{"id":344,"date":"2017-12-07T10:27:48","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T15:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/?p=344"},"modified":"2017-12-09T13:10:24","modified_gmt":"2017-12-09T18:10:24","slug":"alpha-status-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Alpha Status Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here we are going into November after hoping to be shipping our Alpha product by December…\u00a0 So will we make it?\u00a0 If you have been following the development posts on http:\/\/dev.holoseat.com<\/a> (click the News<\/strong> link at the top) then you know the answer.\u00a0 If not, it can be summed up in a single word, and it isn’t the one we wanted — no.\u00a0 We’ve tried, but we massively underestimated how much work their was to do along with overestimating our ability to complete it.\u00a0 So if we’re not done, then where are we?<\/p>\n

Alpha Prototype Progress<\/h1>\n

First, we’ve got our prototyping done for most of our design changes.\u00a0 And, we have some nice pictures so you can see for yourself how we are coming along.<\/p>\n

The article picture shows our updated prototype setup on a breadboard using the new TRRS cable<\/a> to connect the controller to the sensor and the new Cherry MX key switch<\/a>\u00a0for enabling Holoseat.\u00a0 Using a network jack (look in the upper right corner) we connected it to the existing setup from one of our SyndCon demo units<\/a> and I used it for a few hours.\u00a0 Worked just as smooth as our assembled units, so we know these changes didn’t mess with a good thing.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the key switch, did we happen to mention that we’re doing a custom keycap with the holoseat h?\u00a0 Here’s what it looks like lit up on our couple of test key switches we were trying out:<\/p>\n

\"Glowing<\/p>\n

That covers the main electronics review.\u00a0 But what about the\u00a0little bit of magic that pushed our accuracy up to the point where everything smoothed out?\u00a0 The tone ring has gotten a bit of a makeover too.\u00a0 We have split it into two pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\"\"<\/a>

Assembled tone ring<\/p><\/div><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Why’d we split it?\u00a0 We wanted\u00a0 to have a cover over the magnets so they couldn’t come out.\u00a0 It wasn’t an issue during the demos, but we felt that was a poor choice to have them pressure fitted like they were long term.\u00a0 These are straight 3D prints from the drawings, so they’re still a little rough looking.\u00a0 But you can get an idea for how the final tone ring will work.<\/p>\n

Next Steps & Getting Involved in the Alpha<\/h1>\n

So that covers our progress so far.\u00a0 But it still leaves quite a bit left to do.\u00a0 And the majority of the remaining work is less about hardware development and more about getting ready\u00a0to take on testers, getting our redesigned desktop software into shape, and sorting out a few things on the business side.<\/p>\n

Moving forward what we need from those of you who follow this blog is some help.\u00a0 Here’s a few spots where can make a difference for Holoseat:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Do you have some ideas for questions we should be asking our Alpha testing users during the test program?\u00a0 Post them here <link to google form for submitting questions>.<\/li>\n
  • Enjoy 3D modeling?\u00a0 We could use your help porting our mechanical designs from Solidworks to\u00a0 Autodesk Fusion 360.\u00a0 Our volunteer mCAD modeler prefers Solidworks, but it is not an open platform, so we need to move our mCAD models.\u00a0 If this sounds like something you would like to help out with, please fill out the volunteer form indicating you want to help with mCAD <form link>.<\/li>\n
  • Do you have a knack for python and enjoy development? Consider volunteering to help with the desktop application.\u00a0 Again, the volunteer link is here.<\/li>\n
  • In the DC or Blacksburg, VA area and want to help with final assembly and shipping?\u00a0 We’ll take volunteers for that too!\u00a0 I’m guessing you know where this is going.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    TL;DR<\/h1>\n

    We’re behind (no Holoseats for Christmas), but we’re moving forward at a good pace.\u00a0 \u00a0We would rather be a couple of months late with a Holoseat you will love than ship something substandard on schedule.<\/p>\n

    Looking at the novel I’ve just written, it’s time to get back to work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Here we are going into November after hoping to be shipping our Alpha product by December…\u00a0 So will we make it?\u00a0 If you have been following the development posts on http:\/\/dev.holoseat.com (click the News link at the top)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[41,33,21,32],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlpha Status Update - Model B<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alpha Status Update - Model B\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here we are going into November after hoping to be shipping our Alpha product by December…\u00a0 So will we make it?\u00a0 If you have been following the development posts on http:\/\/dev.holoseat.com (click the News link at the top)…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Model B\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-12-07T15:27:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-12-09T18:10:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/New-Alpha-hardware-with-Orange-LED-Glowing.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2016\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bryan Christian\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/\",\"name\":\"Model B\",\"description\":\"Exerfy Your Games\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/New-Alpha-hardware-with-Orange-LED-Glowing.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/New-Alpha-hardware-with-Orange-LED-Glowing.jpg\",\"width\":1512,\"height\":2016},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/\",\"name\":\"Alpha Status Update - Model B\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2017-12-07T15:27:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-12-09T18:10:24+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/0ba8d2d664747a47a02b330810c3f048\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/alpha-status-update\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Alpha Status Update\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/0ba8d2d664747a47a02b330810c3f048\",\"name\":\"Bryan Christian\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modelb.biz\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d98f1e760b43114795c1fb4ecad4d560?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d98f1e760b43114795c1fb4ecad4d560?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Bryan Christian\"},\"description\":\"Bryan is a lifelong gamer who was in need of exercise that jumped at the chance of making the Holoseat better. 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