# Devlog

## HKCIN July workshops and new assembly instructions!

**July 8-9, 2025**

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F5qI7hfw4A5MIaFQGvYZH%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-08%20at%2016.15.23%20(2).jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=2c4eaeee-7e8f-4e3c-82be-65b598db5869" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FNi5LgJZ9VLq7gq7u1BDE%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-09%20at%2017.28.39.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=e88632a5-6192-4785-b5cd-8e82aef44413" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

We just concluded 2 Matchbox workshops in collaboration with [HKCIN](https://hkcin.org/)! Each workshop had around 7 elementary school kids! Multiple milestones achieved worth documenting here:

* First time conducting Matchbox workshops with elementary school kids! Before these workshops, we had thought that the material was still too complicated for younger learners but looks like we can  now update our age range to anyone from 12 and above!
* Second time live testing our new assembly instructions site <http://matchbox.build/> and it's actually working quite well! We started creating this new digital instruction guide since we noticed the previous iteration (paper instructions booklet) was pretty, but did a really poor job in terms of clarity and being interactive. For the new assembly instructions, we looked at how Nintendo made their walkthrough for Labo and took lots of inspiration from them. My proudest moment for this software was when some of the kids figured out how to use the advanced mapping tool all on their own!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FMRggYdukvEsuIlktWwnR%2FIMG_4119.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=cde30d8d-f04b-460c-8af6-c27a1e07ee07" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## ASEE2025 in Montreal!

**June 22-26, 2025**

The Matchbox team had the wonderful opportunity to do a workshop at the American Society for Engineering Education 2025 Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada! Huge thanks to all the professors and staff at HKU for making this possible!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F2gyqgQ7G2LEK9K79eZdl%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-06-22%20at%2023.15.44%20(1).jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=d50924a6-b94b-403f-9cf4-3801b0c6c4fd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Games For Change Hong Kong Festival 2025!

**June 7\~8, 2025**

We had a blast demoing our work at the first-ever Games For Change Hong Kong Festival!&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FTDrjpmV1M3Q1Sh8CVhWw%2FIMG_4919.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=deeade10-8319-4ea5-b0e0-bf8616ec01fd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The team took part in the arcade, where many games and projects were showcased, and Enoch also gave a talk about the development that you can see here:

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?lc=UgzMmbECm_MgB3FD6d94AaABAg&v=mAfdt-BsSn4>" %}

## First-ever Matchbox Game Jam!

**May 30, 2025**

We just completed our very first Matchbox Game Jam! Everyone had 1 week to come up with some original hardware + software project that involves a Matchbox! This was mostly a pilot experiment with our friends, so we kept the participant pool really small this time. Hoping to do larger game jams in the future!

Initially, we had planned for 5 participants, but in the end, only 3 projects were completed. Here are the projects!

**Excavator Matchbox!**

Enoch made an excavator! There are rotary encoders in each joint for the Matchbox to get the position information of each joint, meaning we can control a virtual excavator just by moving this real one around! This project was created to explore whether or not we could make controllers that you interact with as if playing with a toy! There are also switches on the wheels, so you can push the car around to drive it!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FBh4vhjfT6MkmevtEKdmk%2FIMG_4864.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=b7d5318b-0319-4cb8-b081-b61d5fc8df8b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F6q4JckDievO4jZALsqq2%2FIMG_4867.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=55fc2887-7a4a-4514-a194-6243878776e4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FmRGjcpZ6bZ7CD73hYxVS%2FIMG_4896.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=35372be5-7d7b-4508-aa9e-85f21e97a3e4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Ghost Catching Matchbox Game**

Zoe made a ghost-catching Matchbox and game! There is a trigger on the Matchbox that you can use to vacuum the ghosts into your device and you need to bring them back to where they want to go using the rest of the controls (Also mounted on the Matchbox!)

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FJcNNvto94Xyq2puBbRCm%2FScreenshot%202025-06-13%20at%2010.48.26%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4b714d7e-2665-4ad7-9294-67db61e4e043" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Matchbox Fishing Game!**

Bryan made a Matchbox fishing rod! You can yank on the line and reel the line in and out and all the inputs are captured by the Matchbox!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FeshdlTjpHUtGJYNGzuF8%2FScreenshot%202025-06-13%20at%2010.47.38%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=32a85337-8e1a-44f8-b08f-d073136b5c29" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Screwdriver update!

**May 14, 2025**

Progress has been slow recently since the team has been swamped with final exams!

We will be out of it soon tho, then it's full steam ahead for summer!

For now, please enjoy this small screwdriver update\~

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FJn6t1Rw1Z85v5brJeThv%2FIMG_4772.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=49b9a3f4-78c1-4448-abf5-484e0f5771f7" alt=""><figcaption><p>Look! It's a matchstick screwdriver! get it?! get it cos it's a match hahahahahahhahahahahhaha it's 2am i have 2 more exams help</p></figcaption></figure>

This prototype (the 3rd [attempt](#prototyping-a-matchstick-screwdriver) already lol) solves some of the tolerance problems but I still have some notes:

* The cap just barely fits and since the layer lines are scraping agains each other when you cap and uncap the screwdriver, it feels horrible. We will definitely do something about that.
* The back end of the screwdriver needs a loop to connect an optional keyring attachment to it
* I think there will be an opportunity to try and add the text "Matchbox" on the side of the match
* I wanna add more color to the cap! I'm thinking a red heart shaped piece in the middle of the flame

## Matchbox at the [10th Engineering Inno Show, HKU](https://innoacademy.engg.hku.hk/innoshow10/)

**April 30, 2025**

We joined our university's makerspace's annual project showcase a few weeks ago!

