Spectacle Button Board

The Spectacle Button Board allows you to add input from buttons, switches or other contact-type sensing devices to your Spectacle projects. This is the largest board in the Spectacle line due to its total of nine signal inputs, allowing for a large number of connections to a single module. Designed to bring simple signals from the world into your Spectacle projects, the Button Board provides input for any of your Spectacle projects!

The Button Board is equipped with two 3.5mm TRRS jacks for Spectacle control signals from a Director Board. The one labeled “In” should be plugged into a board that is closer to the Director Board than the Button Board is, or into the Director Board itself. Make sure to pay attention to the directionality of the jacks, as they will dictate how your Spectacle modules speak with one another and with the Director Board. As with every other Spectacle module, you will need the Director Board to operate any Spectacle project.

Additionally, there are eight “poke home” connectors on the Button Board. Each one can be connected to one (or more) buttons. To add a connection, simply push the stripped end of a wire into the hole on the connector. If you don't have any external buttons to add to your project, there is also a small input button on the board itself that can be used to provide an input signal and that functions like any other normal button that might be attached.

We have written an in-depth User's Guide and Button Board Hookup Guide to help direct you through each step of setting up this and any board in the Spectacle product line. You will be surprised by how easy and quick it is to make yourself into a Spectacle!


Spectacle is a product ecosystem centered around a simple idea: creative people shouldn’t have to learn new skills to use electronics in their projects. You’ve spent years developing the skills you use, and SparkFun wants to recognize that and help you expand your creations to include electronics without requiring you to spend years learning about electronics and programming.


Spectacle Button Board Product Help and Resources

Spectacle User's Guide

May 4, 2017

The Spectacle system is designed to help those without electronics or programming experience integrate electronics into projects.

Spectacle Light and Sound Kit Hookup Guide

May 4, 2017

All the information you need to use the Spectacle Light and Sound Kit in one place.

Spectacle Button Board Hookup Guide

May 4, 2017

All the information you need to use the Spectacle Button Board in one place.

Spectacle Example: Super Mario Bros. Diorama

May 4, 2017

A study in building an animated diorama (with sound!) using Spectacle electronics.

Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

1 Programming

Skill Level: Noob - Programming will be limited to basic drag and drop interfaces like ModKit or Scratch. You won't be writing code, but you will still need to understand some basics of interfacing with hardware. If you?re just using a sensor, it's output is analog.
See all skill levels


Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

1 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Noob - You don't need to reference a datasheet, but you will need to know basic power requirements.
See all skill levels


Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

Customer Reviews

1 out of 5

Based on 1 ratings:

Currently viewing all customer reviews.

0 of 2 found this helpful:

Dont expect support

Don't expect support on the spectacle products, it does not exist. Tried to get answers with no response

We're working on your issue, but it takes a little time to pull in all the people needed to answer your question. As soon as we have more information for you, we will be in touch. Thank you for your patience.