Hack

The origin of the word "hack" is German, meaning a person who makes furniture with an axe, implying a lack of finesse in the final product. Today the most hacking people might do is changing the wallpaper on their iphone, 5 years ago it may have been buying a new cover for your nokia. At what point is it acceptable to actively engage in change of a product or design? Few designs ever account for fundamental changes the way the original PC's of the 80's did - these days you are expected to replace or upgrade rather than modify what you already have. There are some exceptions, and often these become real drivers of innovation.

Consider Artist HD41117, and his adaption of mobile phone cameras (above)

Photos taken by the phone at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hd41117/sets/72157594578302055

Or the classic Wii Hack, creating with $10 dollars of hardware what computer companies claim is prohibitively expensive in RnD.

www.ted.com/index/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html