We had lots of fun sharing our demos and even received an award with a grant for development!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F1mS9Sh7cUODuSpQUH8Kp%2F20250430_205-scaled.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=46760277-4b77-4a96-957d-124eb0445316" alt=""><figcaption><p>Lots of people got to try out the controllers with fun demos!</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FQwuXGsCgdq5WStxQq7xe%2F20250430_287.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=d0458aeb-34be-4b15-bd54-b40ab1f6e20c" alt=""><figcaption><p>Look it's our first InnoShow win! With the award, we also received a 20K HKD grant to develop the project further!</p></figcaption></figure>

As with all devlogs, I'd love to take this opportunity to reflect on what we learned from the event:

* Showing off all the variant Matchboxes made us realize how much potential for customization it really has... We are excited to explore more ways to experiment with custom Matchboxes faster. Maybe crowdsourcing it to a game jam? 👀
* We used 2 wonderful games (by other developers): [Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime](https://store.steampowered.com/app/252110/Lovers_in_a_Dangerous_Spacetime/) and [Eggnog+](https://madgarden.itch.io/eggnogg) to demo the Matchbox's capability to play regular games (as opposed to only Scratch) as well as highlight it's ability to map to up to 4 different configurations for local coop chaos. However, from the reception during the event, most people sort of expected us to have made the games ourselves too and it felt like a missed opportunity when we told them that the games were not made by us. In the future, I hope we can have enough time and resources to develop some of our own silly games for demoing the perfect custom software + hardware synergy!
* Seeing all the variant controllers and demos laid out on our one small table gave me a glimpse of what we could do with a larger space! I had the chance to see the [Untitled Goose Game exhibition at ACME](https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/honk-untitled-goose-exhibition/) this winter break and it really inspired me to imagine what a dedicated exhibit for Matchbox or FireWorks Studios in general could look like! We're probably not ready for that now tho, but it's always fun to daydream!&#x20;

## April Workshops and keyboard mapping tool update!

**April 16, 2025**

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fm2UeGKlwz7pWfubpl9di%2F20240925_Matchbox%20Workshop%20(3).png?alt=media&#x26;token=49e535bd-bd05-4349-b1c9-11f0874ea44d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F7vY6mx9u6Cxguu4vq8kM%2F20250416021%20copy.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=ca91d4d5-9f98-400e-b0aa-da324550eba1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

We had 2 workshops this month, each with around 10 hardware beginners joining us! We are happy to see the demographic for our workshops shift from a majority engineering background to a more well-rounded diverse collection of curious people from all majors and backgrounds! That is exactly what the Matchbox aspires to be - a warm invitation for everyone to begin explore the fascinating world of DIY!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FoUoD3OUDrgPfKjd0YdpD%2FWorkshop%20Signup%20Demographics%20by%20Faculty.png?alt=media&#x26;token=94468359-f9c1-4c4c-b429-d260a5e9773c" alt=""><figcaption><p>A breakdown shows that we are somewhat successful in getting non-engineering background people to show up at the makerspace!</p></figcaption></figure>

Additionally, I've made a quick update to the keyboard mapping tool just for the workshops! It now has 2 modes:&#x20;

* Default mode: the complicated logging, troubleshooting, and mapping matrix are hidden for the workshop participants to get exactly what they need easily - simply hover over any key and instantly get the mapping information! No more mysterious mapping tables that make remapping seem like some kind of hacker magic!
* Advanced mode: Which just un-hides all the original dev functionality of the tool for full functionality. It's great seeing how a tool we built so scrappily and quickly was able to get validated so early in development! Makes us even more confident that investing time into making custom tools has opened a lot of learning opportunities!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FoejGIvK0pKwlSfSqMJZs%2FScreenshot%202025-04-16%20at%209.29.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=68f27120-9ac1-4af1-9279-06a5787f7b5b" alt=""><figcaption><p>The default view now pre-loads keyboard mapping and allows workshop participants customize their Matchboxes further via a quick and easy to use mapping lookup tooltip!</p></figcaption></figure>

Finally, let's take a quick look at what worked and what didn't to plan for better events in the future!

**What didn't work (or could have worked better?):**&#x20;

* Due to time limitations, we encouraged participants to only aim to wire 4 buttons instead of all 10 but everyone seem to be so fixated on the idea of having a "complete" Matchbox that they spent more time than we expected wiring up all 10 buttons anyways! Next time, we are considering introducing a simplified faceplate design that only features 4 or 6 buttons - so that participants do not start with the expectation of a 10 button controller and feel compelled to challenge themselves with uninspired complexity.&#x20;
* The idea of the pre-mapping will also need some adjustments as we noticed that the compact design of having all the relevant buttons for one player collected in one spot created this imbalanced congestion at the pre-mapped sockets. We should rethink how the pre-mapped sockets can be laid out to make the wiring process more frictionless.
* We were so excited to see how people could take advantage of the new extension mounts and customizable faceplate design of the v0.4 controller but it turns out that 2hrs is really not enough time for anyone to explore any custom ideas beyond our base assembly. Maybe a longer time is needed for more creative exploration?

**What worked:**&#x20;

* We are finally at a consistent 100% completion rate! The past 3 workshops we've managed to get **every single participant** over the finish line with their Matchboxes in under 2hrs! Our timing and workshop flow is finally mature enough that we can consistently teach someone how to assemble one of these thingies in just under 2hrs! Having the basics down means we can now move onto more ambitious events! (\*cough hackathon or game jam? why not both? \*cough)

## v0.4 PCBs are here!

**April 2, 2025**

Our latest PCB prototype finally arrived! Introducing... PCB v0.4!

