The Tingbot, a tech device created by a team including three Cumbrian developers, has surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter. 

The funding campaign, which ended today, saw Kickstarter users pledge a total of £48,560 for the hardware, exceeding the original goal by over £8000. 

As a result, the device will be available on the market in May 2016. 

Starting out as a University project, The Tingbot is a piece of hardware powered by the ‘Raspberry Pi’ system - a very simple, credit card sized computer. 

It was created by the NORD Collective, a team of five designers and developers including Cumbrians Ben Pawle, Phil Gilbanks and Joe Rickerby. 

The Tingbot aims to simplify the Raspberry Pi experience, and can be used to create almost any app or program, ranging from a doodle pad to a games console.

Speaking to In-Cumbria at the start of the funding campaign, Ben Pawle said: “We want to make coding and getting creative with technology as accessible for people as possible. Tingbot transforms complex, scary electronics into a fun, cool product that you can make apps for, really easily! 

“I've spent my life making things out of all kinds of materials - cereal boxes, tape, paint, glue and string.

 “The next generation of makers and inventors have a whole new world of materials at their fingertips, requiring new creative tools to unlock their potential. If Tingbot played a part in this journey, that would be amazing.” 

The campaign was launched on Monday, November 2, and gained media coverage from numerous tech sites, as well as In-Cumbria and the BBC. 

The project was also featured as a ‘staff pick’ on the Kickstarter website.

To find out more about the project, visit:  www.kickstarter.com/projects/744235676/tingbot-raspberry-pi-made-fun