<html> <head> <style></style></head> <body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Sorry for the intromision..<div><br></div><div>You can make your own "USB4butia" board and use it to read resistances like in</div><div>the audio jack of the XO.</div><div>Is very inexpensive board. You can make it with a "iron for clothes":</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.fing.edu.uy/inco/proyectos/butia/mediawiki/index.php/USB4buti%C3%A0">http://www.fing.edu.uy/inco/proyectos/butia/mediawiki/index.php/USB4buti%C3%A0</a></div><div><br></div><div>The childrens of an high-school in Uruguay, with the help of a teacher, makes her</div><div>own board with recycled components.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzz_fLM2Rpk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzz_fLM2Rpk</a></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO_DGqQURHQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO_DGqQURHQ</a></div><div><br></div><div>The most expensive component is the PIC18F45550.. the rest: a clock of 20mhz,</div><div>some leds, some resistances..</div><div><br></div><div>This is a real "free and open" hardware: we think in both words are similiar,</div><div>but we found a different significance: </div><div>-an arduino board is OPEN design, you can modify, improve, etc but no is FREE,</div><div>you cannot make it with your hands (arduino have multi-layers that makes imposible</div><div>make at home)</div><div>-the USB4butia is OPEN and FREE: you can modify, improve and can be made with</div><div>a home materials, old printers, old appliances, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't know the prices, someone can calculate it with USA prices?</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.fing.edu.uy/inco/proyectos/butia/mediawiki/index.php/Componentes">http://www.fing.edu.uy/inco/proyectos/butia/mediawiki/index.php/Componentes</a></div><div><br></div><div>Regards!</div><div><br></div><div>Alan<br><br><div><div id="SkyDrivePlaceholder"></div>> Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:29:55 -0700<br>> From: kevin.mark@verizon.net<br>> To: forster@ozonline.com.au<br>> CC: iaep@lists.sugarlabs.org<br>> Subject: Re: [IAEP] [support-gang] What Sensors and Where To Buy?<br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> --- On Fri, 9/21/12, forster@ozonline.com.au <forster@ozonline.com.au> wrote:<br>> <br>> > From: forster@ozonline.com.au <forster@ozonline.com.au><br>> > Subject: Re: Re: [IAEP] [support-gang] What Sensors and Where To Buy?<br>> > To: "Kevin Mark" <kevin.mark@verizon.net><br>> > Cc: iaep@lists.sugarlabs.org<br>> > Date: Friday, September 21, 2012, 11:22 PM<br>> > Kevin wrote<br>> > <br>> > > What your explanation makes clear is why people<br>> > typically pay 3rd parties to develop educational material<br>> > with pre-tested sample circuits and included parts. The<br>> > average teacher will not have the expertise to just find a<br>> > sensor, make a circuit, connect it, use software like<br>> > measure and explain what the output means. <br>> > > <br>> > > I assume if a packet was constructed for the basic<br>> > concepts for Ohms law and the basic understanding of how the<br>> > sensor fits-into this Electronics equation, then they could<br>> > present a lesson with a packaged electronics kit with<br>> > audio-plug w/sensor bits. <br>> > <br>> > Kevin<br>> > You make a very good point, a kit of sensors and associated<br>> > lesson plans would be great. One like the Arduino Starter<br>> > Kit would be good, it has a patch board, leads and sensors<br>> > suitable for the XO mic socket, it has a few output devices<br>> > we don't need<br>> > http://littlebirdelectronics.com/products/starter-kit-for-arduino-flex<br>> > <br>> > The concern I have is cost. The XO is $188 and most of the<br>> > target market is very price sensitive. My guess is that it<br>> > would accept a cost of $10 for a Starter Kit, just my<br>> > guess.<br>> > <br>> > The Arduino Starter Kit would be at least $23.50 if you<br>> > removed the Arduino and USB cable and added a 3.5mm phono<br>> > plug with flying leads, probably more, my guess $30 -$35<br>> > considering that the per component price goes up for smaller<br>> > kits.<br>> > <br>> > Here is how I calculate $23.50<br>> > <br>> > http://littlebirdelectronics.com/products/starter-kit-for-arduino-flex<br>> > $59.95<br>> > http://littlebirdelectronics.com/products/USB-Cable-A-to-B-6-Foot<br>> > less $3.95<br>> > http://littlebirdelectronics.com/products/arduino-uno-r3 <br>> > less $32.50<br>> > total starterkit less arduinouno and usb cable <br>> > <br>> > $23.50<br>> > <br>> > Maybe the next step is to talk to a kit manufacturer like<br>> > Sparkfun<br>> <br>> Funny you should mention them, when I was at World Maker Faire 2012, they were very interested in the XO that I and Nick where displaying. They provide a bag of goodies that he used at our table and it was useful for his work when he went to Haiti with Waveplace. I think they might be someone to ask about either providing a kits or ...... helping certain small groups as part of 'good will', 'tech outreach' with a 'shout-out' to them or such. They run a 'free day' which I have been party to, and they are generous with their efforts at creating a community of Makers. We might be able to work with them on kits or be a recipient of their outreach.<br>> <br>> -Kev<br>> _______________________________________________<br>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)<br>> IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org<br>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep<br></div></div> </div></body> </html>