Interview with Livermorium Founder, Liangchen Chen.
Now that Transform The Smartphone Challenge Returns 2018 is live, we thought it was time to sit down and interview the winners of the last Moto Mods accessory competition.
In this Interview, element14 asks about his experiences with the build process, winning the Smartphone Challenge and any tips for any potential challengers wanting to take their product to market.
Liangchen Chen - Founder
Livermorium (UK) Ltd.
Tell us about yourself and your product?
This is Liangchen Chen from Livermorium Ltd. Livermorium was founded by myself in the hope of finding and making products being different of mainstream and important to a certain group of people. I am a long-term QWERTY Slider user and unsatisfied with the modern “screen only” smartphones. So I decided to build a QWERTY slider for myself, and the “QWERTY” community with the same feeling. Hence the Livermorium Slider Keyboard Moto Mod, which adds a five-row backlit slider keyboard to the Moto Z phones, just like the old days.
(The Livermorium Slider Keyboard Moto Mod)
What was your prototyping process?
We first started doing a touch-and-feel prototype with the hand-casted enclosure and keypad with the connector board from MDK. Which gives us a general idea how a 5.5 inch hand-held keypad feels and the total thickness and balance as a Moto Mod.
Then we started working with the working prototype, with the proper sliding system and the Mod controller board, based on the MDK design, and our impression on the touch and feel sample.
On almost every batch of prototype we often find some aspects that needs to be improved, for example the sliding mechanism, the tilting strength etc. We have made 6 batches of prototype so far and dozens of improvements has been made.
(Assembling prototypes)
What was your biggest hurdles in getting the prototype working, and how did you resolve it?
The biggest hurdle for a “working” prototype is the switch from MDK to our own connector board. We designed own mod controller board specifically for the keyboard mod in order to achieve a better overall thickness level. The combination of the electrical design as well as the mechanical structure was very difficult. Our team has spent a lot weeks on solving the above issue, and we have consulted with a few experts in relevant fields, including some of Moto’s.
What was your biggest hurdle in getting your prototype to production level and out to market?
We have a very high standard internally for “production level”, especially on the reliability and quality. We have overcome many difficulties, such as FPC design, material, keypad controller, keypad feelings etc. But the biggest hurdle is the sliding mechanism and overall thickness control. We need to reduce the thickness in the middle part as much as we can, and maintain a solid structure when sliding. We also need to reduce the gap between the two moving parts. Our team has made countless experiments before achieving the current level of gap and thickness.
What skillsets are needed when working with moto mods?
Electronical engineering, mechanical engineering and software development skills are important skillsets. But the most important above all is the will of learning and improving across the development.
(Performing tests)
If you could give one tip for people wanting to develop moto mods what would it be?
Be prepared for the challenges but enjoy the process, and be proud of your creativity.
Keep your original intension. There will be a lot of compromises and changes across the development.
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
I would have a better estimation for the R&D process, in terms of cost and timeline. Especially the process from a working prototype to production. There are minor issues here and there, and sometimes the last 5 miles of a marathon feels as long as the previous journey.
What are you most proud of with your product?
I am very proud of being a lot of “the first” with our product:
- Our product is the first Moto Mod completely designed and manufactured by ourselves independently that hits market.
- Our product has one of the most complicated structure amongst all Moto Mods, with 2 PCBs and a moving part in the mod itself.
- The Standard Version (with battery) of Keyboard Mod is the first mod that has its core function (keyboard) and the battery acting as a battery mod. (Apart from the battery mods, of course).
- We have managed to restore the QWERTY slider physical system, after nearly 7 years of disappearance.
How did it feel to see your prototype become a production model?
It strengthens my belief, “If the market doesn’t have one, why don’t we make one for ourselves?” And we made it.
(Preparing the units to be shown at CES 2018)
And finally, What moto mod do you think would be very popular that others could develop?
I believe the greatest part of the Moto Mod Platform is that the Mods can suit different special needs. Take Keyboard Mod as an example, some user may think it’s a chunky add-on to the phone, but for the landscape QWERTY slider lover this is the first successor in 7 years, and being their reason for purchasing a Moto Z. Therefore if you could find a specific user case for a certain group of people, that your Mod will solve a major pain-point for them, then it’s a great product to develop.
How important was the Transform the Smartphone competition when you were thinking about developing a Mod? Is that what got you started?
That’s one of the important factors for us to start developing Moto Mods. The event shows the importance of the Mods business to Moto, and gave us a lot confidence from the beginning.
Do you think the Transform the Smartphone competition helped you in your journey to build your Keyboard Mod?
The competition has helped greatly from the beginning – the crowdfunding campaign provide us initial funds to kick-off the development and covered a significant amount of R&D cost. It also helped us to reach more audience.
Do you have an idea for a MotorMod Accessory?
Learn more here:
Transform The Smartphone Challenge Returns
