IoT toy for busy teacher/parent? Nabztag in 2016?
June 6, 2016 9:34 AM Subscribe
My sister didn't persevere through Lego Mindstorms NXT setup, so what kind of interactive, maybe internet-connected toy could I get her?
My sister is an elementary school art teacher interested in interactive art (esp. kinetic) and Arduino. She flew out last month for the Maker Faire & was blown away, though commented that not enough stuff moved-- too many blinky lights.
I've previously sent her daughter my son's old Lego Mindstorms NXT, but I don't think they ever installed the app. She has somewhat low frustration tolerance with computer B.S. She's a quilter, so tedium isn't the problem, it's lack of progress.
I'd like to try again, with something as simple as Nabztag to pique her interest.
I think I'm going to get her the Inventor's Kit for Photon. It connects to the internet without needing anything like NAT traversal or YalerTunnel and you can program it in a Web IDE so she can use her iPad Pro 12.9" (she also has a recent-ish iPhone) or her Macbook without having to install anything. It also comes with a servo and you can wire stuff up without soldering (she doesn't know how & I don't want lead in her house).
If Philips made a servo controller for Hue that worked with IFTTT, that might be ideal, but they don't scare cats in the Netherlands?
My sister is an elementary school art teacher interested in interactive art (esp. kinetic) and Arduino. She flew out last month for the Maker Faire & was blown away, though commented that not enough stuff moved-- too many blinky lights.
I've previously sent her daughter my son's old Lego Mindstorms NXT, but I don't think they ever installed the app. She has somewhat low frustration tolerance with computer B.S. She's a quilter, so tedium isn't the problem, it's lack of progress.
I'd like to try again, with something as simple as Nabztag to pique her interest.
I think I'm going to get her the Inventor's Kit for Photon. It connects to the internet without needing anything like NAT traversal or YalerTunnel and you can program it in a Web IDE so she can use her iPad Pro 12.9" (she also has a recent-ish iPhone) or her Macbook without having to install anything. It also comes with a servo and you can wire stuff up without soldering (she doesn't know how & I don't want lead in her house).
If Philips made a servo controller for Hue that worked with IFTTT, that might be ideal, but they don't scare cats in the Netherlands?
Check out the Little Bits gear, particularly the Smart Home Kit.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Sphero. It does take an app, but it's MUCH easier to use than many of the alternatives.
And a little bit of a different option: BreakoutEDU. That's more of a puzzle thing rather than straight up coding, but it's developing out of the MakerSpace movement.
posted by guster4lovers at 9:51 PM on June 6, 2016
And a little bit of a different option: BreakoutEDU. That's more of a puzzle thing rather than straight up coding, but it's developing out of the MakerSpace movement.
posted by guster4lovers at 9:51 PM on June 6, 2016
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posted by morganw at 9:37 AM on June 6, 2016