Applications and Implications - Design goals and considerations

What will it do?

Teach pronunciation of language through assembly and sound. Create a platform to allow the user to learn how to say words by linking character blocks to each other. The intention is to design the interface and back-end so that it would be possible to switch between multiple languages that use the same character set.
See the post about potential features and stretch goals.

Who’s done what beforehand?

Modular sound and language blocks are nothing new. There are some awesome products out there that chain objects together to manipulate sound. Language has often been taught using rearrangeable blocks. There are also heaps of really cool modular electronics projects for teaching things like basic electronics.

What materials and components will be required? Where will they come from? How much will it cost?

The bill of materials for this project is still under active development but it will likely contain the components listed below.

How much will it cost?

The BOM above covers the component and material cost. But its important to also consider some of the cost associated with the production process.

It is likely that the cost could be reduced by increasing the size of production runs and moving production out of a Fab Lab and into a professional operator. In previous projects I’ve worked on the component cost have dropped by as much as 60% once the production has been handed over to a specialist. Their efficiency gains and bulk buying power make it easy to get a lower cost for each unit that what could be achieved in the lab. But as the project is still at a proof of concept stage this is not a major consideration. Instead the focus is on keeping the object and systems hackable to encourage collaboration and iteration, while also using cheap components.

What parts and systems will be made?


Letter links, individual characters that can be joined together to create words. They each contain a PCB, 3d printed base and lasercut cover.
Receiver, Acts as a serial converter between the letter links and the computer interface. It contains a PCB featuring FTDI, 3d printed base and lasercut cover.
Interface, The program running on the PC. It makes use of a flat file database of words, sound files, simple vector graphics.

What processes will be used?

3d printing for the base.
Lasercutting for the cover.
PCB milling and soldering for the circuit board.
Assembly and programing for each module.

what questions need to be answered?

Scope of database wordlist for proof of concept.
Press fit / magnetised pin connector.
Cover design.
See the post about potential features and stretch goals.

What tasks need to be completed? What is the schedule?


How will it be evaluated?

My project aims to be a simple proof of concept that can serve as a discussion point for further development and collaboration.
Prototype is able to play sounds based off stone assembly order.
potential for expansion.

Applications and Implications - Weekly resources