Helping Kids Tell Time with an Interactive Display
Julius Curt's project for his toddler allows kids to see the passage of time in a new and exciting way.
An improvement to the timer
When Julius Curt told his toddler that they could play for five minutes, he was met with mild confusion since younger children are unable to understand what a specific amount of time feels like. So as a way to give his toddler an easier method for telling the time, Curt designed and built a large, colorful display which prominently counts down from a set interval. Wanting to go beyond a simple screen and some text, this version uses an arrangement of colorful blocks and a knob for an immersive, haptic experience.
Hardware and assembly
Every one of the blocks is made from a hollow, rectangular enclosure joined with the other ones in a single line. Behind them is a strip of six NeoPixel LEDs while the front contains a light-diffusing panel. For input, the user can turn the rotary encoder and see their selection on the attached OLED screen. Controlling everything is a Wemos D1 Mini ESP8266 board housed within the right side of the 3D printed enclosure.
Counting it down
In the display's idle state, everything is off- including the LEDs and screen. Once someone long-presses the knob, the system is awakened and allows them to rotate in order to set their allotted time in minutes. From here, a double-click will begin the countdown on both the OLED screen and the light boxes.
To read more about Curt's educational project, you can read his write-up on Hackaday or watch his video on YouTube.