I came up with this idea a few weeks ago and built a prototype, and have been really pleased with it. A number of kids at my daughter’s school are now copying the idea.

Basically it records and plays back with big tactile buttons. It’s simple and easy to make. Each button with the electronics costs about $5. Just add a few together and build into a wheelchair table or suchlike.

Parts:

• x Recordable Voice Module for Greeting Card Music Sound Talk chip musical IG

2 x 60mm Round Illuminated Arcade Video Game Player Push Button Switch LED Lights Both are easily available from E-bay for a few dollars.

Craft Wood Pencil box (recommended size 220mm x 100mm x 70MM(deep). Available from many craft stores.

Cut the play button off the wires and either crimp or solder onto the tags on the switch for the button. These can be connected either way around.

Fit the switch into the switch holder using the locating tabs. Locate the one on the long tab first then rotate the switch into place until it locks.
The contacts on the button should not be connected to anything as they are for button illumination, which is not used, as it requires too much power.

Do this to both boards (or more if you want more)!

Test that by pressing the remaining micro switch. The light comes on and you can record using the microphone and when pressing the switch, it plays back what you have recorded. Depending on the board you purchased this could allow between 10 and 30 seconds of recording time.

Playback will be quiet as there is no resonance box behind the speaker.

Box Holes:

Cut 2 x 25mm holes into the box top to allow each button to be fitted, ensuring there is room for both buttons side by side, with a gap between.

Secure the buttons into place using the retaining nut.

Box Side:

For each button, group the following together: Drill 1 x 30mm hole for the speaker

Drill 1 x 4mm hole for the record LED, Drill 1 x 10mm hole for the microphone

Drill out then enlarge to 12mm square hole for the record button Paint the box and decorate as you like,

Fix the board into place using a hot glue from a hot glue gun. In the case of the speaker, just a few dobs around the plastic frame will stop damage to the speaker.

Fix the microphone, LED, and the ‘record’ micro-switch into place, and hot glue them into place from inside the box.

Simply record what you wish to be repeated for each of the buttons, and erase and change as you wish.
Test the unit, you will now find it is considerably louder as the pencil case acts as a resonance box behind the speaker, ensuring sound and clarity.

2 Buttons can be simply Yes and No. Alternatively, add more buttons or smaller buttons for more words.

Created by Dave Ingerson