Facebook gets further into gadgets with Nascent Objects

A selection of Nascent Objects concepts displayed on its web site, September 19, 2016. © Nascent Objects

Social networking giant Facebook has acquired build-it-yourself modular consumer electronics firm Nascent Objects.

Nascent Objects' technology is intended to allow designers "to go from concept to product in just weeks, much faster and less expensive than traditional method."

"People have become used to the idea that with software, you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it. We want to make this happen with hardware," Nascent Objects CEO Baback Elmieh wrote on his company's web site, following the Facebook announcement.

"We're excited to build products that can open the world to everyone and create on a scale we couldn't have imagined before."

Facebook already has a dedicated hardware lab called Building 8, constructed with the similar aims of helping its engineers build and test prototype equipment and products.

Best known for its suite of apps and social network services, Facebook also owns virtual reality company Oculus VR and drone outfit Aquila; CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently talked about a home AI system he has been designing, and is expected to show it this month.