Rapid Prototyping using Evaluation Boards

Creating electronic products is as easy as installing software and connecting an electronic circuit board (Evaluation Board)to your desktop or notebook computer's USB port. Semiconductor manufacturers are developing and selling Evaluation Boards to tech entrepreneurs and inventors who want to create the next great electronics gadget. The Evaluation Board consists of a core semiconductor such as microcontroller or microprocessor along with supporting electronic circuits mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). With the aid of software, the tech entrepreneur or inventor can play around with the core component and supporting electronic circuits by changing various Input or Output electrical parameters. The core component and supporting electronic circuits are known as the Reference Design. The Evaluation Board comes with a Bill Of Materials (BOM) and electronic circuit schematic diagrams so the tech entrepreneur and inventor can easily incorporate the Reference Design into their Industrial Design Package. The intent behind the Evaluation Board is to rapidly explore the feasibility of a product idea by building a functional Proof of Concept (PoC) model. Once the PoC has been validated, the Reference Design can be transferred to the intended product's packaging. I've just recently received an Evaluation Board from Microchip http://www.microchip.com  for their Capacitive Touch Sense technology known as "mTouch". The intent behind mTouch is to allow an individual to interact with a product without using traditional buttons. The mTouch technology allows products to be operated by touch or proximity sensing. With this sensing technique, the problem of electrical contacts wearing out will become a thing of the past using mTouch technology. If you are not familiar with electronic circuits, check with a local community college or university and find the nearest Electronics Technology or Electrical Engineering Department. There, you'll find eager Electronics Technology or Electrical Engineering Students who will assist in you using the Evaluation Boards for an opportunity to obtain real-world skills and practical experience to put on their resume for free.