I have been intrigued with the BBC micro:bit since it was announced last year. It represents a very ambitious and visionary initiative to boost interest in technology and computing. I suspect the dividends will reach further than even the optimistic expectations for the program. The features of the micro:bit have been carefully designed to include as much technology as possible for the lowest possible cost. This has resulted in a very impressive module, but there were necessary compromises that had to exclude more expensive displays and user interfaces.

My big idea is to expand the micro:bit user interface to include a graphical LCD and keypad at the lowest possible cost.

To do this I would use a Nokia 5110 LCD, which is an extremely low cost and popular display. It has an SPI interface which is also used by some larger LCDs, so expanding to even better displays is not  a huge leap from this low cost starting point.

For the keypad, I would use a I2C capacitive keypad to eliminate the cost of a whole matrix of electro-mechanical switches.

I have been avidly following micro:bit documentation as it becomes available and have already designed and printed a small PCB that implements this SPI LCD interface as well as an I2C interface for the keypad.

It also has 3 analogue sensor connectors and a power switch for the micro:bit.

I would also 3D print a case to make a complete hand-held computer.

I am very much looking forward to testing this card out and showing how to implement a low cost user interface for the micro:bit.

That sounds like it could be an enabler for a whole range of interesting projects and activities.

Not sure if it exists or not yet for the micro:bit but what might be quite good is something along the lines of the Pico Technology list of educational science projects/ideas

https://www.picotech.com/library/experiments

to try and get young people to start interacting with their wider environment. Project ideas from a wide range of subject areas that both can be done in the classroom as well as at home.

Perhaps one of the interesting things about the micro:bit is that for once there is a captive audience that all have access to the same platform.

I have to say, I think the micro:bit is a game-changer, not just for technology classes, but for physics lab experiments too. It is a measurement tool in a pocket. Data logger, rich in sensors, wireless, and easily expandable. Incredible combination.

I tried using it as a voltmeter when I had a few minutes spare, but rather than displaying the values on the screen or even using Bluetooth, there was a quick option, just make it beep a tone that depended on the input voltage. Basically nothing was needed except a pair of earphones, which everyone has, or could be purchased for sub-£1 for classes. Apparently speech API could be available at some point too, since the on-board processor has more than enough power for this.

Possibly the micro:bit design could serve schoolkids well for many years to come due to its flexibility. Maybe it is like a swiss army knife for education.

The likes of data logging in science labs is what I was thinking about as well. Back in the days of the BBC micro, there was one Physics teacher at my school who unleashed the BBC micro into some of his Physics experiments, so we had a side-by-side comparison of the results both doing it by hand and then doing it with the microcomputer. This had 'wow factor' as this was probably the first time that most schoolkids had seen a microcomputer interfaced to the real world as opposed to just being used for games at home. Back then it was one microcomputer for the whole of the sciences, however if done right with the micro:bit, then there is potential for one or more micro:bits per student and the ability to continue the experiments outside of the classroom.

The user interface perhaps currently holds it back a bit but Douglas sounds as if he has a plan for that and speech API's could potentially change everything. The universal 'measurement tool in a pocket' concept is right on the mark but it perhaps needs a low cost enclosure with a user interface to help make this happen.

Not really! With sound, I plan on playing music and flash LED's. Hope it is eerie enough. LOL

Clem

Perhaps you could make one emulate a Theramin - they're really ethereal.

I think if it was me, I'd do a science interface to go with the user interface. A couple of differential amplifiers that could be configured to measure voltage (or current with a current-sense resistor), a simple bridge for sensors, and a voltage driver (filtered PWM rather D/A for cheapness) for generating waveforms, along with suitable protection to make it all as robust as possible. That way you could make multimeters, (slowish) scope, simple spectrum analyser, rudimentary VNA, frequency meter, data logger, etc, etc.

I think I've just sold it to myself - I actually want one.

Don't know what we'd call it. 'micro:scope' is quite nice if it hasn't already been used by someone. [I'm just playing here - feel free to make up your own names if you want to. And add or subtract from the capabilities.] It could have a picture of a microscope as the logo. Perhaps with an electron wizzing round it.

