Tasks were created for the design, then divided into two categories based on whether the tasks seem worthwhile with regard to the end goals of the project
Worthwhile:
- Design the board to allow 3.5mm inputs and outputs
- One of most important goals of the design is to support 3.5mm input and output
- Synthesize circuitry to combine inputs and split outputs
- Integral to the design; without this task there is no product
- Find low cost components for device
- Low cost components lower the final cost of the device
- Also helpful to have a simple board design; manufacture of device may also be a significant cost is board design is too complex
- Create simple interface for user to interact with device
- Simple interface allows the ordinary user to operate the device with minimal audio knowledge
Not Worthwhile:
- Improve performance of device
- High-end performance is not a primary goal; while a certain threshold of performance is necessary, improving the device beyond this point would increase cost without any return
- Create application to allow user to control device from USB port
- Allowing the device to be controlled from a USB port, while interesting, adds to both the complexity and the cost of device
- Create interesting interface for the device
- The device does not need to have an interesting interface (LEDs, digital displays...); an interesting display increases cost and complexity without providing much benefit to the user