Prototype X
A back-of-napkin sketch became a working device in six weeks — not because the calendar was generous, but because the scope was carved daily.
Challenge
The idea was clear in conversation and fuzzy on paper — a handheld tool for a niche workflow. The risk wasn’t CAD; it was building the wrong thing quickly. We needed a demo that told the truth about ergonomics and latency, not a render.
Approach
Week-by-week gates: breadboard, then custom PCB, then enclosure that apologized in plastic instead of promises. Firmware stayed feature-poor until the core interaction felt undeniable in hand.
- Two user tests with rough housing — foam and tape count.
- Power and radio treated as one problem, not two tickets.
- A kill list posted on the wall; anything not crossed off wasn’t “minimal” yet.
Outcome
A credible demo that survived an afternoon of real use. Whether it becomes a product is a later question; the prototype answered whether the idea deserved that conversation.