This is an attempt to chart the development of a Public Lab tool in general terms. Some people have also volunteered to explore and expand on these stages in longer articles; their names are listed below.

Many steps may occur earlier or later; we're just trying to better understand them and get better at the process. Feel free to add/revise:

A. Sandbox

Problem Definition

• Propose, state problem, invite collaboration
• Explore relevance to Public Lab mission
• Propose testable solutions
• Adam

B. Early Adopter

Tools: Estrogen sensing, Air column monitoring

Proof of Concept

• Shared early documentation - beginning of open sourcing
• Home or Lab prototype demonstrating basic idea
• Page describing the tool and it's intent and context
• Consider cost issues
• Sara

Tools: H2S sensor, Indoor air-quality mapping

Develop a network of collaborators

• Find a community of like interest, like Coral growers or DIY Bio
• Host exploratory hackathons
• Create a distributable prototype- one that can be shipped to people
• Liz

Tools: Thermal Flashlight

Produce documentation

• Consider who can make one and how easily
• Legibility of documentation, completeness of parts list & codebase
• Liz

C. Using Tools and Doing Science

Tools: Spectrometer

Refining and using tools regularly

• The "build it and leave it" problem at workshops
• Building experience with a tool and its limitations
• Small retail circulation of kits to jumpstart community
• Shannon

Tools: Near-infrared camera

Lifecycle: develop a defined path from raw data to results

• Begin to develop helpful software
• Developing a "Hello World" for people to aim for as their first attempt
• Compare and contrast results and improve & refine tool
• Calibrating and comparing to existing tools
• Jeff

D. Scaling and outreach

Tools: Balloon & Kite Mapping

When to go big

• Developing retail kits to get people started quickly
• Support data analysis and understanding with in-depth documentation
• How-to guides, YouTube videos
• Mathew

Credibility and Outcomes

• Build credibility for process and results
• Develop case studies
• Get quantitative
• Stewart