VexRoboticsHexBugs2018
from
SituationalAssessmentTemplate2017
Introduction/Definition/etc
VEX Robotics HexBug kits
of plastic action figures,
which from name would imply robot,
but severely limited,
and mechanical only,
no electronics on the two I bought
clearance, a while back...
Body
Original Text
So looking in the clearance isle
and see Vex HexBug kits again,
for $3-4 each normally $15+
decided to give them a try.
Snap together
No tools like the Meccanno
Meccasaur, nor MakeBlock
robots, (make links to easily
see previous pages)
and a popular brand,
seeing and trying other
manufacturers like
comparative religion$
...
Store Personnel
Typically a problem
just browsing assumed to be criminal
shoplifting charge threats for lookilooing,
taking pictures as research, price check,
back self checkout registers closed,
walking, warm, and school starting,
so school supplies, sales,
seasonal demands, etc...
See all sorts of August (angst, etc)
and
season change stuff up here...
Had hopes of better,
but for the price...
Inside Boxes
Several plastic bags of parts
which could be done better
with Ziploc / resealable
with safety openings
to know if opened already..
Graph paper like printing
on the plastic bags,
only really visible
from one direction...
Company Research
Some done elsewhere
when home, on wifi,
No data plan but free WiFi in store(s)...
So learned limitations after the fact...
Bought quickly
Out to do errands
with remaining change for the month,
while competing needs of food, transit,
repairs, supplies, laundry
and a margin of safety:
Reserves...
Modified Text
What's Missing?
See elsewhere getting for changes to the product
What Can Be Found?
Reasons to buy other things
From them and other companies
What Can Not Be Found?
Spare parts
How To Analyze?
Lenses
Kid
Kewl I'm thinking about life in space, drones, etc
Parent
More plastic, don't you already have enough toys?
Babysitter
Just keep them entertained, busy, happy, etc
environmental
More plastic?
At least biodegradable?
Designer
Make more money💰...
Marketing
What can we say about it?
Leave out what so they assume better than it is...
Packaging
Less material, but big enough
not to fit in pockets easily..
Bento box like better?
Competition
Patent encumbered...
Association (s)
Toy business is big,
We are great...
Consumer
Cooperative better than competition
Assumptions
Age ranges
Kid at several stores
and followed...
Staff wanted them
bought so not bugged
but sent to further stores...
Walking slow so drivers must have caught up
and attacked by the registers while
buying my second Alcatel Raven
at the 5th CVS store I checked that day...
CVS Conspiracy problems and coupon lottery
problems again, female manager
sweating me and refusing to honour
coupon claiming it didn't work,
prepaid card,
when the device is not a card,
getting all sorts of information
instead of just selling it,
in a jurisdiction
known to be a problem,
different store,
one of several...
Systemic problems,
store in store, and
asking directions or questions
setting up for problems
at the next ones...
Along with "What are you going to do with those?"
type questions...
Harassment at criminal levels
Setup and lying in marketing, exclusions,
limited quantities, etc...
So kid and possibly Muslim / non
Fundamentaist hatred, again...
See Haters and other
RetailDiscrimination,
in 2011-13?, etc
Expected to give away my new toys...
Emotional blackmail...
Time Limits
Time to complete mentioned on the box
Links
https://www.vexrobotics.com/
http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=vex
http://www.microcenter.com/product/480304/vex-discovery-command
http://www.microcenter.com/product/467763/vex-robotics-catapult-kit
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hexbug-vex-iq-robotics-construction-kit-blue/5235803.p?skuId=5235803
Other retailers seem to have them too...
Ymmv
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
For the clearance prices
try something by another company.
Lego like plastics, but not very reuseable...
Also part of an IQ system:
read need to buy other things
in order to prove you are smart (WTF?)...
And as a launching off point for other stuff,
by same brand...
Snap together at joints instead of tools.
Age range, figuring out assembly,
they typically call building
as opposed to design, mod/ hacking,
all higher level skills,
but at ages 6-12 and doing independently,
might be cheaper babysitting
props: here is your kit, to build/assemble
while we go out...
Grandma and/or stereotypical teen girl
may not figure it out,
mastery feelings and better than fantasy stuff ...
Packaging seemed unclear what was contained,
turns out 3 main equipment:
one a drone,
a loader,
and command station...
Starting with the astronaut,
there were 3 included with:
hip joint, arm socket, backpack, head,
Arms, legs, stickers and
quickly adds up to the
225+ pieces...
Even without bolts, nuts and other types
by other manufacturers...
Metal vs. plastic,
given environmental concerns curious...
Especially with toys, outgrown quickly...
For my uses:
a skit with bots showing,
humour(less), growing up in an
alcoholic home...
Toy story or stuffed animals showing abuse,
but more technical, stop action, next gen,
write the executable script...
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
What toys are good?
Why?
Environmental important?
Toxins?
Choking hazards?
Stepping on in the dark like Jacks?
Systems approach, chain marketing
Battle bots making TV show connections,
I want to destroy when creating/
Making (tm) is the real goal...
Testing/demo
What skills are learned?
How to spend money?
If you could design and 3D print stuff,
instead,
what would you create?
License
Creative Commons Share and Share Alike,
Non Commercial, Non Derivative,
for the whole site's contents
unless otherwise explicitly stated
Page History
20180929
- CamelCase v. ProductName odd
- Cleanup:
- Sectionalize freewriting format
- Add info
- Add links
- Etc
-
20180925 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to
- Log another kit manufacturer
- Using sit templates to
- make situations uniform across cases...
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