I think Google X lab and Kickstarter are targetting very different goals. X Lab is a skunkworks division: massive funding, bright people all in one area, defin

I think Google X lab and Kickstarter are targetting very different goals. X Lab is a skunkworks division: massive funding, bright people all in one area, defined goals. A lot of what they do can be categorized as pure research with only the vague possibility of one day, maybe spinning it off as a product. Google Cars have been in development for years, and will be for years more til they can be considered consumer ready. Kickstarter and its ilk are for shorter term projects where design and engineering, but not necessarily research is needed.