thinktank thinktank presenting… thinktank ’s ponder puzzle! the great learning tool!
TRANSCRIPT
Presenting…Presenting… ThinkTankThinkTank’s Ponder Puzzle!’s Ponder Puzzle!
The Great Learning Tool!
……by Robert Rudd, Mona Daniels, by Robert Rudd, Mona Daniels, Ouqi Jiang, Tina Wen, Andrew ClareOuqi Jiang, Tina Wen, Andrew Clare
With help from TA’s: Yonatan Tekleab, Willie Sanchez, and Sandra Gonzalez
Begin at the Beginning…Begin at the Beginning…
Theme: Learning ToolsTheme: Learning Tools
When we first started brainstorming ideas for When we first started brainstorming ideas for our project, we knew we wanted to design our project, we knew we wanted to design
something that was:something that was:
InteractiveInteractiveChallengingChallenging
Attention grabbingAttention grabbingEducationalEducational
FunFun
Developing our Strategy:Developing our Strategy: Deterministic Deterministic
Design Design ProcessProcess
Peer Review Peer Review Evaluation Evaluation Process Process (PREP)(PREP)
(To see more (To see more examples of PREP examples of PREP sheets, please access sheets, please access our website: our website: web.mit.edu/aclare/Puweb.mit.edu/aclare/Public/SSP)blic/SSP)
Results of Our Brainstorming:Results of Our Brainstorming:
A wooden mapA wooden map A computer gameA computer game 3D Brain/Eye3D Brain/Eye 3D scrabble3D scrabble Geography gameGeography game Operation type gameOperation type game Music game, games for the blindMusic game, games for the blind Building “Blocks” of LifeBuilding “Blocks” of Life
The Ranking of the Strategies:The Ranking of the Strategies:Functional Requirements Weight
Body game with wand that shows info
Optics Kit
3D Brain/Eye
Puzzle Map that lights up and helps the blind
Building "Blocks" of Life
Blind story books
Fun/excitement 3 0 -1 1 0 -1 -1Educational value 3 1 1 0 0 1 1Handicapped accessible 1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 1Interactive 2 0 1 0 0 -1 -1Feasibility/doable in time 5 0 1 -1 0 0 -1Marketability (less competition?) 2 0 0 1 0 0 0Staying power (dep. on market) 1 1 0 0 0 0 1Modularity 1 0 -1 0 0 0 0Originality/ innovative 2 0 -1 1 0 0 0Simplicity of use 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
Total score 4 3 2 0 -3 -4Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6
Functional Requirements of Functional Requirements of Body Game/ World PuzzleBody Game/ World Puzzle
Puzzle lights up and plays music upon Puzzle lights up and plays music upon completion completion
Sound plays when specific pieces/parts Sound plays when specific pieces/parts touched and plays info about that touched and plays info about that piece/part piece/part
Pieces marked with braille for the blind Pieces marked with braille for the blind and textures to facilitate puzzle and textures to facilitate puzzle completion completion
Demonstrate interchangeable parts for Demonstrate interchangeable parts for different subject areas (geography, human different subject areas (geography, human physiology, etc.) physiology, etc.)
Developing our Concept:Developing our Concept: Deterministic Deterministic
Design Design ProcessProcess
Peer Review Peer Review Evaluation Evaluation Process Process (PREP)(PREP)
(To see more examples (To see more examples of PREP sheets, please of PREP sheets, please access our website: access our website: web.mit.edu/aclare/Pubweb.mit.edu/aclare/Public/SSP)lic/SSP)
Final Concept:Final Concept:• Wooden Box
• Plastic Puzzle Bases
• Lights and Sound
• Information Wand
• Different Puzzles
• Clay 3D Puzzle
Circuitry Design (goals)Circuitry Design (goals)
Be able to touch specific pieces and Be able to touch specific pieces and plays information about that piece.plays information about that piece.
When the puzzle is completed, some When the puzzle is completed, some parts of the puzzle light up. parts of the puzzle light up.
When the puzzle is completed, some When the puzzle is completed, some sound plays (“Congratulations! You sound plays (“Congratulations! You completed the puzzle!”)completed the puzzle!”)
Info CircuitInfo Circuit
Problem: How to Problem: How to play seven pieces play seven pieces of info for seven of info for seven continents?continents?
Solution: Buy seven Solution: Buy seven sound chips to sound chips to record sound and record sound and play back. play back.
powerbubble switch
speaker
mic
sound chip for the info and congratulation sound
Another problemAnother problem
Problem: Each chip comes with one battery Problem: Each chip comes with one battery and one speaker. If we use seven chips, how and one speaker. If we use seven chips, how to just use one battery and one speaker?to just use one battery and one speaker?
Solution: Use our brains!!!Solution: Use our brains!!!
Battery And Speaker ProblemBattery And Speaker ProblemFirst try--not workingFirst try--not working
All the chips are in parallel, and in series with the battery and the speaker.
Battery And Speaker ProblemBattery And Speaker ProblemSecond try--working, but not practicalSecond try--working, but not practical
Accomplished the Accomplished the goal of using one goal of using one battery and one battery and one speaker.speaker.
