Portable electromechanical braille label maker : from a 2.009 prototype to a product

Abstract

Most student projects never make the transition from a class prototype to a commercial product. This document is meant to be used as a guide by any student trying to turn an alpha prototype into a product on the market. The process is involved and there can be many challenges. There are also many approaches that might be adopted depending on the product and the goals of the inventor. This thesis begins with a discussion of technology transfer programs at three different universities and then looks into successful stories of student products. The focus then shifts to my own student product: a portable electromechanical Braille label maker that was developed in the MIT class 2.009, product engineering processes. The discussion focuses on the steps that have been taken thus far towards making the alpha prototype into a commercially available device, and discusses the steps that must be taken in the future.