1. Hacking Toys
into Tangible
Interfaces
Workshop
Kieran Nolan
ISEA 2009 Dundalk

2. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Table of Contents:
- A (very) simple circuit
- Quick guide to Switches
- How to Keyboard Hack
- Some example projects by 2nd year Creative Multimedia at DKIT
- Photographs of the USB Guitar controller construction
- Interfacing the controller with software

3. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Heart Pumps, Blood Flows Voltage Pushes, Current Flows

4. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Switches: make or break a connection
Knife Switch Toggle Switch

5. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Some more switch types
Magnetic Hexadecimal Tilt Lever

6. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
More switches!
Schematic
Symbol for a
switch

7. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Homemade Switches

8. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
Keyboard Hacking

9. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
Keyboard Hack wired to plugboard

10. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
Gloves hooked up to Keyboard Hack

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How it works

12. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
Gameplay Example
http://keyo.net/bionicroshambo

13. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
2nd year Creative Multimedia project:
Tiny Tag – A graffiti simulator inspired by Tag Tool

14. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
2nd year Creative Multimedia project:
Music Maker – Ambient music toy

15. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
2nd year Creative Multimedia project:
Pixcube – Portfolio Viewer

16. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
2nd year Creative Multimedia project:
Magical Star Guitar – Educational game

17. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
2nd year Creative Multimedia project:
Pass The Bomb – Wireless multiplayer game

18. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

20. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Some of the screws are hidden
under rubber covers, so
remove these also.

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces

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Tangible Interfaces
Cut here
Cut here too

29. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Remove this

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Tangible Interfaces
USB lead goes through here

31. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Lift out and disconnect
Remove the speaker

32. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Extend these wires
(insulate the joins also)

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Tangible Interfaces

34. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
The first version of this hack used the ribbon cable that linked to this PCB.
However It was found that there was feedback through
The keyboard hack when simultaneous keys were pressed because
they share connections. This is why it is necessary to separate
them. To break the circuit remove both the green coating and the
conductive traces. The scraping method shown is crude but works.
Using a hot soldering iron to melt through should work also.
A less destructive alternative is to place new tactile pushbuttons on top of the pcb.
Linking direct through the ribbon cable without
this modification to this PCB works fine if your software
only requires one keypress at a time.
It's always advisable to test out the connected ribbon cable first
by connecting it to the keyboard hack to see if it will work.
Mini crocodile clips are useful for speeding up this process.

35. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Wires 3 and 7 are
Linked to the large switch

36. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
The yellow lines indicate connections that need to be wired
Between the plugboards and the pcb traces.
Screw the wires into the plugboards. The ends that meet
The traces can be taped down providing the grade
of wire is light. Stationary clips insulated with tape can
function as clamps to secure the wires in place.

37. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
c v m z e r u q
Traces 3 and 4 Traces 1, 3, 4 and 8

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Tangible Interfaces

39. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces
Wiring the buttons directly on the pcb
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Note: If you are using conductive tape to secure
the wire, be careful not to overlap to the other
side, this would accidently complete the circuit

40. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces PCB which contains the circuit for the strum control
Both switches here are mirrored
and link to the same two traces

41. Hacking Toys into
Tangible Interfaces Use the foil tape, then secure with
Regular tape or insulating tape,
Secure with hot glue

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Tangible Interfaces
Reconnect the
fretboard pcb
strummer pcb

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Tangible Interfaces
Keyboard hack
Fits into the
speaker cavity

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Tangible Interfaces
Use cable ties
to tame the
wire spaghetti

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Tangible Interfaces
The finished usb
Guitar controller!

46. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Now that you have your controller built
you need something to play with it
Download FOFix to test
out your custom controller
http://fretsonfire.wikidot.com/fofix
When you have it installed
And loaded up, go to 'options'
Then 'control settings' then 'change controls'
Change 'Key Conflicts <Notify>
To <No Check> then click 'Player 1 keys'
And use your controller to set the new keys.
Then rock out!

47. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Keyboard mapping software:
Use these applications to reassign your keypresses
Windows
Autohotkey
http://www.autohotkey.com/
OSX
Controllermate
http://www.orderedbytes.com/controllermate/

48. Hacking Toys into Tangible Interfaces
ISEA 2009 Dundalk
Email: kieran.nolan@dkit.ie
Web: www.kierannolan.com
© 2009
Slides 3 to 6 contain images from
“Bionic Arduino” by Tod E. Kurt, used with permission.
www.dkit.ie/creativemedia
www.creativemediaresearch.com