Requires a four-pin Requires a four-pin wand and four wand and four corresponding pins corresponding pins on each info spot on on each info spot on the map – the map – impractical.impractical.
Battery And Speaker ProblemBattery And Speaker ProblemThird try—the way to go!Third try—the way to go!
Use op-amps as input adders. Use op-amps as input adders.
741741
Op-amp
Op-amp
speaker
potentiometer
9V
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
10kΩ
1k Ω
Flashing LightsFlashing Lights
555 Timer555 Timer
(DC->square wave)(DC->square wave)
Chose R2=39k Chose R2=39k Ω Ω and C1=10E-6 F and C1=10E-6 F to get the right to get the right frequency frequency (approximately (approximately 0.5Hz)0.5Hz)
““Congratulations” CircuitryCongratulations” Circuitry
magnetic switches in series to control the magnetic switches in series to control the “congratulations” circuitry“congratulations” circuitry
lights and sound circuitry in parallel to be lights and sound circuitry in parallel to be triggered by the magnetic switchestriggered by the magnetic switches
Ponder Puzzle boxPonder Puzzle boxDesign Parameters:Design Parameters: Small enough to fit on a Small enough to fit on a
normal desknormal desk Large enough to Large enough to
accommodate internal accommodate internal circuitrycircuitry
Grooves to accommodate Grooves to accommodate sliding cover, and sliding cover, and additional puzzle overlaysadditional puzzle overlays
Sturdy, but not overly Sturdy, but not overly heavy.heavy.
Ponder Puzzle boxPonder Puzzle box Decided on wood (easy Decided on wood (easy
to work with, strong, to work with, strong, relatively light)relatively light)
All woodworking was All woodworking was done in the Hobby done in the Hobby shop under the shop under the guidance of Ken Stoneguidance of Ken Stone
Ponder Puzzle boxPonder Puzzle box
Each board was made Each board was made separately using a separately using a variety of saws and variety of saws and bladesblades
The boards were later The boards were later clamped and glued with clamped and glued with the bottom board being the bottom board being screwed on after the screwed on after the circuitry was inserted circuitry was inserted and testedand tested
PuzzlePuzzle
Functional Requirements:Functional Requirements: Fit together wellFit together well Imbed magnets to Imbed magnets to
complete circuitcomplete circuit Holes to insert wand to Holes to insert wand to
hear informationhear information
PuzzlePuzzle Used the Water Jet to cut the puzzleUsed the Water Jet to cut the puzzle Polypropylene materialPolypropylene material
PuzzlePuzzle
Utilized Crayola Model Utilized Crayola Model Magic ClayMagic Clay
Pliable at first, but air Pliable at first, but air dries hard and dries hard and lightweight without lightweight without crumblingcrumbling
Non-toxic: child-safeNon-toxic: child-safe Fulfills two functional Fulfills two functional
requirements:requirements:• 3D to show land 3D to show land
textures and elevationstextures and elevations• Conceals magnetsConceals magnets
ProductionProduction
Under budgetUnder budget Easy to Easy to
manufacturemanufacture Simple designSimple design Mold for puzzle Mold for puzzle
piecespieces Custom circuit Custom circuit
boardsboards
Further DevelopmentFurther Development
Interchangeable Interchangeable puzzlespuzzles
Use same circuitry, fit Use same circuitry, fit the same holes and the same holes and magnetsmagnets
Mini computer to hold Mini computer to hold information or each information or each puzzle comes with info puzzle comes with info cartridgecartridge
Smaller magnets, Smaller magnets, more lightweightmore lightweight
Future PuzzlesFuture Puzzles
Varying difficulty levels: child to adultVarying difficulty levels: child to adult Individual continents/countries, solar Individual continents/countries, solar
system, human body, rainforest… system, human body, rainforest… endless possibilities!endless possibilities!
More physically detailed for blind, More physically detailed for blind, braillebraille
Ponder Puzzle!Ponder Puzzle!
Sight, touch, and hearing stimulatedSight, touch, and hearing stimulated Lightweight clay, 3D piecesLightweight clay, 3D pieces Versatility makes it for all agesVersatility makes it for all ages Toy for home, study tool, pastime, Toy for home, study tool, pastime,
teaching tool in classroomsteaching tool in classrooms Technology meets traditionTechnology meets tradition
AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments(Alphabetically)(Alphabetically)
Jim Bales, Edgerton CenterJim Bales, Edgerton Center Steve Banzaert, Edgerton CenterSteve Banzaert, Edgerton Center Marc GrahamMarc Graham Ed Moriarty, Edgerton CenterEd Moriarty, Edgerton Center Stephen OglesbyStephen Oglesby OME StaffOME Staff Anne Davis ShawAnne Davis Shaw Professor SlocumProfessor Slocum Ken Stone, MIT Hobby ShopKen Stone, MIT Hobby Shop Roy Talanian, MIT Hobby ShopRoy Talanian, MIT Hobby Shop