In our fourth major PCB revision, we aimed to improve the experience for both the outward-facing (for workshop participants, users) and the inward-facing (for developers) aspects of the part. Since it is the literal centerpiece of the entire controller, any improvement made here will trickle down to every other part of the project, so we are happy to report the progress we've been able to make!&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FWp29r8zHIGK4qM72k4Kw%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-04-16%20at%2021.24.09.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=38164472-67f4-4df6-9fc7-52c657639b3a" alt=""><figcaption><p>The new design features a "TOP SIDE" label in all caps on the top side of the pcb that helps everyone make sure they are on the right side during the assembly.</p></figcaption></figure>

### Outward-facing (improvements for users and workshop participants):

* **Alignment and orientation:** The new "TOP SIDE" label and triangle cut out of the corner ensure it's (nearly) impossible to assemble the PCB **upside down** or **inside out** (people somehow found ways to do both - *at the same time!* - with our previous version).&#x20;
* **Pre-mapped wiring options:** The new presets of keys at the top of the PCB help people map and remap their Matchboxes easily without the complicated lookup table (v0.3). This saves valuable time in the workshops and makes more time for playing games! Of course, one could still access the full potential of the keyboard PCB easily by wiring directly to the bottom rows of pins, which just directly connects to the keyboard PCB but requires some more effort from the user to consult the remapping matrix (something we are also working on improving the UX for!)

### Inward-facing (improvements for developers):

* **First steps of automation:** With v0.4, one of our main goals was to try making our own [software](#automation-and-tooling) tools to automate the tedious and repetitive parts of making adapted variants for different keyboard models and after receiving and testing the v0.4 boards we have confirmation that this automated workflow actually works! The entire v0.4 PCB creation was entirely automated with our tools, saving us hours of tedious manual work! The next step would be to polish up some of the small bugs and UX so other people could use our tools for their own projects (or Matchboxes!)
* **Steps toward open source hardware:** Better automation and tooling is one of the major milestones we have planned for our venture into open sourcing the Matchbox project! We wanted to make sure people didn't have to go down the same rabbit holes we did so we are doing lots of planning behind the scenes (tooling is definitely a large piece of that puzzle!) and we are so excited to share what we have made with the open source community when the project is ready! Stay tuned!

## v0.4 Matchbox Camera and Cardboard Prototypes!

**March 21, 2025**

Hei had the idea a few days ago to use a photoresistor in place of a switch to create a light-based input! If you recall, the NES had a lightgun controller that could be used to play Duck Hunt, and we are exploring if we could make the same kind of interaction with our Matchboxes!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FahtRC6hwv9X80s0OdYUq%2FIMG_4464.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=d8b95660-bbd0-4150-8b11-b3beda583d0b" alt=""><figcaption><p>Hei 3D printed a cone with a lens at the end of it to help the sensor get more precise input.</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F85gC8HAvzaaiICaOP3ik%2FIMG_4462.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=c84b6cdb-c20f-4b90-a42c-c608aabca83b" alt=""><figcaption><p>Here he is testing it by aiming the Matchbox at a light source. It already looks like a camera Matchbox variant!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Additionally, we also began prototyping the cardboard compatible Matchbox - The Matchbox Cardboard! It features an open top design that holds a thin piece of card for easy customization and a new bottom shell with slots for cardboard attachments. We are so excited to finally start expolring more Matchbox variants!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FrRln3SAdosjKCyfsodLj%2FIMG_4470.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=30b0d2f2-2172-4274-bfa2-ae15a5c8d4ce" alt=""><figcaption><p>The top shell variant has an open top for the paper underneath to show through. You can now completely customize your own with some simple card paper! (The buttons don't need to travel that much to trigger, so this thin layer of card works pretty well in our testing!)</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FJX5rxNvIbo5PIUQEZPlA%2FIMG_4469.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=6f597e37-d91b-482f-b30c-57a14a15a985" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## v0.4 PCBs ordered!

**March 20, 2025**

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FHMJrYHxfmkztNkU4xFz6%2FIMG_4452.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=994bb869-eaac-43c4-9abc-3962e8268c65" alt=""><figcaption><p>Hei taking the measurements for the PCB</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fpyms7EBffhl2tMzm3k2F%2FIMG_4457.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=579cfc59-b230-463e-893e-c0a429c739c0" alt=""><figcaption><p>Bryan's PCB - Autorouted this time!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

We sent out the first orders for the v4 prototypes today! In about a week we should be able to report back if the new automation workflow actually works! This will be the first Matchbox PCB that was mapped and routed entirely with software and if it works we would have achieved a whole new milestone! Looking forward to reporting back when the PCBs arrive! Exciting!!&#x20;

## Automation and Tooling!

**March 13, 2025**

Bryan has completed the first prototype for automating our PCB schematic generation in KiCad!

