This project creates an engaging experience of operating a speaker's interface. The interface is not made instinctive on purpose. Instead, a user has to figure out the rule, which makes the whole process feel like a physical game. When the user finds the answer, the swtich is turned on and the sound goes to the right volume.
This device needs neigher microcontroller nor complicated electronic components. Basically, it's just an application of resistors. I hacked a cheap ($10) and terrible quality (of course) speaker purchased in ...whatever supermarket. Surprisingly, it came with a USB power supply line, which was really funtional. The naked speaker then was hooked up to all resistors and settled on the back of VolNum.
To make VolNum work, a special conductive "cursor" is needed to not only complete the electronic circuit but also reveal a volume's number. I set 6 volume levels of 0-5, which are randomly arranged on the panel. The diagram below shows my circuit's basic idea: the more resistors hooked up in parallel, the less ohms they provide. In this case, the bigger number it is, the less resistors it is hooked up with.
 
Each number has two seperate points, Power and Ground, waiting for a special conductive "cursor" to attach onto the it to not only close the curcuit but also appear the volume's number. If the number 5 is attached, for example, the circuit will get no resistor and then bring the loudest volume:
Below is the whole schematic. The interface, VolNum, basically plays just like a variable resistor.
 |
