The winning entry is a simple arduino based USB controlled 'game' board which uses a series of coloured cubes which are placed on the game board to create a chromatic note from the C Major scale. But also offers an alternative version of the product which uses colour recognition through a webcam to recognise when colours cubes are placed on the squared sheet which is placed on the table.
The above images show the two forms that the product can take, with the USB version appearing incredibly basic and boxy which seems unfriendly to the eye and makes the whole object feel hard to approach and utilise effectively. Whilst the simplicity of the product is nice i feel that its limited capabilities would severely limit its potential as an effective tool within music therapy for those with ASD. For example the product features a 'video game' approach to music therapy with the board controlling the on screen game, which I personally do not think would be overly suitable for sufferers of ASD who are likely to experience limited attention to tasks which are laid out before them.
Another limiting factor of this product is its limited tactile nature as the only tactile elements which are frequently in contact with the user are the control cubes which appear to be simple plastic cubes. Whilst it could be possible to give each cube a different surface texture etc the fact they are a single shape still limits the tactile qualities, especially when compared to the traditional instruments which are commonly used within music therapy and all the tactile elements which are prominent with such instruments.
So overall, whilst the simplicity of the product as a whole is a nice feature I feel that overall the product is flawed in its primary purpose to provide music therapy and all the elements which are used as part of the music therapy process.
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