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.

Does anyone know if they still use ticker tape timers in school physics experiments for measuring acceleration ?

If so, just pondering if this could be modernised slightly with the likes of the micro:bit. Either by using the built-in accelerometer, however that may not be so clever when dropping weights, so alternatively by using a punched ticker tape with an optical sensor and a micro:bit as a data logger, giving near real-time analysis of that data without the need for the rather tedious measuring of dots and manually plotting graphs. The 'timer mechanics' could be a simple plug-on shield to the micro:bit containing a photodiode a couple of tape guides and even use the micro:bit's built in LED's as the light source. Might need to mount it on a weighted base to prevent it from flying off the table though.

The likes of Douglas's LCD display idea could provide access to the data or alternatively it could be transferred to the teacher and displayed on a large screen.

Does anyone know if they still use ticker tape timers in school physics experiments for measuring acceleration ?

If so, just pondering if this could be modernised slightly with the likes of the micro:bit. Either by using the built-in accelerometer, however that may not be so clever when dropping weights, so alternatively by using a punched ticker tape with an optical sensor and a micro:bit as a data logger, giving near real-time analysis of that data without the need for the rather tedious measuring of dots and manually plotting graphs. The 'timer mechanics' could be a simple plug-on shield to the micro:bit containing a photodiode a couple of tape guides and even use the micro:bit's built in LED's as the light source. Might need to mount it on a weighted base to prevent it from flying off the table though.

The likes of Douglas's LCD display idea could provide access to the data or alternatively it could be transferred to the teacher and displayed on a large screen.

Phototransistor would be simpler than a diode. If there are pull-ups on the board you might even get away with just the transistor.

Another way to modernise it would be to flash the LEDs 10 times a second and take a long-exposure photograph of the micro:bit falling whilst attached to a weight.

The combination of accelerometer and Bluetooth would also allow for very easy analysis of a pendulum (the micro:bit and battery would be the weight). You could then turn it into a clock and even use the position information that you'd derived to do a persistence-of-vision style display.

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.