Problem Formulation 

Problem Statement - Create a portable digital piano that minimizes size, cost and weight by integrating with the user's existing laptop.

Statement Restatement Technique:

Stated Problem: Create a portable digital piano that minimizes size, cost and weight by integrating with the user's existing laptop.

Real Problem: Playing the piano is an inaccessible hobby due to the many barriers to obtaining an playing an instrument

Inferred Boundaries: Solution needs to be both cheap and compact in order to appeal to consumers

Actual Constraints: Solution needs to integrate into the consumer's life as seamlessly as possible

Given Goals: Creating a digital piano that minimizes both size and cost

Meaningful Goals: Improve the portability and cost of a keyboard in order to make it more accessible to the average person

Inputs: requires technology to combine multiple midi signals, requires physical design analysis for integration with laptop

Outputs: savings for the consumer, piano becoming a more accessible hobby/career, more efficient use of time for consumers

Unknowns: how consumers will receive this product compared to existing options, is there resistance to change in this market, is this a common issue or more narrow.

Source/Cause Approach:

Problem - keyboards are expensive and cumbersome.

Source/Cause - keyboards often have too many onboard features and are an awkward shape.

KT Situation Analysis

Market Research (Action Rank 1)

Timing - High (We need to understand if this is a significant problem for consumers or not before continuing)

Trend - Moderate (The market is fairly saturated with keyboards, but there is little innovation in this specific area)

Impact - High (Determining the wants of consumers influences  how the project moves forward in future steps)

Create Detailed Diagram of Proposed Keyboard Functionality (Action Rank 2)

Timing - Moderate (We want to know if our technology is feasible, but do not want to create a design hastily, before we have the relevant information)

Trend - Low (This is an unexplored area and as such we are unlikely to be beaten to this design by a competitor)

Impact - High (This design is the core of our solution)

Create Prototype (Action Rank 3)

Timing - Low (This will likely be comparatively expensive and time consuming, so we should be sure in our design before proceeding)

Trend - Low (This is an unexplored area and as such we are unlikely to be beaten to this design by a competitor)

Impact - High (This design is the core of our solution)

KT Problem Analysis - "It is hard to find time to play the keyboard"