We are hard at work making automation software tools to help us map and adapt Matchbox to work with different keyboards faster. Continuing my [post](#keyboard-mapping-helper-v0.1-is-online) from a few days ago, Bryan completed the prototype for his end of the tool, which can take in the mapping json file my mapping helper tool exports to use as reference for the mapping. We've gone and automated most of the repetitive steps with this new pipeline and things should move faster now! We also began testing with mapping a new keyboard: the Dell KB216t.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FMTYyfFYvOXshTcjPF4qV%2FIMG_4426.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=bde2e73d-4411-481a-b165-84718754e9bf" alt=""><figcaption><p>all the components and connection labels you see here were automatically generated with a python script in mere seconds! This would have taken HOURS to do manually.</p></figcaption></figure>

On my side, while I was using the mapping helper tool to complete the mapping, I realized the tool could really use a manual override and delete function as sometimes the keyboard pcbs just exhibit weird mapping anomalies and it would be faster to just manually fix it than to fight the software to try and convince it otherwise. So now, I've added a feature where you can directly select any log entry for a pin and click on the exact keycode entry you want to remove and just remove it directly. This way, we can have good error checking logic to make sure the user isn't missing anything, but still provide some override utilities for control so that ultimately the software doesn't get in the way.

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fdbn5RDdyXxcnu9fl1Wos%2FScreenshot%202025-03-14%20at%2012.47.30%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7c5b3151-2e7f-4931-9a43-78fbb6c59c27" alt=""><figcaption><p>This "Backslash" entry is an anomaly in the mapping, causing the right key to be errored out (highlighted in red at the top). I can now click on the entry directly to select and remove it manually. After recompiling, I end up with a nice errorless mapping file! </p></figcaption></figure>

## First Successful Pilot Workshop with Secondary school students!

**March 12, 2025**

The Matchbox team had the opportunity to run our first pilot workshop with 4 secondary students all in form 2 (grade 8) from Ying Wa College in Hong Kong. We learned a lot and we hope to be able to gradually scale our workshops up as we refine the material! The following are some reflections from the workshop.

* Time management: We performed significantly better in terms of time management compared with our [second workshop at innowing last year](#v0.3.1-second-ever-workshop). Within 2 hours, 4 students had time to properly understand the material and complete their Matchboxes! This improvement can mainly be attributed to 2 factors:&#x20;
  * no soldering was required this time
  * we asked them to only map 4 keys first, instead of all 10 - this may seem like shifting the goal post, but we believe that once you understand how to wire one key, you understand how to wire 10. We do not think the repetitive steps of the assembly necessarily add all that much to the learning experience, so we opted to have the kids bring some extra wires home to complete the mapping on their own.
* Proper firewalls between each major step: After our last workshop, we realized the importance of making the continuous testing an explicit step, clearly integrated into the workshop flow to prevent issues from snowballing and requiring tedious backtracking to repair. Right from the start of the workshop, we showed them how to use a keyboard tester (a simple tool in a browser) to test their keyboard PCBs. From there, each step of the assembly was always accompanied by:&#x20;

  "Do you know if it works?"&#x20;

  "No, not really."&#x20;

  "So how would you find out?"

  After a few cycles of assembly > testing > troubleshoot, the kids were able to do the testing and troubleshooting on their own, almost out of habit - and that is exactly what we want them to pick up on! We briefly used this opportunity to talk to them about the iterative mindset and not worrying too much about small mistakes because we are engineers and when something doesn't work we just have to fix it (or make it work slightly less bad compared to before).
* Towards the end, the kids were able to genuinely understand the material and thus come to enjoy the process of wiring, testing, and troubleshooting their Matchbox all on their own. We observed a higher sense of urgency and engagement - they seemed confident in their progress and excited at the prospect of completing the controller to play games with it with their peers. At the end, we rewarded them for completing the Matchboxes by loading up a game I created with Scratch for them to play against their friend, both with Matchboxes they constructed in the workshop. This strong connection between what they were learning (basic circuits, hacking electronics) and what they cared about (playing and competing with their friends) gave them a boost in personal involvement and engagement with the knowledge and practice - It's exactly what got us so inspired to make things, and we are glad to be passing it on!

Overall, the team is quite relieved that our observations last time were able to be addressed this workshop and we have proof of concept that this material and teaching method would work with secondary school students. Now comes the next challenge: ***how would we reliably scale it?***&#x20;

Welp, we've long come to embrace these projects as a constant stream of never-ending challenges and inspiration - but that's exactly what we're here for! Looking forward to learning all about that in the coming months!

## Keyboard Mapping Helper v0.1 is online!

**March 11, 2025**

This week, Bryan and I have been working on automating the PCB creation process. Today, I am proud to share that our very first version for the keyboard mapping helper tool is online! <https://fireworks-studios.github.io/Matchbox/>

This is my first github pages deployment so I hope I'm doing it right\~

A simple overview of v0.1 features (because I'm sure there will be many changes to come when we start using it in development):

* It can automatically log keyboard readings for you
* Dynamically generates mapping table, with everything color coded to easily see what's missing at a glance
* Mini keyboard UI for intuitive interface + enables most of the commonly used functions
* A tooltip follows your cursor around to tell you what pins each key requires
* All the logs are displayed on a table with easy access via the row of buttons up top - this hopefully enables smooth remapping and repairing process
* Error checking and reporting in the console for you to easily see what is still missing before exporting
* Exports to simple json format, ready to put into our next piece of software (PCB automapper!) and also allows the file to load back in to restore the exact state - We imagine this mapping file will also be very useful for the community to share their mappings on github

We will be testing and refining this internally during development for the next few months, and when the entire workflow is more finalized, we will start making more detailed tutorials and documentation for you to use this to hack your own keyboards!&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fhs87XVTfXHNepSm98r5I%2FScreenshot%202025-03-12%20at%2010.04.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b5859dd1-03b8-4678-ab0b-40d99ded6b45" alt=""><figcaption><p>It's not the prettiest, but I'm still so proud of how functional it is!</p></figcaption></figure>

## Making our own tools for faster development!

**March 7, 2025**

One of the most grueling steps in adapting the Matchbox for a new keyboard model is figuring out the keyboard mapping and remapping the PCB. Done manually, it is tedious, time-consuming, and a huge threat to our ability to rapidly prototype and explore ideas. Inspired by [a paper by Alan Kay](https://internetat50.com/references/Kay_How.pdf) I read recently, he points out that:&#x20;

"If you have the ability to **invent and make new tools** that are needed for your problem, then you must."

so we decided to tackle this bottleneck as an opportunity to create our own tools and workflows.

