This week, I continued to work on the lesson plan by implementing more critiques.
So far with my experience using the Optron Mini, I wanted to give some of my personal opinion on the product. To begin with this, I feel like the design of the instrument could use some modifications in the future.
First, I think that the position of the micro USB port should be repositioned. This is because the handle where you would hold on to the Optron Mini is slightly obstructed by the cord coming out. This wires from the RGB strip also obstruct being able to really grasp this part of the instrument.
Second, I think that the trigger button is too far away from the handle so that it does not feel natural to reach it when holding the instrument as I think is intended. You have to reach around the motherboard, wires, and the USB cable to get to it. I could see this being even more of a challenge with someone who has exceptionally short fingers. If the USB port and trigger button were repositioned, or maybe even just swapped places, I think it would vastly improve the ergonomics.
As far as the software side of things goes, I think that Max 8 is a decent platform to design the Optron software around as it allows for different features to be implemented. Despite this, I do not think that Max 8 is very user friendly, especially for beginners. I found the software a bit daunting without having specific instructions to follow. I am unsure if it would really be wiser to change platforms entirely to better facilitate beginners, but rather I think that along with the continued development of the Optron software, a comprehensive and easy to follow video series or instruction series should be made that walks people through every step of getting it all to work.
I experienced some problem solving challenges when using the Optron. Many of my troubles came from using a Windows computer. Seeing as Apple computers have a higher value entry point for their products than Windows, I think it would be safe to assume that many students could be using Windows computers. I know that the software is being developed on Apple computers, but I think it should eventually get more refined so that people do not have certain aspects of the software malfunction because of the operating system they choose to use.
In terms of how the instrument itself functions, I was thinking that it may improve the playability if when you have the trigger button held down, and you change your fretting, that the note changes as well. I find it hard to play very fast at all when you have to reactivate each note after changing the fretting. If you could hold the trigger and play a whole bunch of notes in succession, it would open up so many more playing possibilities.
I took a look at some other related tools available on the market for teaching various STEAM topics to students to see what the Optron could be competing with if it had a larger scale release. If the product is to have market success, it needs to stand out in some way by offering something that the competitors do not have.
I first looked at Sphero Specdrums : https://www.amazon.com/Sphero-SD01WRW2-2-Ring-Specdrums/dp/B07NDQBCJM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=3AZ50G399ROH1&keywords=specdrums&language=en_US&linkCode=sl1&linkId=9aa43974c1f363e763092c0777915c73&qid=1564952890&s=gateway&sprefix=specdrums%2Caps%2C411&sr=8-1-spons&tag=vi059-20&th=1
These are for STEAM activities where you can make music easily with ring-like objects by tapping them on a surface. They work through a phone app and also are designed to work with digital audio workstations. They also come at a fraction of the price of the Optron Mini. While I think that these two share similarities, as far as I understand, they are limited in their number of sensors, whereas the Optron Mini has many variables that be changed simultaneously. I think in this regard the Optron Mini stands out from this already available product.
The next product I looked at was Makey Makey: https://www.amazon.com/JoyLabz-MMCE-Makey-Invention-Everyone/dp/B008SFLEPE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=makey%20makey&language=en_US&linkCode=sl1&linkId=709912b70cc657a8c35a961c2f39327a&qid=1567106512&s=gateway&sr=8-4&tag=vi059-20
This is for STEAM activities as well, but does not focus only on the music side of things. With this you can make games, as well as turn objects into keys on a keyboard. I think that this product has a lot of variety offered compared to the Optron Mini. Despite this, I can see how the Optron Mini has much more potential for being something you could actually perform music with.
The last product I looked at was the littleBits Electronic Music Inventor Kit: https://www.amazon.com/littleBits-Electronic-Music-Inventor-Kit/dp/B07BFNLKY2/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=stem+music&qid=1620245060&sr=8-16
This product allows you to build a digital synth that is in the shape of an electric guitar. I found this product the most similar to the Optron Mini. I found that this product offers lots of interesting possibilities and also runs off of a phone app. The price is also quite low for what it is, at just around $30. I think that this product is a good one to consider when going forward with the development of the Optron Mini as I think it would be one of its closest competitors.
There are still things about the Optron Mini that can give it a edge on this product, like how it has RGB lights, 3 way gyro, and contact sensitive pads. I do think that it would be a good idea to consider developing a standalone phone app to control the Optron Mini, as it appears to be the standard for most of the STEAM tool I researched. This would likely vastly improve the ease of access for young students.
If the Optron Mini wants to have a chance at making a mark in the market, I think something will have to be done about the price of it, as the competitors are significantly less expensive than it. $129 is a lot to ask for a fairly limited piece of hardware. I think it would be wise to look into including more features in it in future iterations, or find a way to lower the production costs so that it can be sold for a much lower price.
I continued to refine the lesson plan for the Optron Mini, and split it into two separate parts. I was going to get peer feedback on it this week, but the changes I made recently I felt were significant enough where I wanted to wait until this upcoming week to show it as it has been expanded on since last week. I will include the lessons below.