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What is a RoadTestPlus?

rscasny

A RoadTest is a product review where a supplier provides a product at no charge in return for a review or project-build by the reviewer. Products offered for RoadTests are usually a development board, small board computer, or a piece of test equipment. Other than general knowledge about the product or technology, all members of the element14 community are eligible to apply and compete to be official Roadtesters. But what happens when the product requires specialized knowledge or requires a unique environment or the supplier is seeking RoadTesters that meet a specific requirement? That's where a RoadTestPlus comes into play.

 

What is a RoadTest Plus?

A RoadTestPlus is a specialized type of RoadTest where a specific skill or background would be required to conduct the test and write the review. A RoadTestPlus may also require a specific type of equipment or environment that may not be available to every member of the element14 community. As such, a RoadTestPlus by its very nature would be conducted by a reviewer with specific experience.

 


How Do You Know If A Roadtest is a RoadTestPlus?

A RoadTestPlus will look like a standard RoadTest with two main differences. It will be identified with the modified RoadTestPlus logo and it will contain the specific requirements sought for the RoadTestPlus. While anyone can apply for a RoadTestPlus, those applicants who meet the specific requirements will be the preferred RoadTesters. In your application for a RoadTestPlus you should make sure you indicate how you fulfill the specific requirements desired for the RoadTestPlus. Meeting these requirements will be key to your selection as an official RoadTester.

 

How Do I Apply for a RoadTestPlus?

Like any RoadTest, a RoadTestPlus will be launched with a 1-month enrollment period. It will also be an open application process. All potential reviewers will be required to submit an application. At the end of the enrollment period, the RoadTest Program Manager will collect the applications, make recommendations to the supplier, and submit all the applications to the supplier who makes the final selection of official RoadTesters, just like a standard RoadTest. In essence, you will see no difference in the application period. But the supplier's final selections will be based upon an applicant who meets the specific requirements and has written a highly competitive application.

 

Like all RoadTests, the applicant must be in good standing as an eligible RoadTester, which includes having completed all previous RoadTest reviews.

 

If you have any questions regarding a RoadTestPlus, please enter your question in the comments section below, and I'll try to answer it promptly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

  • in reply to rscasny

    That's understandable.

     

    I think RoadTest Plus shouldn't be targeted so only some group can attend- it should be marketed with a targeted population-

     

    For example, micro:bits for students and parents, super advanced tools for engineers, but you don't have to be in this population in order to do so... more like a general recommendation...

     

    in fact you could put this on some roadtests...

     

    Like for micro:bit tests you could mention this is best for parents with children around elementary school.

     

    However for some you just need to be in some advanced level to test, like a FPGA board or those recent powerful tools.

     

    Now I think about it, you actually don't really need to do it, since most members have some sense of what they are able to do, what they have a chance of getting accepted for, etc.

     

    I suppose Design Challenges are more suitable for this, as if you have a Raspberry Pi challenge, you'll need some experience with Pi's.

  • in reply to raspberrypitechguy

    Thanks for your comment.

     

    We have no intention of bringing back the RoadTestPlus. The idea began before I was involved in Roadtests, more than 4 years ago. I just did not work well. It was a matter of fairness. All roadtests should be open to everyone. If we need a special project done, it can be arranged outside of the roadtest program. In addition, the roadtrest program is much, much bigger than it was when that idea was created. Today, we have a wide variety of members with special skills.

     

    Randall Scasny

    RoadTest Program Manager

  • in reply to rscasny

    I think RoadTestPlus' should exist.

     

    More like a challenge in between a design challenge and a Roadtest- you have to build a project and give some insight of the product, but not so much test every feature(only those sponsor wants you to and the ones you need to for your projects), and also not the 10 blogs required, also, no prize, or a 50 dollar shopping cart if you did a good job?

     

    As you mentioned connectors aren't a good fit for RoadTests.

     

    I believe one of such is the recent SKEDD connectors you had 6 people try out.

     

    I was able to get my hands on one of the kits... perhaps it's that I didn't know how it worked but the crimp is now stuck and I'm too lazy to take a plier to try and pull it out. Oh well.

     

    Some like the thermocouple experiment, they require quite some expertise, but also lots of purchasing on the tester's part. One of the recent people to post a blog had to pay for the PCB, and other items(let me know if I am wrong on this, this is my assumption).

     

    So I would say these non-official RoadTests are quite interesting. Many times, the product itself and the time and effort spent on it out values the price of the product itself, but that wasn't the case for that K4 Drive system kit. However we have not gotten any reply on that for around a month... I am assuming the sponsor decided to not provide any kits.

     

    Just my 2 cents.

  • I wanted to reply to everyone who has recently read this blog. In short, I chose not to do this for a couple of reasons.

     

    At face value, it was a good idea because some products just require a special skill set or background. Not everyone can roadtest a spectrum Analyzer of a FPGA board. But our Jive developers did some coding changes so I can customize the roadtest application. Hence, I can ask questions that helps me determine which candidates have special skills.

     

    There have been some other ideas around RoadTestPlus but those never panned out. So, in the end, I dropped them. I prefer to have all roadtests be open to all e14 members and choose official roadtesters based upon their application answers and their commitment to actually completing the review.

     

    There have been some products like connectors that are not perfectly suited for a roadtest. So, what I do is post a blog asking for people interested in getting some connectors, for instance, and writing a blog about it. But again, it's open to all e14 members but you still have to offer a comment to voice your interest.

     

    Randall Scasny

    RoadTest Program Manager

  • I could be wrong, but I don't think RoadTest+ ever really happened in this format. There are definitely some RoadTests that require a certain background experience - for instance the Avnet UltraZed-EV Starter Kit