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FNCN4LNQiO6l5VP19Hfdl%2FIMG_4405.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=cf97698d-055f-4ce8-b8f4-b01c05473310" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FgyJRjlsyUcqY5wE78AO8%2FIMG_4404.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=78fcc0ce-360d-43e6-9d80-1478f8783ff6" alt=""><figcaption><p>Some sketches from our discussions on how to rethink the structure to optimize for faster development cycles</p></figcaption></figure></div>

After reexamining each step in the process to find out what was taking the most time and what we could do about it, we realized that most of our keyboard mapping woes could be automated with software (theoretically, we had all the parameters we needed and we could feed the program a well-defined problem)

So today we've started working on trying out just that! The process is split into 2 main parts:

* Keyboard mapping -> Enoch is working on a web tool
* PCB remapping -> Bryan is working with Python scripts to automate KiCad

I (Enoch) began working on speeding up the keyboard mapping with this simple web-based tool I built with basic HTML. This must be the most function-first piece of software I've ever built because by the time I got a proof of concept working there still wasn't proper paddings or margins... Despite its looks, it does actually work! Most importantly, it shaves off **hours** per board! I'm super happy with the improvements made today with just this proof of concept and we already have many more ideas for how to improve these tools even more!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fy9U7DWmli37KpLdZ8JDU%2FScreenshot%202025-03-07%20at%209.00.33%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=49cd70f1-817d-488a-8f19-ed24e9c8b452" alt=""><figcaption><p><em><strong>never have I felt so excited about working on a glorified automated spreadsheet maker</strong></em></p></figcaption></figure>

## Keyboards from Caritas Computer Workshop!&#x20;

**February 26, 2025**

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F5Z15MR1NF5tMnCP4k2IA%2FIMG_4349.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=a341a44e-7ab0-4c19-b148-df57a1538fea" alt=""><figcaption><p>We were met with a warm welcome by Mr. Wong, the workshop manager.</p></figcaption></figure>

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FQhwGyTb73C8xC130Xd4x%2FIMG_4345.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=92e526ce-9420-4fff-bc9d-78d3ca9b4b6e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FuIdebABehxBl2uOREav9%2FIMG_4351.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=afcffc3f-68e0-4ea7-b593-37518bedc1a5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FJbkWyN7OQdgIeEoKxHgh%2FIMG_4352.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=c880427e-fe5a-4457-8602-05c4087150fc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Bryan and I visited [Caritas Computer Workshop](https://ccw.caritas.org.hk/en/home.html) today to pick up some old keyboards to upcycle! They are a local charity specializing in upcycling e-waste and refurbishing old devices to be sold at a more affordable price to those who need it. We are so grateful for this opportunity to collaborate and we hope our work can also contribute to their mission!

## How can Matchbox support more creative exploration?

**February 19, 2025** (entry by Enoch)

I was reading some of Dr. Resnick's work on [design principles for designing construction kits for kids](https://web.media.mit.edu/~mres/papers/IDC-2005.pdf) and it got me thinking about how we can make the Matchbox support more opportunities for creative exploration.

Currently, the Matchbox is a DIY controller kit that kids can put together once and that's it. 50 different people can each make a Matchbox and we would end up with 50 exact same Matchboxes. I would like to change that - I would like for there to be 50 different Matchboxes at the end of each workshop.

The following are some ideas we've had. We are looking forward to exploring more!

### Compatibility with other building kits

Here we have a steering wheel and a simple lever switch made by combining a Matchbox with a [Stick'em construction kit](https://stickem.sg/). Just some simple connection sockets on the bottom case and this could easily be a very fun collaboration!&#x20;

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FYhdXI9yj6tZCdpjQhKvS%2FIMG_4247.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=070381d4-4641-4760-9063-f680aa804048" alt=""><figcaption><p>Turning the wheel will press on the buttons below!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FaNzhcV6uy4QKrwleCK4K%2FIMG_4250.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=2edc50d7-fd0b-451b-b519-1383b7cb3bb6" alt=""><figcaption><p>This simple lever actually worked the best!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

### Cardboard!

Something I've been keeping a close eye on is the recent innovations in the field of cardboard crafts.&#x20;

Cardboard has so much untapped potential as a building and prototyping material, especially for stem education. Nintendo saw it with [Labo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Labo), and now we are seeing it more and more with the rise of kid-centered tools like the [ChompSaw](https://chompshop.com/) and the [Makedo](https://www.make.do/) system. With a few well-placed clamps, the Matchbox can easily work with these other tools to turn any cardboard contraption into a super fun alternative input device!

### Paper card top designs

Another idea we are excited to explore is to make a variant top cover that is open and just allows you to slot in a piece of card. This will allow the user to draw for themselves what they want the interface to be like, and provide a super simple modification proof of concept that can be used to demonstrate the concept in a short time (like a 2hr workshop)

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F4cZcKfklHsUt6GOs17hi%2F6B52C81F-4AE6-4C1C-A4F7-E46B28A2A48D.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=89d2ebf1-8dbc-4db9-b805-8e748175384f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Some sketches i totally didn't do in class</p></figcaption></figure>

## Prototyping a Matchstick Screwdriver!

**February 19, 2025**

This is my (Enoch) first time exploring CAD! Huge thanks to Hei for showing me the ropes!

