The long-lasting Etch-a-Sketch, a toy beloved by generations, at all times had one main limitation: a drawing mistake meant shaking the whole machine and beginning over from scratch. With the TekkaSketch mission, this limitation is overcome because of a contemporary strategy that integrates digital features whereas preserving the traditional aesthetic.
The concept stems from observing the unique mechanism of the Etch-a-Sketch: a skinny layer of aluminum powder covers the interior display screen, and two knobs transfer a pointer by means of a pulley system, “displacing” the powder to create drawings. It’s not ink, however somewhat the absence of powder in particular areas.
Through the design section, the creator thought of varied options to implement an “undo” button, together with a micro-vacuum to take away and reposition the powder. Nonetheless, the mechanical complexity led to exploring various routes, impressed by one other childhood ardour: the online game Snake, within the Nibbles.bas model for Nineteen Nineties PCs.
The idea of Snake, with steady motion and progressive development, was reinterpreted for the Etch-a-Sketch, turning it right into a sport controller. The primary prototypes included using augmented actuality through smartphone to overlay graphics on the bodily drawing, a gear system with rotary encoders, and even fruit illustrations printed on transparencies. Whereas inventive, these options didn’t absolutely tackle interactivity and fluidity limitations.
The breakthrough got here with the choice to thoroughly change the unique show with an E-Ink display screen, pushed by an ESP32 and two rotary encoders rather than the knobs. This setup not solely faithfully replicates the Etch-a-Sketch expertise but additionally permits drawings to stay seen even when the machine is powered off. The software program logic compensates for velocity variations between the encoders, guaranteeing constant management.
In drawing mode, the E-Ink’s persistence and partial refresh ship a fluid expertise, regardless of a slight delay typical of this know-how. The Snake mode makes use of a single encoder to manage path, with the continual motion of the snake including dynamism. A two-player Snake model was additionally developed, utilizing each knobs to manage two unbiased snakes.
TekkaSketch represents a mix of nostalgia and innovation, merging analog allure with digital potential. The mission showcases how integrating {hardware} and software program can rework an iconic object right into a playful and artistic platform, able to assist further video games and functionalities sooner or later.
