MaKey MaKey is a collaboration project between SparkFun and Jay Silver/Eric Rosenbaum of the MIT Media Lab. They dreamed up the idea, prototyped it, ran it through workshops, and guided it to its current home on Kickstarter. We've been working with them along the way helping where we can with PCB and firmware design, part sourcing, and manufacturing. Let's just start by watching their awesome video:
Description for the less-technical (but, still awesome makers): MaKey MaKey allows you to turn almost any common object into an input-device for your computer. The front side of the MaKey MaKey board has six inputs: up/down/left/right arrow keys, spacebar and a mouse left-click. Using alligator clips you can hook those inputs up to anything that's even slightly conductive - fruit, play-dough, water, pencil drawings, whatever you can dream up - which becomes a keyboard or mouse input to your computer. So you can play a banana piano, play-dough Mario, or even create custom webcam triggers. When you flip the board over, and plug into the attached headers, you'll have access to six more keyboard keys, mouse-movement, and left and right mouse clicks.
Hardware description for the more-technical: The MaKey MaKey uses an ATmega32U4 processor, which has a built-in USB transceiver allowing us to emulate common USB HID devices like keyboards and mice. Even through high resistances (like skin resistance), you can close switches to ground using a combination of really, really weak pull-up resistors (think 10's of MΩ), and smart digital filters. The board can also be reprogrammed in the Arduino IDE, so you can totally customize its behavior.
I play a mean banana piano.
If you're headed to Maker Faire this weekend, you'll be able to see the MaKey MaKey live, in action at their booth. There will also be MaKey MaKey giveaways at Maker Faire for teachers, maker space organizers, etc. (limited supplies). We're really excited to be part of this awesome new project - the idea that "everyone is an inventor" is right up our alley. Check out their webpage for more information!
This is glorious! My niece and nephew are going to have to coolest (read - most ridiculous) projects at their science fairs!
PS - Any time I see "collaboration between Sparkfun and... the MIT Media Lab", I start smiling like a complete idiot, because I know something great is happening!
HOLY HOPPITYDOPEY!!! Easiest USB Joystick ever, right there in front of me! THE POSSIBILITIES!!! (oooo, what about an electronic play-dough banana bongo set? :D)
GIVE ME ONE NOW.
Forget a Banana Piano, I think we need... A BANANAPHONE! Surely with the custom Cell Phone projects and this, someone can build it.
3D printed banana? hmmm... that could work...
Don't play during a lightning storm... :)
From Russia, with love :-) Quick DIY http://www.g0l.ru/blog/n3402 Sorry, Russian language, but video describing all. Or, here is Googletranslated http://bit.ly/KfmUaW
Diablo 3 click-fest release nearly the same day as a kickstarter for a device that turns anything into a mouse/keyboard? Coincidence? I doubt it.
i was thinking the same thing.... some VERY interesting D3 setups on the horizon at my house me thinks.
I couldn't back this fast enough!! Add this to what my kids are doing on Scratch and it's going to get crazy!!
This looks great. So ordering one. Now!
This is super awesome! This is what I was thinking about creating with the Raspberry Pi. But, this looks much simpler and more fun!
Awesome, I already have ideas on how I could use this. Time to sign up!