We want to include a small matchstick-looking screwdriver in Matchbox kits to make sure you will have everything you need for assembly straight out of the box. There is a small cheap screwdriver in the 3D-printed shell, and the top cap is a little flame that can come off and be capped on the back when you're using it. It also serves as a nice bulb to rest your palm on when driving a screw into the bottom shell.

This idea came to us when one of the staff at our university's makerspace asked us if there would be a matchstick in the Matchbox kits and we just couldn't turn down such a clever idea!

The handle part was made in Fusion360 and the little flame cap was made in Blender (probably not the right way but hey it's my first 3D project!)

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fskc8DSY00o40ZreN6U7w%2F1B601A1D-7CEF-4712-B3FA-99A9E663067E.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=fdf2e60d-0475-474b-a7c7-8782e073bf92" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FcxM4cVtstOeDYmRj7ypL%2FFBDFD914-4B72-4688-8716-C8520B0A3BA1.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=d1dba889-51de-4824-845c-9835760023c6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FTi5CMTpWGfNgjqeZ1E2u%2FIMG_4259.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=e0f15769-253a-4830-bca4-350ffe3888f0" alt=""><figcaption><p>initial sketchs for the screwdriver had much stubbier proportions</p></figcaption></figure></div>

## Presentation to Logitech's Senior Sourcing Manager!

**February 12, 2025**

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FzyRvY2XwAyhaLuQnIts7%2FIMG_0418.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=2e4d399e-612a-4fdf-b130-cfd64cdfabcb" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Matchbox team had the opportunity to present our project to Logitech's Senior Sourcing Manager today!</p></figcaption></figure>

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FcukD5DiKrTMdxfrbny8M%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-02-12%20at%2011.53.24.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=a63632a3-0657-407e-b62a-9610e72a3530" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fvr1OXfHlvHcBF6W29X4U%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-02-12%20at%2011.53.27.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=04344a7d-2044-47b5-ab73-cdecaf4a7af5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Today we had the opportunity to present our Matchbox project to Logitech's Senior Sourcing Manager, Mr. Ricky Cheung. Following an online introduction call, he visited our workspace to meet the team and see the prototypes firsthand. Mr. Cheung gave us some great feedback and questions for us to work on. Once again, we are grateful for the insight and look forward to figuring out more things as we go!

## Presentation to Dell's sustainability manager!

**February 11, 2025**

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FqViBaX6ODYsLPTsKA0tD%2FIMG_0405.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=fd406225-bd7e-42f8-8f4d-daa134962dd4" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Matchbox team had the opportunity to present our project to the sustainability lead from Dell in HK!</p></figcaption></figure>

To stabilize our keyboard supply, we have reached out to sustainability managers from various companies that make keyboards. This morning, we had the opportunity to present to Mr. Mehul Thakkar, Dell's Sustainability & ESG Lead for Asia Pacific, Japan, and China. He visited our workspace and gave us valuable insight on what we could do next to scale our projects and really reach the communities we set out to serve when we started the project. Here are some of the great questions he gave us to work on:

* Think about the end-to-end impact Matchbox can have
* Projections on how many people we can serve, how many keyboards what will take
* What will happen to the other components from keyboards we upcycle?
* How big will this impact be for a student? How much can a Matchbox do for a kid?

We don't quite have all the answers to these questions yet, but we're already super excited to get started working on them!

## Upcycling plastic exploration

**January 22, 2025**

We had the opportunity to visit [FabLab HK](https://www.fablab.org.hk/) today to explore the potential of using more upcycled materials for our Matchbox! We discussed the potential for injection molding, using upcycled 3D printing filament, and even upcycling the empty keyboard shells to use as material.&#x20;

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F2bmzW4hgKyw0DBz8xiU6%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-01-22%20at%2016.50.46%20(2).jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=99aa3da2-7f24-42e3-afd2-396b2e723187" alt=""><figcaption><p>Look at all the beautiful colors the upcycled plastic can make!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FzCnQS3AsDf9ZeULsylGv%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202025-01-22%20at%2016.50.47.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=e2d313e0-674c-4f91-bc26-23d6b7885ad3" alt=""><figcaption><p>They had all kinds of machines and awesome things at the space</p></figcaption></figure></div>

## We have a dedicated workspace!

**January 9, 2025**

Finding a dedicated workspace has always been a challenge since our team left our previous lab in September. Today, we finally have a workstation big enough for our team of 4 to develop and work at!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F7elELNxnG7TfGYkaH8iR%2FIMG_3936.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=7c3a7260-7df5-4528-ab55-ef4c3e41257b" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>This is going to be the start of something new!</p></figcaption></figure>

Feeling energized and ready to tackle 2025 with one of our biggest todos taken off our shoulders... Now on to the next - a consistent supply of waste keyboards!

## v0.3.1 Second-ever workshop!

**September 25, 2024**

We had our second workshop at the university this week...