I think if it was me, I'd do a science interface to go with the user interface. A couple of differential amplifiers that could be configured to measure voltage (or current with a current-sense resistor), a simple bridge for sensors, and a voltage driver (filtered PWM rather D/A for cheapness) for generating waveforms, along with suitable protection to make it all as robust as possible. That way you could make multimeters, (slowish) scope, simple spectrum analyser, rudimentary VNA, frequency meter, data logger, etc, etc.

I think I've just sold it to myself - I actually want one.

Don't know what we'd call it. 'micro:scope' is quite nice if it hasn't already been used by someone. [I'm just playing here - feel free to make up your own names if you want to. And add or subtract from the capabilities.] It could have a picture of a microscope as the logo. Perhaps with an electron wizzing round it.

I think you'll love it.

I was also impressed that it is possible to go from opening the packaging and connecting it, to writing a short program or editing a hello world one, and downloading it, and running it, all in 60 seconds. (I'm not exaggerating : ) it was actually under 60 seconds.

The science interface is a great idea.

How about micro:professor? Since it helps kids to do experiments and makes them all micro-experts in scientific areas. (derived from the TI Little Professor that helped to teach a generation too : ).

OK. When they become available to buy, I promise I'll get one and do a project with it. Not necessarily the whole of the science interface, though (to do that properly, as a complete, integrated package, would take much more skill and effort than I could throw at it).

Nice name. You're much better tuned to a young audience than I am. micro:lab might work too. It carries some of the same ideas as 'professor' suggests.

Perhaps the micro:professor could have an electron wizzing round her head. [I presume she has to wear a lab coat and glasses as per the regular stereotype.] I'm determined to get an electron in the branding somehow or other.

There may be scope for two science interfaces here. One bench-top design for classroom science lab type use that can be easily connected up to existing lab type equipment and then a low cost handheld 'multimeter/logger' type one for use by the pupils for measuring and logging data outside of the classroom in field/home environments.

One aspect to consider perhaps is the final transfer of the logged data and how this is recorded longer term. I can still remember having to cutting up ticker tape and tape/glue it into my Physics workbook in order to keep a record of the experiment data for later revision purposes. With a data logger however, may need to consider some sort of till roll type printer attached to the science interface in order to quickly allow the pupils to get a hard copy that can be taped into their workbooks.

Similar with a portable science interface. If we are going to encourage the class to start data logging in the field, then there will need to be some mechanism to off-load and archive that data somehow for later analysis and sharing or inclusion in a project report.

Hmm. We've hardly started and you're already forking the project.

I agree though. Definitely room for both.

Perhaps for the handheld one you could allow for three plug-in sensors. Then you could call it a Tricorder. (Joke, though plug-in sensors is quite a nice idea).

For the instruments that I was thinking of [more of an engineering interface, really, rather than a science one] I assumed that the control panel would be a tablet connecting via the BLE (is that technically possible? - I don't know much about BLE, or tablets come to that). Scope traces wouldn't make much sense on a 5x5 LED array. That would immediately lead to storage capability and hardcopies of graphs and whatnot.

Yes, you should be able to use a BLE paired tablet as an interface.

BBC microbit basic bluetooth capabilities demo

https://vimeo.com/153078747

It means that the effective cost rapidly increases though if you don't already have the tablets available. In some cases one might be better off with a R-Pi with a small touch screen - similar to Ben Heck's Pi BitScope project.

Episode 223: Ben Heck’s Raspberry Pi Bitscope Mod Episode

The 5 x 5 LED matrix is rather limiting in this respect which is why Douglas' low cost UI sounds like it will be a very useful project. Especially for logging applications out in the field where you may not want to carry an expensive/bulky iPad tablet around with you. Once back at home then yes, you could pair up over BLE to transfer, analyse and perhaps submit the data via a virtual learning environment.

In the classroom, if the teacher is the only one with the tablet then they will likely have to pair and disconnect the BLE 20-30 times to get the data off each micro:bit in turn to retrieve the logged data so as it can be saved/printed for later use.