Rooting around the internet today, I came across these fun mini tripods called DigiDudes. So I followed them back to the manufacturer's Web site only to find out that the story lies not in the product so much as who's making them.

Quirky is essentially an online brainstorming session. A user submits a product idea, $99 a submission, and then the community molds it  into something marketable. It is a week long process to take something from an idea to a real life buy-able whoosit. Thirty percent of the money Quirky takes in goes back out to the designer and those who contributed.

The best part? After the process is said and done, you still own the rights to your idea.

Besides the Digidudes, Quirky has released the split stick, a two-sided usb drive, and the sling back, a universal cord retractor, among others.

This is definitely a company to keep an eye on, and not just from a social media perspective... they've got some really cool products too!

(images from Quirky.com)