There were around 25 participants, our largest turnout to date! We gathered lots of feedback and made lots of mistakes but that's exactly what these workshops are for!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FvX01Aroas0noNlmd5Sgh%2F20240926062.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=75b094ab-963b-4414-aa80-139c719fb2f9" alt=""><figcaption><p>Enoch yapping away about how keyboard PCBs work...</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FpnmULQzYsVBP6W2i7ZSd%2F20240926068.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=b57b5c77-8a5d-4293-bd20-54966afac4cd" alt=""><figcaption><p>The participants assembling the controllers!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FR3nHPkG0R5O2LhdfEGxd%2FScreenshot%202024-09-27%20at%2012.57.46%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8eb67f4b-eb31-4c08-b7fb-6227ce1bc64b" alt=""><figcaption><p>notes taken down after we reflected on the workshop</p></figcaption></figure>

The main issues can be summarized as follows:

* Too little staff: I was estimating the staff-to-student ratio based on my experience teaching software but it turns out hardware is much trickier to teach! We will need more volunteers and helpers next workshop.&#x20;
* Too little time: In this workshop, we only had 2.5 hrs to complete everything and it wasn't enough. Soldering alone took more than an hour, and combined with the lack of staff, many participants had to leave the workshop with incomplete Matchboxes... :(
* Fundamental components need to be explained better: We had once again made the mistake of assuming the participants had seen or could get an intuitive understanding of the components with little to no explanation. However, from our observation in the workshops, we need to start by explaining the basics much better for them to enjoy learning the more complicated possibilities toward the end.
* Testing needs to be continuous: We noticed that many of the problems people were encountering were caused by small issues left unchecked and eventually snowballed into bigger composite problems that are much harder to troubleshoot. We need systems in place that can make sure participants actually complete each step properly before letting them move on to the next.&#x20;

We were definitely humbled by the suboptimal results of the workshop but we were able to observe some good outcomes too!

* Towards the end of the workshop, after we've sorted most of the issues for some of the participants, they were genuinely enjoying the challenge of mapping and wiring their own Matchbox. Many of them had only been introduced to a breadboard 2 hours prior!
* The moment participants' faces lit up when their controllers finally worked was such a precious moment that motivated us to go further!
* Some participants mentioned the ikea effect where they felt much more attached and proud of their work after they put in all that effort putting it together.

Overall this was a very productive workshop because we were exposed to many many issues that we could never have imagined if we just kept on developing on our own and never tested the product. These workshops are stressful but at the end of the day, it is worth facing problems head-on because we are engineers and solving problems is what we do!

## Matchbox team at the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces 2024!

**September 11-13, 2024**

Our team had the wonderful opportunity to present Matchbox as a student poster at the 8th International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces hosted at the University of Sheffield this year!

We learned a lot and we hope to channel all the feedback into improving our next prototype!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FtALKIBFOks6q5QRiuT7F%2F0605944c-2e41-40f0-810a-5b72b1e3215c.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=0b66cba4-417d-44b1-b620-70cbba19eeb9" alt=""><figcaption><p>Thanks to everyone for visiting our booth for the support!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FgdBRPcx6InTppoiXkX8y%2F3fb320f8-6abf-4a49-abb6-1fae34ece41a.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=2490f83d-7697-4f6d-bd03-25faa714723f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Special shout out to the University of Hong Kong for sending us!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

## v0.3 Logo on PCB and name cards printed!

**August 25, 2024**

Our team is hard at work preparing for an upcoming conference and for our next workshop (planned in September) and we got some name cards printed for the conference!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FpGhyiMs1v7OKuVlMyGjm%2FPHOTO-2024-08-25-17-52-32.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=aa4a6d07-b945-42b7-8253-7086b21bcc5a" alt=""><figcaption><p>Name cards, stickers, and logo on the PCB! I love creating art and branding for these projects so I'm super happy to be at this stage of development for this project! - Enoch</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.3 Connection problem solved!

**August 12, 2024**

The PCBs arrived today and Hei immediately got to work on the v0.3 shell design! And in record time, we had a working prototype! This much-improved v0.3 design addresses the following issues:

* Tedious disassembly: the previous iterations would fall apart and scatter tiny button parts everywhere if you opened them wrong. The PCBs were also hanging loosely by a flimsy rubberband...
* Way too much soldiering: prepping the previous version for workshops meant soldering a bunch of pins and the flimsy and inconsistent flex PCB to the main board. Our new solution, the zebra strip, eliminates that and makes the connection even better.
* Finally, and most importantly, it creates a secure and consistent connection! This new version has the keyboard PCB fastened snugly in the bottom half of the casing, with the main pcb screwing directly into it, maximizing structural support and minimizing warping and bowing of the pcbs - which is the main cause of bad connections.

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FxPjZ39L9SGnN1iIOAQVz%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202024-08-12%20at%2022.25.35.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=e37d6f70-12c0-4002-b225-24de9c6b9d37" alt=""><figcaption><p>Look at Hei's gloriously simple yet practical solution!</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.3 PCBs designed and ordered!

**August 6, 2024**

Bryan took the specifications from Hei's sketches yesterday and completed the PCB for v0.3 today! The order has been sent in so we should be able to test out our ideas soon! In the meantime Hei will begin working on the CAD for the 3D printed parts - there will be quite a drastic change for the bottom half of the shell since we are experimenting with the idea of using the shell as part of the reinforcement and tensioning of the keyboard to the main PCB. (This is a major point of failure and we hope the added reinforcement will ensure a consistent connection)&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fw8YNasLJyD9LP1Q8mz4C%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202024-08-06%20at%2022.54.14.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=0fb51c35-031b-49e4-be8f-ef10a44cf2bd" alt=""><figcaption><p>we've named this board lil' penguin because the circuit looks like a penguin rapper with gold chains...</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FJlFUVJA1x6adrkw4P6yt%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202024-08-06%20at%2023.15.37.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=d0dcfb26-324d-47c5-9b93-f79cb89f7574" alt=""><figcaption><p>the PCBs are getting progressively more complicated!</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FoqP6OdwpyHOS4q9HvNo6%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202024-08-06%20at%2023.34.13.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=cf0c8218-35fa-4a6a-b906-ab699b4a241a" alt=""><figcaption><p>this iteration exposes more of the pins with much more redundancy, hopefully this will make the wiring process simpler as people will have multiple options to make the same connections, making the board more flexible for alternative mappings.</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.3 Alternative connection option: Elastomeric connectors

