Experimental Code Clip Tunnel Book

In my last post, I started puttering around with an experimental code clip being beta-tested by Chibitronics.   Over the past couple of days, I've completed a working book model that incorporates the clip.  I love the fact that I can now reprogram the patterns of the LEDs in my book to achieve different effects!

Here are a few pictures of the book's innards (and a video if you're interested).

Since the paper in my tunnel book was too weak to support the weight of the clip, I backed my circuit with a piece of binder's board.  I chose not to paste the circuit into the model, allowing me to move it (and the clip) around to other projects.

Prototyping with an Experimental Code Clip

Today I had the pleasure of playing around with an experimental prototype of Chibitronics' up and coming Code Clip, which is programmable via an audio cable (yes, audio instead of USB) and a cloud-based IDE that was created in collaboration with Codebender! This means that the microcontroller can be programmed from a tablet or smartphone, which is super convenient!

While it's still in testing mode, I am thrilled to report that this clip has a lot of fun features.  One of my favorites so far, aside from how efficient it is to program, is how ridiculously easy it has become to use the same microcontroller to jump between circuits, some containing NeoPixels and others using regular LEDs and/or Circuit Stickers.  I can't wait to see what else Chibitronics comes up with!  I just know I would have wanted to become an engineer or computer scientist if I'd learned how to build and code with a tool like this when I was younger.  This is a game changer!