Ever had a device that was *almost* perfect, except for that one stupid flaw or defect (like a misplaced pause button, lack luster UI design, or sad battery life)?

Ever wish you could help design the latest and greatest gadget? Enter crowdspirit.org.

Although not a new concept (companies like elephant design/cuusoo in Japan have been doing it for quite some time), there’s a new player in town for consumer electronic crowdsourcing … crowdspirit.org. They now have a blog and FAQ, as well as some other information currently on their site.

What is “Crowdsourcing?”
“Crowdsourcing” is a neologism for a business model that depends on work being done outside the traditional company walls: while outsourcing is typically performed by lower paid professionals, crowdsourcing relies on a combination of volunteers and low-paid amateurs who use their spare time to create content, solve problems, or even do corporate R&D. The term was coined by Wired magazine writer Jeff Howe and editor Mark Robinson in June 2006.

You can find out how it works, but here’s the general idea: