Steven Fett
Fab Academy 2016
Applications and Implications
Propose a final project that integrates a range of units covered. Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of all of the skills. Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project.
Invention, Intellectual Property, And Business Models
Create and document a license for your final project. Develop a plan for dissemination of your final project
Applications and Implications
Final project Planning
The basic idea of my project has been slowly taking shape throughout the course of Fab Academy 2016. Using skills gleaned from the week long modules of Fab Academy much of the work has found itself already completed.
Project Purpose
The product will serve what seems to me to be a missing item in a particular market. A simple entertainment and performance tool to allow live performing entertainers to have a bit more control over their dance tools.
Prior Art and Similar Products
There are several products already on the market that I've pulled inspiration from, and many other I'd assume that have some similarity to my project
A Pixel Toys
Ultra Poi
Home of Poi
Product BOM
Cast Translucent Shell
Lithium Ion Battery and Charging circuit
LED and Networked LED Drivers
USB port and Control Interface
Cable or Para-Cord
Suppliers
Fab Inventory
Spark Fun
MCM
Amazon
CAC Plastics
Cost Estimates
Until the first prototype has been completed I am unable to give a guided estimate.
I hope the total cost per unit to be under $100 USD
Tasks to be Completed
Mill the mold for the Shell
Cast the Translucent Shell
Build LED Networked Drivers
Build USB Control Interface Board
Build Battery Charging Board
Assemble working Prototype
Product Delivery and Time-line
Wrapping up some of my missing weeks will allow me to finish the development of my Final Project.
For example I use Composites to create a mold for the composite shell of the POI.
I will use Embedded Programming the create the networked LED Drivers
I will use Interface and Application Programming to create the programming software for the LED Patterns.
I will use Applications and Implications to get a process figured out so I might even get this thing built.
I will use Invention, Intellectual Property and Buisness Models to make my Final Project seem much more important and valuable than it really is.
I hope to have a completed prototype by July 7th 2016.
My goal is to have ZERO units shipping domestically by the end of 2016, and ZERO units shipping internationally by 2017. The invested capital coming to a sum of $0 USD will guide the initial manufacturing and marketing process for the duration of ZERO months. By the end of 2016 I project a market value of "Get off my lawn and take your stupid lights with you"
Questions needing to be Answered
Is this the best production process available to me?
Are there any suppliers available to me with a better suited component for my needs?
Is the product price point appropriate for this product?
Is there actually a demand for this product?
How come rainbows can fly without wings?
Product QA
During the month of July 2016 we will assign our quality assurance team a base set of inquiries for each (the only one) product to pass through before shipping off to retailers (a dusty cabinet or shelf).
Does the quality of the craftsmanship resemble our Corporate model of Excellence and Durability?
Does the Product illuminate?
Does the battery hold a charge?
Does the USB Controller communicate with the Proprietary Software there will be zero support for in the future?
Does the damn thing even work?
If it doesn't work can we sell if off at a discounted price?
Invention, Intellectual Property, And Business Models
The licensing of the LED POI project should refelct the values of my Local Fab Lab; knowledge is heritage and should not be leveraged for money. For this reason I will be using a type of Creative Commons License.
This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.
View License Deed | View Legal Code
I decided to use Non-Commercial because... "why come somebody else gets all the monies and not me"
If my project truly holds any merit it may find itself refined or added upon by others. This I see personally to be a true form of flattery and instills pride in myself and in my work.
However I find I should consider more than one option.
Before I begin trying to consider an application with the USPTO, I should consider what intellectual property already exists.
Illuminated Golf Ball
AbstractAn illuminatable golf ball includes an outer translucent shell and a sealed inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell. The ball includes a self-contained lighting device formed and contained at least in part within the inner core portion. The lighting device includes an energy source, a pair of lighting elements, and connectors extending between the energy source and the lighting elements defining an electrical circuit. The lighting device includes a switch for energizing and deenergizing the lighting device. The switch can include a plunger insertable into the ball through an opening in the outer shell and through a bore in the inner core portion. The plunger is configured to change the state of the electrical circuit when it is inserted into and removed from the bore to energize and deenergize the lighting elements. The switch can also be timer actuated and of the force actuatable type.
LED-Poi/LED-Staff
The device has multiple paired opposite red, blue, green (RGB)-/rainbow-light emitting diodes (LEDs) (2) and/or alternatively groups of imaginable illuminants of different colors, which are assembled in an arbitrarily formed box from a translucent plastic. The box acts as a diffuser, such that the box is formed as a display/screen (1). The LEDs are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) and/or chip (3).
LED-Poi/LED-Staff
LED-Jongliergerät das in Bewegung den visuellen Effekt einer oder mehrerer geschlossener oder speichenartiger Flächen erzeugt, die fließend ihre Farben ändern, gekennzeichnet durch, 2 oder mehrere, paarweise, gegenüberliegende RGB-/Rainbow-LEDs (2), bzw. alternativ Gruppen aller erdenklich anderen Leuchtmittel unterschiedlicher Farbe, welche in einem beliebig geformten Behältnis aus lichtdurchlässigem Kunststoff jeglicher Art, o.ä. (1), das gleichzeitig als Diffuser agiert und somit einen Bildschirm bildet, montiert sind und durch mindestens 1 Prozessor, bzw. Chip (3) gesteuert werden.
Translated
LED Juggling device that generates moving the visual effect of one or more closed or spoke- like surfaces , the fluent change their colors , characterized by 2 or more , in pairs , opposite RGB / Rainbow LEDs ( 2 ) , or alternatively groups of all imaginable other lamps of different colors , which , similar to an arbitrarily shaped container of translucent plastic of any kind (1) , which acts simultaneously as a diffuser , thus forming a screen , are mounted and are controlled by at least one processor or chip (3).
I think I will stick with a Creative Commons License as I'm not really interested in paying licensensing fees just to make a dumb toy.