Play with toys, take them apart, and have fun soldering, plus you’ll be helping kids play too!
To be completed by: Sept 7th, but sign up now as they go fast. Will host a night on Sept 7th for those that want to do them together / wrap things up.
To Sign Up: Respond to this thread with the type and number of toys you commit to hacking. Let me know if you are going to take and have done for Sept 7th, or do it as part of event on Sept 7th.
Why Hack Toys?
Adapted toys for kids with disabilities are often very expensive. Makers Making Change has helped many partners, in adapting toys to add a parallel circuit that accepts 3.5 mm switch input, a common assistive technology connection type. These Toys were purchased by the BC Centre for Child Development in Surrey and is used with kids in their programming.
What’s involved?
Just a few hours of your time, whenever you want, at vhs or at home. You’ll:
- pick up toys and parts at VHS
- take toys apart and put them back together
- do some light soldering and wiring to add a 3.5 mm jack.
- place jacks for adapted switches that can be easily activated by kids
- work at home or at vhs (note: vhs tools stay at vhs)
- return completed toys to the VHS Furnace Room
But what if I can’t solder?
Don’t worry, we can get you started. Just respond to this thread if you’re interested.
And now…here are our toys! Movement is the theme in this batch!
Quack Quack: The stair climbing ducks - there are two versions of the Duck Toys, but same idea: a switch press would have the ducks climb the stairs, and then slide down. I have 3 of version A, and 5 of version B. Bonus points if you put a mute button on this lol! This toy has not been done before so there are no instructions, but should be a simple adaption of adding a single 3.5 mm jack to control the stairs. Here is toy in action (this is “Duck B” version).
Zoom Tubes
This is a fun one, and I have two that need to be adapted. It is adding two 3.5 mm jacks to the controller, so someone can make the “car” go forward or backward in the track. We have instructions for the Zoom Tube mod, the working area is small but a very do-able adaption. You can see the toy commercial below, and good news is :
If you are interested in helping out, please:
- Say what toy you will do
- Pick it up and have done by Sept 7
- Or, confirm you will join me on Sept 7 at 6 PM for a group hack (there will be ice cream)
We can log / track on the MMC Vancouver Chapter tracking sheet, on the 2022-Aug sheet, Just put your name on Row 22, pick the