Probably a little late for this idea but it had occurred to me 'back in the day' when the Co. was developing the DT that they were trying to build a Shelby GT instead of starting with a Model T.
The essence of Blade Optics was that it offered a 'reduction in size' for accomplishing the same task as traditional 'scopes'.
And that 'form factor' was drastically different than what has been accceptrd as 'normal'.
Then came the desire to add all the latest electronic and connectivty gadgetry...and the delays and frustrations.
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They should have started out like Sony did back in the 1950's.
I'm showing my age a bit here but I recall the flood of Sony transistor radios of the 1950-60's that hit our shores and were targeted at the young boomers....even though Texas Instruments invented the first one.
But it grew to where they ended up selling them walk-mans and now they are a $75Billion Mkt Cap.
Why couldn't NXO have done a deal with a kid's toy manufacturer to start getting the 'revolutionary' telescope, microscope, binoculars into the hands of the youngsters.
All the dreams of going into space, military grade scopes, etc., etc., was aiming at the moon instead of the kids next door.
By familiarizing the next generation with 'blade optics' from toddler on up would have allowed the company to introduce their tech in stages..to juniors...then intermediate...and so on right on up to professional and 'special situation'.
Could have started with an inexpensive 'compact' scope, and then a model with bluetooth capability...there's enough 6-8 year olds with a smartphone that could capture screenshots and view it later on mom or dad's smart tv.
As the next generation got 'onto the next new thing', it wouldn't take long for mom and dad and their 'birder' friends to want something that was more suitable for them.
Before you knew it, the 'old, clunky barrel reflecting/refracting apparatus' would be headed for the museum.
And it's easier to move 10,000,000 items priced at $49.99 than it is to move 1,000,000 items at $499.99.
Just go here and see that there is still no 'revolutionary' offering for kids.
https://www.space.com/29798-best-telescopes-for-kids.html
"We searched for telescopes that were durable enough to withstand playtime, could keep youngsters entertained and would ignite curiosity about the cosmos.
When testing the telescopes, we looked at each instrument's basic specifications, like magnification and the number of accessories. We also looked at the ease of setup and of use, the quality of the product's construction and design, and whether the telescope could withstand young children playing with it.
We found that the telescopes tended to fall into two categories: those made primarily for observing and those geared more toward science and learning. So we picked our favorites in both of those categories and divided our final choices by age group.
Our top selections for kids age 6 and under are colorful and fun, but they can also introduce very young children to telescope viewing. The choices for kids age 6 and up offer more complex technology and more challenging science tasks. The selections for age 10 and up can serve as transitions into high-grade telescopes, and are suitable for casual stargazers of all ages.
We worked hard to find the best telescopes for kids, and we hope you find one that works for the young astronomer in your life.
Manufacturers
Celestron: A veteran in the telescope optics business, Celestron has been offering skywatchers quality instruments since the 1960s and, in 1987, developed the first computerized observatory-class telescope (a battery-operated version followed in 1996). Celestron telescopes have flown on a NASA space shuttle, and the company's NexStar SE appeared on the CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory." In 2014, Celestron unveiled the Cosmos 90GT WiFi Telescope, the first Wi-Fi–operated telescope for amateur astronomy that can be controlled via the Cosmos Celestron Navigator app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. For more information on Celestron's telescopes, visit: https://www.celestron.com/.
Educational Insights: Educational Insights is a Southern California-based company that has focused on developing educational play opportunities for kids for more than 50 years. The company's Nancy B's Science Club Moonscope is part of a wider Nancy B's Science Club line that includes binoculars, a microscope, a chemistry set, a tree diary and even an "aqua scope" for peering underwater to see inside lakes, rivers or other bodies of water. Educational Insights also offers a range of high-quality telescopes under its GeoSafari line. We liked the sheer range of magnification that came with the GeoSafari Omega Reflector Telescope, but several other models are available. For more information on Educational Insights, visit: https://www.educationalinsights.com/.
Galileoscope LLC: An alternative option for our Age 6 and Up category, the Galileoscopes offered by Galileoscope LLC are refracting telescopes that allow kids to build instruments similar to the one used by famed Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. Kids will build scopes literally from the ground up, with no tools needed (except maybe scissors). We built ours in 30 minutes. Astronomers, science educators and optical engineers developed the Galileoscope as an affordable telescope to spur interest in astronomy during the International Year of Light, in 2009. The Galileoscope team offers free online observing guides (updated by year), as well as tips and activity guides. For more information on the Galileoscope, visit: https://galileoscope.org/.
Levenhuk: Founded in 2002 to reach underserved students in Central and Eastern Europe, Levenhuk designs and markets microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, sports optics, magnifiers and digital cameras. Supplementary educational materials accompany most Levenhuk products. The company demonstrates its commitment to kids in the quality-to-price ratios of the optics products, and in the depth of experience facilitated by the accessory kits made for fun learning. To see the complete list of Levenhuk's offerings, visit: https://www.levenhuk.com/company/main/#.
Learning Resources: Learning Resources makes hardy, kid-oriented science gear, including the Primary Science Big View Telescope, which we listed as an alternative option for kids under age 6. Big View is a no-frills scope for young children that can be used for moon gazing or daytime terrestrial viewing. (Adult supervision is required to keep kids from pointing the telescope at the sun.) Other than a small, tabletop tripod, this colorful and lightweight scope comes with no additional pieces, and no assembly is required. Its 20x magnification is impressive for a telescope designed for kids in this age range, and the large focus-knob is easy to grab and turn. The eyepiece is lined with soft rubber, but the viewing hole is smaller than that on the Talking Telescope. The piece is fairly durable, but watch out for the viewing knob, which can break off. We think this little scope is ideal for studying the moon and terrestrial objects. For more on Learning Resources' products, visit: https://www.learningresources.com/.
Meade Instruments: Meade Instruments has been building high-quality optics for telescopes, binoculars and solar telescopes since 1972, and offers a wide variety of instruments. These range from simple refractors like the Infinity 50mm Altazimuty Refractor for beginner skywatchers to ultra-advanced tools like the LX850-ACF Telescope with StarLock ($9,999) for expert astrophotographers. To learn more about Meade telescopes, visit: https://www.meade.com/.
Orion: Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has offered a varied selection of optics, observing tools and accessories for amateur astronomers, sports observers and astrophotographers since 1975. The company's instruments range from the beginner level to high-end tools like the Orion SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope Dobsonian for more advanced observers. For more information on Orion telescopes, visit: https://www.telescope.com/.
Thames & Kosmos: Founded in 2001, Thames & Kosmos provides a wide variety of science- and education-themed kits for kids of all ages. The company offers more than 120 science and experiment kits across 13 different subjects, ranging from astronomy and physics to construction, ignition and alternative energy. While the TK1 Telescope and Astronomy Kit is new for 2015, Thames & Kosmos also has an in-depth Scope Constructor Science Kit that offers a multitude of ways for kids to build their own binoculars, spotting scopes and telescopes. For more on Thames & Kosmos, visit: https://thameskosmos.com/index.html.
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Probably a little late for this idea but....maybe not.?
A licensing deal with lets's say...a Hasbro...Mattel...or Takara Tomy...for next year's Holiday Season...???
And Now for Something Completely Different...Eh?