Scratch

I second the request for scratchboard outputs.  It might be nice to have some lego-compatible outputs, though I understand the difficulty caused by the different voltages of USB ports and Lego robots, and the power limitations of USB-provided power.

For advanced projects for kids, I'd want stepper motor outputs (easier to program than servo loops), but the cost may be too high.  Even just running some little 5v toy motors would be good.

Thanks.  That seems pretty cool...reminiscent of the board I bought from the autonomous systems group in '94 but probably a little more goof-proof. 

I could definately see scratch as being used with robotics.  Each "sprite" could be a behavior (e.g. following a line and avoiding a cliff) with certain "sprites" preempting the behavior of others.

Some form of simple output to control systems would be of great educational benefit, and would be an awesome addition to Scratch.

When I was young, I thought all you needed in life was a bike and a watch :-)

I'd like to revise that now - all you need in life is a bike and an output board for Scratch (you can always ask someone else for the time)  :-)


However, I'd suspect that since the Scratch team have just started producing their input board - it'll be a long time before an input/output comes along :-(


regards

Simon

I'd love to work on this. If I can get ahold of the serial protocol I'll hack something up for the arduino. What I'd suggest for the scratch side of things is just treat the hardware as another script. Any message that gets broadcast could also be broadcast over serial.

The software on the arduino would listen and appropriately respond. Two way would be awesome too.... hmmm, and parameterized messages.... I know, I know... kindergarten....
But adding something simple like that could help and could be hidden in setting or special script...

I like scratch boards. but we're not yet ready for robots

It would be cool if the scratch board had some analog and digital outputs and the right blocks in scratch to control them. Yes, for robotics.

kevin_karplus wrote:

I agree.  The input-only scratch board is rather limiting.  We want to change things in the real world, not just on the screen!

Yes, we really want to change the world. And we like to do it together. It would be cool with Netscratch, output scratchboard, a webcam, a website and a bunch of experimental kids. And then the world never get back to where it is today... 

How can I use scracth to control output? If it can´t there is another free interface that could do it?
Thanks.

We want to change things in the real world, not just on the screen!

is there any way to interface inputs from the arduino to scratch , an emulator of sorts maybe which emulates a key press when a ceratain pin on the arduino goes high or it could emulate a scratch sensor board for variable inputs , does anything like this already exist ?