This manual describes how to get started with Makey Makey and Scratch, focusing on setting up both the software and hardware components to create interactive projects. The overall goal is to enable users to turn everyday objects into computer inputs, allowing for creative and playful interactions with digital programs.
Part I: Setting up Scratch
Scratch is a block-based visual programming language designed for beginners, making it easy to create interactive stories, games, and animations. The first step involves familiarizing yourself with the Scratch environment and building a simple program.
Function Description:
Scratch allows users to program interactive behaviors by dragging and dropping code blocks. These blocks can control sprites (characters or objects), play sounds, respond to user input, and much more. For the purpose of this guide, Scratch is used as the software interface that receives input from the Makey Makey device and translates it into actions, such as playing sounds or notes.
Usage Features:
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Building a Basic Program: The manual illustrates how to create a program that plays a sound when the space key is pressed. This involves using specific Scratch blocks:
when [space] key pressed: This is an event block that triggers a sequence of actions when the specified key (in this case, "space") is pressed.play sound [meow]: This is a sound block that plays a selected sound. The default sound shown is "meow," but users can choose from a library of sounds or record their own.- To build this program, you would drag the
when [space] key pressed block from the "Events" category and snap the play sound [meow] block from the "Sound" category directly underneath it. This creates a simple script that executes the sound playback whenever the spacebar is activated.
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Exploring Other Keys and Sounds: The guide encourages experimentation by showing examples of how to link different key presses to various sounds or musical notes:
when [up arrow] key pressed with play sound [Woohoo!]: This demonstrates how to assign a different key (up arrow) to play a different sound ("Woohoo!"). This highlights the flexibility of Scratch in mapping inputs to outputs.when [left arrow] key pressed with play note [60] for [0.5] beats: This example introduces musical programming. Instead of playing a pre-recorded sound, Scratch can play specific musical notes. "Note 60" typically corresponds to middle C, and "0.5 beats" defines the duration of the note. This opens up possibilities for creating simple melodies or musical instruments.when [right arrow] key pressed with play drum [11] for [0.25] beats: Similar to playing notes, Scratch can also simulate drum sounds. "Drum 11" usually refers to a specific drum sound (like a snare drum), and "0.25 beats" sets its duration. This allows for the creation of rhythmic patterns.- These examples collectively illustrate how to customize interactions by changing the triggering key, the type of sound (pre-recorded, musical note, or drum), and the duration of the sound.
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Recording Your Own Sounds: A key feature of Scratch is the ability to personalize projects with custom audio.
- Accessing the Sounds Tab: Users are instructed to click on the "Sounds" tab within the Scratch interface. This tab provides tools for managing and creating sounds.
- Recording Process: The steps for recording a new sound are:
- Click the microphone icon to initiate the recording process.
- Speak or make a sound into the microphone.
- The recorded sound will appear in the sound list (e.g., "blerp!").
- Press the record button to start and stop the recording.
- This feature allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to integrate their own voices, sound effects, or musical snippets into their projects, making the interactions more unique and engaging.
Maintenance Features:
- Scratch projects are saved digitally, allowing for easy modification and sharing. No physical maintenance is required for the software itself.
- Regularly saving your project prevents loss of work.
Part II: Setting up Makey Makey
Makey Makey is an invention kit that turns everyday objects into touchpads and combines them with the internet. It uses high-resistance switching to detect when you've made a connection, even through objects that aren't particularly conductive.
Function Description:
The Makey Makey board acts as an interface between physical objects and a computer. It translates electrical connections made through conductive objects into keyboard presses (like space, arrow keys, or specific letters) or mouse clicks. This allows users to control computer programs, including Scratch projects, using novel inputs.
Usage Features:
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Plug Board into Computer:
- Connection: The Makey Makey board connects to a computer via a standard USB cable. One end of the USB cable plugs into the Makey Makey board, and the other end plugs into an available USB port on the computer.
- Indicator Light: A red light on the Makey Makey board should illuminate once it's successfully connected and powered on. This serves as a visual confirmation that the device is receiving power and is ready for use.
- Simplicity: The plug-and-play nature of Makey Makey means it's designed for immediate use without complex installation.
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Close Any Pop-ups:
- No Drivers Needed: A significant feature of Makey Makey is that it functions as a standard Human Interface Device (HID) keyboard/mouse. This means that most operating systems will recognize it automatically without the need for special driver installations or setup procedures.
- User Experience: The manual explicitly advises users to close any pop-up windows that might ask about installing drivers or performing setup, reinforcing the idea that it's ready to go out of the box. This simplifies the initial setup process, making it accessible to users of all technical levels.
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Connect Yourself to EARTH:
- Grounding Principle: For the Makey Makey to detect a "key press," a circuit needs to be completed. One side of this circuit is typically "EARTH" (ground). The user acts as part of this circuit.
- Connection Method: An alligator clip is used to connect the user to the "EARTH" input on the Makey Makey board.
- Holding the Metal Part: The user must hold the metal part of the alligator clip (or touch a conductive object connected to EARTH) to establish a continuous ground connection. This ensures that when the user touches another conductive object connected to a key input, the circuit is completed, and the Makey Makey registers a "press."
- Tip for Ease of Use: The manual provides a helpful tip: "Removing cover makes clip easier to hold." This suggests that the plastic insulation on the alligator clip can be slid back to expose more of the metal, making it easier to grip and maintain contact.
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Try it with Scratch:
- Testing the Connection: After setting up the Makey Makey and connecting to EARTH, the next step is to test its functionality with Scratch.
- "SPACE" Area: The manual instructs the user to touch a metallic "SPACE" area. This refers to one of the key inputs on the Makey Makey board, specifically the one mapped to the spacebar.
- Visual Feedback: A green light on the Makey Makey board should illuminate when the connection is made, indicating that the circuit is working.
- Computer Recognition: The computer should register a "space bar" press. If you have a Scratch program set up to respond to the spacebar (as described in Part I), it should trigger the associated action (e.g., playing a sound).
- Troubleshooting: If the spacebar press isn't registered, the manual offers troubleshooting tips: "try pressing more firmly or licking your finger." This highlights that conductivity is key; sometimes, a stronger connection or increased moisture (which improves conductivity) is needed.
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Connect Everyday Objects:
- Creative Input: This is where the Makey Makey truly shines. Instead of just touching the board, users can connect various conductive objects to the key inputs.
- Connection Method: Alligator clips are used to connect an object to one of the key inputs on the Makey Makey board (e.g., the "SPACE" input).
- Object Examples: The manual suggests trying "metal, food, or play-doh." This demonstrates the versatility of Makey Makey, as it can work with a wide range of conductive materials.
- Completing the Circuit: To trigger an input, the user (who is already connected to EARTH) touches the object that is connected to a key input. This completes the circuit through the user's body and the object, signaling a "key press" to the computer.
- "Add craft materials and make a musical instrument out of anything!": This inspiring statement encapsulates the core philosophy of Makey Makey – to encourage creativity and invention by transforming ordinary items into interactive tools. Users can build elaborate setups, turning bananas into piano keys, stairs into drum pads, or drawings into game controllers.
Maintenance Features:
- Cleaning: The Makey Makey board itself is a circuit board and should be kept dry and clean. If it gets dirty, a soft, dry cloth can be used.
- Alligator Clips: Ensure alligator clips are in good condition; damaged clips might not make reliable connections.
- Storage: Store the Makey Makey and its accessories in a safe place to prevent damage.
- Conductivity: For objects like food or play-doh, ensure they remain sufficiently moist or conductive for optimal performance. If an object dries out, its conductivity might decrease, requiring re-moistening or replacement.
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