The Buddy Board
Making Communication Fun and Accessible
This project was developed as part of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering course The Art of Making: An Introduction to Hand-On System Design and Engineering.
Alanna Howe - Brenna Baker - Josh Kurlander - Katie Mcguire - Kylie Wishneski - Shane Conlin - Tyler Johnston - Will Miller
Motivation
"1 in 6 U.S. children ages 2-8 have a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder". (CDC)
Coupled with an increasing push of independent play through tablets and computers, children are struggling, more than ever before, to make friends and feel comfortable communicating in different social environments.
Our Project Began With One Question...
How might we create opportunities for interaction and communication between early elementary school students of varying communication abilities?
Research
84 Survey Responses
34 Experts Interviewed
6 Schools Visited
81 Kids Tested With
Through these results, we began to create iterations of what would eventually be called The Buddy Board.
Iteration 1
Low Resolution Pretotype
Child #1 selects a picture
Sound of picture plays
Child #2 chooses corresponding sound
Child #2 selects a picture
For our first mock-up of the game, we used foam core, photos affixed with velcro, and phone audio to simulate the user experience while playing. We wanted to ensure we were on the right track before we committed more time and funds to this idea.
We tested Iteration 1 at the Bartlet Playground and Carnegie Children's School. We found that the game sparked conversation between kids and many came back asking to play again. Through testing, we noticed that the audio was too quiet and there was a time delay between each turn which needed to be improved in future iterations.
Iteration 2
Low Level Technology
Uses red and blue lights to indicate players turn.
Green "correct" light and positive audio feedback.
Plays sounds through internal speaker.
We continued testing both Iteration 1 and Iteration 2 at the Falk School, Carnegie Children's School, and with children at the First Year Engineering Conference. After multiple iterations and testing; we began developing our final buddy board. The board includes a user-friendly interface with switches, touch pads for all 15 options, interchangeable sounds and images, and an intuitive light display.
THE FINAL ITERATION
The Buddy Board
The system utilizes colored indicator lights—blue or red—to signify the active player's turn. Capacitive touch tape integrated into the board detects the user's selection. Upon making a selection, the board provides immediate visual feedback: a correct response triggers a rainbow light display, while an incorrect choice results in a yellow light pattern, prompting the user to try again. These visual cues are controlled via Python-based logic, which communicates with the hardware through an Arduino microcontroller.
Overall Testing Results
Learn More About the Buddy Board