similarly retro aesthetics to tap into consumer demand.
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Sustainable Products — Repurposing cultural and material artifacts like the Tyco Big Blocks phone can spark innovations in eco-friendly product manufacturing and design.
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Consumer Electronics — Innovative and nostalgic reinterpretations of classic designs can drive disruption in the consumer electronics industry, opening up new markets for companies to explore.
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