Today’s EIO post highlights an exciting new product (The Makey Makey) that allows consumers to turn everyday objects into touchpads for use with the internet and PC programs.
How Does It Work?
The Makey Makey comes with a set of alligator clips, a USB connector and the interface board. It’s simple to use! All one has to do is load up a computer program or any webpage and you are essentially ready to get started!
For example, let’s say you load up a piano. Then, instead of using the computer keyboard buttons to play the piano, you can hook up the MaKey MaKey to something fun, like bananas, and the bananas become your piano keys:
Once connected, when the user touches the bananas they will perform as the keys on a piano board! Or let’s say you Google for an online “Pacman” game and draw a joystick with a pencil (yes, an actual ordinary pencil):
Then you can play Pacman by touching the drawing with your finger!
What Materials Work With Makey Makey:
Any material that can conduct at least a tiny bit of electricity will work (if it doesn’t already work, just rub it with bananas, spray it with water, or apply copper tape). Here are some materials people have used in our workshops including Ketchup, Pencil Graphite, Finger Paint, Lemons, etc.
Other materials that work great: Plants, Coins, Your Grandma, Silverware, Anything that is Wet, Most Foods, Cats and Dogs, Aluminum Foil, Rain, and hundreds more…
Requirements:
MaKey MaKey works with any laptop or computer with a USB port and a recent operating system. How recent? We have tried it with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OSX.
