blueSLR is made for amateurs and professionals who love to take pictures.

As a Bluetooth® device, blueSLR is an accessory that connects to any compatible digital camera. Remotely control the camera's focus, shutter release, or timer by downloading the free blueSLR phone companion App to the smart device. In addition to remote shutter release, the blueSLR App also enables users to encode the GPS location information from the smart device and geocode (place location data) are automatically embedded in the picture files when you snap the picture. The blueSLR experience provides a new way to map memories by time and location as well as wirelessly control a digital camera from up to 300 feet away.

Design 1st also likes to be in the picture. In fact, front and center of the product development effort. And much like the blueSLR device - Design 1st also has the tools and processes for working with clients remotely.

Working with Ottawa-based XEquals, Design 1st was the industrial design and physical product engine for the blueSLR "Made in Canada" product. The company's first product's success comes from combining a Bluetooth module with a companion application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices which enables well-known digital SLRs (Single-Lens Reflex) camera brands such as Nikon to be wirelessly controlled.

For Design 1st, the design challenge was to create a wireless accessory that works with mobile devices to remotely actuate a Digital SLR camera's shutter, and have the ability to encode GPS coordinates in all pictures taken by the camera. The accessory had to blend into the camera body – materials needed to match the camera materials so as not to stand out when the accessory was connected to the camera, and size had to be minimized. The accessory needed to be designed to allow the same accessory body to be used with a multitude of camera bodies - by simply changing the adapter on the accessory to mate with the appropriate connection type on the camera battery.

From a software perspective, the challenge was to create a single accessory that needed to work equally well with proprietary interfaces (Apple® iOS) and standards based interfaces (Blackberry® and Google Android®). From a manufacturing perspective, the challenge was to create a camera accessory "onshore" minimizing out of country manufacturing to ensure that a "Made in Canada" label could be applied to the accessory.

Design 1st is proud of its collaboration with XEquals and suggests that you visit www.blueSLR.com to get yourself in the picture.