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Roadtest Files : I want To Believe

firatkocak
Hi Firiends,

Following Altera Roadtest procedure and seeing the last status of it, i am seriously thinking about how a Roadtest should be. To be more clear, better we should compare the current process with POLL method;

Current Method

1.  Alistair( Mostly ) or someone else creates an event for a new Roadtest.
2.  We generally have a limited numbers of the Roadtested products, say less then 10.
3.  And then members attend to the event if they want to have a chance to be able to receive one of the roadtested products.
4.  Members wait for the event to close ( not so long ).
5.  Alistair or the creator of the event makes a random draw for the winners.
6.  Winners are being informed via e-mail for their postal addresses if their detailed information are not already recorded before.
7.  Roadtested products are sent to winners.
8.  Winners receive their Roadtest products.
9.  Winners wait for some free time to be able to make a review.
10. After finished their reviews, winners start to share them with members.

So, What are there in a review ?

1.  Information about the product package.
2.  Information about the package contents.
3.  Information about the hardware specifications of the product.
4.  Information about the software come with the product( if there is any ).
5.  Information about the installation of the software of the product ( If necessary ).
6.  Information about the usage of the utility come with the product.
7.  A number of applications to use the product in.
8.  PROs about the product ( if any )
9.  CONs about the product ( if any )
10. Lates comments about the product.

Polling Method

1.  Alistair creates an event for a new Roadtest and requires from the members to leave their project ideas for the Roadtested product.
2.  Phase 1 starts ( Making the projects list ).
3.  Members start to think and then leave their projects.
4.  Phase 1 ends ( projects list are finished ).
5.  Phase 2 starts ( Poll time for the listed projects ).
6.  Members vote for the most liked project ( if members like more then one project they may be allowed to vote for more than one project but not more then one for a project ).
7.  Phase 2 ends.
8.  According to the available roadtested products the top rated projects will be the winners.
9.  Alistair provides a place for each project to follow all the project activity.
10. We all learn much from the newly projects either being a winner or being an attendee.

As it is clearly seen, a winner gets the roadtested product but, either he/she never uses it in an active design or we will never know whether it is used in an active design or not. I don't know what companies suppporting Roadtest expect from a Roadtest event. It is important because they provide their products for the Roadtest and they have rights on how a Roadtest is done. If current procedure followed for a Roadtest is OK for them then there is nothing to do but, if it is Ok for any other method then we may make some changes on choosing a winner; Random or Polling ( as in Altera Roadtest ). In my opinion, if a Roadtest is done by a poll process and winners are chosed according to thier projects then the roadtested product go to the right people. So, we have chances to follow the projects, get new ideas, give our thoughts and so on.

Ok, this is what i am thining about this issue. What do you say ?

Firat Kocak

Parents

  • Thanks for raising the question, Firat.

     

    I like Ally's idea of two approaches - a road test in the current style, and something more project-based. I think there may be room for a third additional approach for some products.

     

    Many development boards (like the arduino and the mbed) already have their own flourishing on-line communties. I think we can contribute to both element14 and those communities by building bridges between the two. A concrete example: I've added a couple of libraries on the mbed site, and added a note about element14 and the road-tests. One library was part of the road test; another is now mentioned in the mbed forum here on element14.

     

    I think this sort of cross-linking is good for everyone; it gives something back to the product sponsors, who make the road-tests possible; it enriches the element14 site, and makes more people aware of it; and it gives us a chance to create something that gets used, which I think is a motivation for many software developers and hardware designers.

Reply

  • Thanks for raising the question, Firat.

     

    I like Ally's idea of two approaches - a road test in the current style, and something more project-based. I think there may be room for a third additional approach for some products.

     

    Many development boards (like the arduino and the mbed) already have their own flourishing on-line communties. I think we can contribute to both element14 and those communities by building bridges between the two. A concrete example: I've added a couple of libraries on the mbed site, and added a note about element14 and the road-tests. One library was part of the road test; another is now mentioned in the mbed forum here on element14.

     

    I think this sort of cross-linking is good for everyone; it gives something back to the product sponsors, who make the road-tests possible; it enriches the element14 site, and makes more people aware of it; and it gives us a chance to create something that gets used, which I think is a motivation for many software developers and hardware designers.

Children
  • in reply to romilly

    First of all, I like the idea of roadtests in general - and especially enjoy reading peoples reviews of the kit etc.

     

    I think each roadtest may have to be taken on it's own merits and there may not be a one size fits all solution, so I'm happy for them to carried out in different ways.

     

    The poll idea is great - but can lead to people coming up with fantastical ideas which are simply not feasible in a realistic timescale or for a realistic cost. It may encourage people to come up with a great idea so that they win the poll, but then be unable to realize that idea. In addittion, some items simply need a 'reaview' and for that there may be no need to have a fantatsic idea - or any project idea at all, it could simply be a case of reviewing the product for what it is.

     

    So whether it's a poll, or a tombola, or any other method  - I'm happy to participate in any way.

     

    Finally, I think it is best if people are honest and realistic and not enter roadtests if they know they won't be able to complete it.

     

    -Kenny