TinkerKit: a physical computing toolkit for designers
Client: Internal Research & Development
The interest in physical computing as an area in development within the creative industries has been increasing rapidly. In response to this Tinker.it! is developing the TinkerKit to introduce fast iterative physical computing methodologies to newcomers, and particularly design professionals.
TinkerKit is an Arduino-compatible physical computing prototyping toolkit aimed at design professionals.
The interest in physical computing as an area in development within the creative industries has been increasing rapidly. In response to this Tinker.it! is developing the TinkerKit to introduce fast iterative physical computing methodologies to newcomers, and particularly design professionals.
This project is currently under development by Tinker.it! We will mostly be documenting the early stages of prototyping and user research here. This is not yet commercially available.
How does it work?
VIDEO 1: Presence-sensitive interactions built by Crystal Campbell and Daniel Soltis
VIDEO 2 First try of creating a visual language with TinkerKit back in 2007 with visualminds.hu
VIDEO 3 Nick Weldin prototypes an interaction with the hall sensor.
VIDEO 4 Nick Weldin prototypes controlling a nailgun with some sensors in the TinkerKit.
VIDEO 5 TinkerKit Regista: a software infrastructure for smart spaces. Context 1: museums
VIDEO 6 Daniel Soltis helping design interactions with Giulia Sala from Central St Martins.
What is the TinkerKit made of?
The TinkerKit is currently composed of about 30 different parts: 20 different types of sensors, 10 actuators. There is also a set of Arduino-compatible hubs. Each part of the TinkerKit has a standard connector that can be connected through a standard cable to a main hub.
These hubs include:
- A sensor hub for the Arduino (this is a shield that sits on top of the Arduino and allows the sensors to be connected easily).
- A keyboard emulator (which converts any input from the sensors into keystrokes).
At the moment, the sensors included as part of the TinkerKit are:
- Tilt Sensor
- 3 Axis Accelerometer
- Bend Sensor
- 1 Axis Gyroscope
- Hall Sensor
- Infra Red Distance Sensor
- LDR Light Sensor
- 2D Compass
- Rotary Potentiometer
- Capacitative touch Sensor
- PIR Sensor
- Touch Slider
- Touch Wheel
- Ultrasound distance sensor
- GPS
- Encoder
- Linear potentiometer
- Piezo
Download the lovely illustrated pdf map of the TinkerKit parts.
Pictures on Flickr
Contact us
Want to collaborate on the development of the TinkerKit? Contact us at (tinkerkit (c/o) tinker (d0t) it) or keep in touch through Twitter.
Credits:
Crystal Campbell for video production and editing and prototyping.
Lok Neville Lee for graphic design and illustration.
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