Field work is another type of data acquisition you can use to help the product development process move from one stage to the next. Here are three important approaches to field work:
1. Working in a specific field to accumulate firsthand
knowledge of a subject.
2. Becoming an observer in a specific field to accumulate
firsthand knowledge.
3. Placing a prototype invention into a field situation to
evaluate its abilities. This can also be called Beta Testing.
Beta Test is usually when a company provides a
prototype (or Beta version) of a product to a select
group of users who understand that they are trying
their best to put the product through its paces. The
results of Beta testing are then incorporated into, or
corrected in the final product.
These approaches can give you different types of feedback and advantages when trying to develop, market, and sell a product.
The first approach, actually working in a specific field, enables you to get firsthand feedback on a situation and how your invention must function to be of value in that situation. This approach also is useful for convincing investors to risk capital in your project. Your hands-on experience in the field will be much more valuable than any academic degree. This type of field work often can give you insights that cannot be gained from merely thinking through the project design on paper.
The second type of field work, becoming an observer to the conditions that create the need for your invention, is the next best thing to actually doing the job or being part of the situation. Many times, a job associated with your invention, may require years of training and experience. One example is a police officer's job. When developing the Power Staf (a law enforcement related product), I couldn't actually be a police officer, but I was able to ride along with the street officers. By doing that, I got a firsthand sense of what was needed in the product. Becoming an observer also lets you interview the end users to get their thoughts on what should be included in the product. Their spontaneous feedback is a form of brainstorming that can be a powerful asset because they have experience that is crucial to making the product or service operate at its peak performance.
You can pursue the third type of field work, also known as a "Beta Site," when you feel that your prototype is ready for the rigors of a field test. By actually placing it in the field, you can see what needs to be changed or improved to make your product more viable. Beta Test Sites are also a form of test marketing. If the product works well, you will get positive feedback and find out if the need for your invention is greater or less than you expected.
