For most of my life, science has existed in a kind of rarefied space that is always just beyond my comprehension, kind of like musical talent or the ability to parallel park a car. But if you’re a kid nowadays, it’s more necessary than ever before to have some basic knowledge about the sciences or engineering. Luckily, there’s an invention kit from JoyLabz LLC, MaKey MaKey, that teaches fundamentals on how real everyday objects work; however, it does so in the best way possible—by encouraging creativity among its users.
Each MaKey MaKey kit comes with a printed circuit board that can communicate with a computer, as well as assorted wires for various projects. By connecting objects to the circuit board is particular ways—as well as holding a wire clipped to the area of the board marked Earth—I was able to do all sorts of things, such as turn everyday objects into my computer’s space bar or left-click button, or into a percussive instrument playable at makeymakey.com/bongos. Even more elaborate projects are featured in both the instruction manual as well as MaKey MaKey’s homepage, although I did not progress past the Fist Bump Remote Control, in which two people can pause or unpause any YouTube video by bumping fists.
The projects themselves are fun, and act of building the most basic ones isn’t all that complicated or time-consuming. Meanwhile, many of them invite a certain amount of arts and crafts skill: for example, building a homemade controller for a game such as Guitar Hero using cardboard, a handful of coins, tape, and aluminum foil. With projects like these, MaKey MaKey helps to demystify the functions of seemingly high-tech devices, including computer keyboards and video game controllers. In addition, thanks to its simple interface, it can foster an interest in experimenting beyond the manual; indeed, I wasn’t so far along with using fruit as bongos when I started hooking up all sorts of things, just to see what would speak to the circuit board.
If those last few sentences indicate anything, it’s that MaKey MaKey actually makes one want to learn more about circuitry, which might be the highest compliment payable to a toy like this. I started out by stating that I could never wrap my mind around certain subjects, and while I still probably couldn’t tell you exactly how MaKey MaKey does what it does, if I were to find out that information, I feel strangely confident that it wouldn’t go flying over my head. Maybe I’ll try parallel parking again next.
