Scratch
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#1 2008-06-29 19:36:03
Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
What if you could buy scratchboard sensors that aren't connected to the Scratchboard. You could buy a pack of 5 buttons, a light sensor, a slider, a sound sensor, and some aligator clip sensors (or whatever they are called). There would be a plug on the underside of each sensor too. Then you could also buy a "station" which is where you connect the Scratchboard sensors. When you buy a new sersor, it comes with a "puzzle piece" outlet that interlocks with the "station". This way you aren't limited to how manu sensors you can have. Now as for actually connecting the sensors to the station. A 3 foot long wire would be packed with each individual sensor, and if that is too short, you can buy extension cords. That wire would connect to the "station" and you can use it.
On Scratch, for every sernsor, there would be another sensing brick. So if you have 8 buttons, it would be Button A, Button B, Button C, ect. Same with sliders and light sensors, and every other sensor.
What do you think? I think the biggest benefit, would be if you need 4 buttons to make a game pad for Scratch, you don't need 4 Scratch boards.
Also, if Scratch becomes huge, it might be easier to sell the individual sensors at a shop.
Last edited by Hobbs1100 (2008-06-29 19:39:19)
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#2 2008-06-29 21:13:07
- chalkmarrow
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2007-05-18
- Posts: 100+
Re: Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
Nice. I like your idea. I think Pico has something like that at http://www.picocricket.com/whatisit.html although I don't believe the components interface with Scratch. As a robot fan, I personally would like to see a Mindstorms/Scratch interface 
Last edited by chalkmarrow (2008-06-29 21:13:29)
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#4 2008-06-30 14:15:45
Re: Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
I actually was thinking of how to build a Scratch robot last night.... it would be really cool. A LEGO NXT/Scratch mix would be awesome. At my elementry school (now going on to Grade 7), we had "Robodome". Kids from all the Catholic schools in the East side of the city would have a day for each 5th and 6th grade class to come to our School to build robots. We used LEGO NXT's and each group of 3 had a laptop to program the robot. The Robodome teacher was also the Scratch Club teacher at my school.
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#6 2009-02-04 17:18:29
- buddy981018
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-02-02
- Posts: 8
Re: Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
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#7 2009-04-10 21:14:01
- technoguyx
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-10-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
legolover wrote:
Good idea! I like Scratch and NXT, and with your idea we could put them together! I've always wanted to do that...
Obviously we can't make a official contract (although I've heard LEGO is affiliated with MIT... Not sure, though), but someone could make some sort of compiler which translates special Scratch scripts to, well, whatever NXT uses.
fullmoon wrote:
Sounds awesome! I don't think I'd ever buy a Scratchboard, though, unless it came with a camera, motion sensor, etc.
I'd not buy one either, but it's still a good idea. I don't think Scratch will be able to process a camera's video, sadly. Motion sensor...? Hmmm, I wonder what it could be good for. A temperature sensor could be nice too.
Also: Good combination of buttons, sliders and other sensors, and good scripting = Perfect Flight Sim 
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#8 2009-04-11 00:25:07
- chalkmarrow
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2007-05-18
- Posts: 100+
Re: Interchangable Scratchboard Sensors
technoguyx wrote:
legolover wrote:
Good idea! I like Scratch and NXT, and with your idea we could put them together! I've always wanted to do that...
Obviously we can't make a official contract (although I've heard LEGO is affiliated with MIT... Not sure, though), but someone could make some sort of compiler which translates special Scratch scripts to, well, whatever NXT uses.
fullmoon wrote:
Sounds awesome! I don't think I'd ever buy a Scratchboard, though, unless it came with a camera, motion sensor, etc.
I'd not buy one either, but it's still a good idea. I don't think Scratch will be able to process a camera's video, sadly. Motion sensor...? Hmmm, I wonder what it could be good for. A temperature sensor could be nice too.
Also: Good combination of buttons, sliders and other sensors, and good scripting = Perfect Flight Sim
Well, the Sensor Board has four resistive inputs that can be connected to a lot of things, including temperature sensors, motion sensors, etc. I think eventually someone will come up with an easier way to interface legos with Scratch, given that, as you say, MIT and Lego tend to work together a lot.
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