**August 5, 2024**

After consulting some seniors with much more experience with PCBs and assembling electronics, we were advised to take a look at zebra connectors (elastomeric connectors) for the connection. We were also given a hint that we could find them inside multimeters connecting the LCD display to the pcb...&#x20;

A few multimeter disassemblies later\*, we had a new design ready for the next version! Here is Hei's sketch of the components we need to make to test this prototype with the zebra connector.

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F4zzCqDAekkFZn5iTnzdO%2FIMG_2505_2.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=99f1c7b1-5a3f-4edf-bd11-e0a8efd3b3c6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

\*no multimeters were hurt

## v0.3 Successful experiment assembly!

**July 31, 2024**&#x20;

Well it turns out the tiny springs were no match for Bryan's soldering skills\~ We managed to hand solder all the pins on the first prototype board, clamped a keyboard PCB to it and it works! The connection is much more consistent and the part is even more compact now!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FzNE4Xot3OarH0NtsYPJK%2FIMG_2458.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=d9225a7e-58fe-482a-bdd6-172b2f9b1b76" alt=""><figcaption><p>the tiny springs connectors are able to tension each pin individually now! This connection is much more consistent and requires less tensioning and precision. </p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FfOAbNFwpOgdJv8GZFwL0%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202024-07-31%20at%2021.14.53.jpeg?alt=media&#x26;token=d84d5333-9706-4603-8e9c-2515a75736cb" alt=""><figcaption><p>the tester board Bryan made - it's dead simple and just enough for us to test the connectors asap</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.3 Spring connector parts arrived!

**July 29, 2024**

Our parts for v0.3 have arrived! These parts are super tiny but they look promising! Next is to figure out how we should assemble these...

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FbbE9RwyqKOc4F9bJAxzJ%2FIMG_2440.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=9d2f6cdf-0fca-4ed8-957f-9353d8f71c28" alt=""><figcaption><p>look closely and you'll see there is a tiny spring pin on the pcb! these guys are super tiny we have no clue how to assemble them 😅</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.3 Development Started!

**July 17, 2024**

Since our first workshop ended, we have been busy sorting out all the problems the v0.2 prototype had. Today, we finally started working on the v0.3 prototype! The first thing we want to get right in this iteration is the keyboard to main pcb connection, as this was a major failure on our previous board. Getting a consistent connection on this crucial part will also make troubleshooting the other parts much more enjoyable.

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FlbmmBQA9ku56nCt2yIzL%2FScreenshot%202024-07-17%20at%2010.14.19%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=69ab5ca1-184d-40b7-9ba6-f1c14f8b0a96" alt=""><figcaption><p>We took detailed feedback from our first workshop and mapped out all the problems to see how they are related to each other... All errors lead back to the keyboard to main pcb connection!</p></figcaption></figure>

With our plan in motion, Bryan began working on the isolated tester pcb we are making just to figure out a consistent connection method. The idea we want to try out this time is using some battery connector pins to individually tension each pin on the keyboard to ensure each pin on the board can be connected well and independently of each other. We've also begun the process of ordering the parts and equipment we need for this exciting new chapter!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fbz8A1XvKc8hpowm9CoCV%2FIMG_2335.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=42c75f76-3482-4d3e-8e0b-d34a6901de70" alt=""><figcaption><p>Bryan's work on the tester PCB design!</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.2 Cardboard?

**July 16, 2024**

What if we could make Matchboxes out of cardboard?

This experiment aims to try out 2 things:

* Using buttons that already have the caps attached to them so the disassembly can be more streamlined
* Using cardboard to make the outer shell so that no 3D printed parts are required

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FDpHq2Ob671msQJYo5cKm%2FIMG_2302.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=31e1071f-4055-4da9-b05f-281f9626a4f8" alt=""><figcaption><p>Inside, we are using buttons that already have caps attached to them, so the disassembly doesn't involve scattering small plastic parts everywhere anymore!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FxMSUDyUfNAvzaeNmMv5b%2FIMG_2305.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=48585ed7-3868-4181-84da-316f9e646c81" alt=""><figcaption><p>It may not look this way on camera, but this little guy is actually pretty robust! We can definitely see the potential for the cardboard version being a valid variant that brings something else to the table~</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Overall, this quick proof of concept is successful! Although the hand-cut cardboard shell is crude, it shows how a variant option like this could solve some of our problems with the main prototype!

## v0.2 Our first workshop!

**June 8, 2024**

We had our first-ever Matchbox workshop today! We invited some of our friends to come and try assembling their own Matchboxes, and in the process, we gathered lots of useful feedback and problems that we needed to solve!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FEOS6bwVcfXztMSHML8kF%2FIMG_2230.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=7b227ae7-1ed8-4720-89a9-71901bf7298f" alt=""><figcaption><p>We had lots of fun sharing with our friends what we've been working on for so long!</p></figcaption></figure>

Here is a summary of the main problems we observed and the feedback we received from our friends:

* **The soldering part was a lot more difficult for beginners than we had anticipated.** We had been working on the project for such a long time that we had unknowingly become more experienced in soldering ourselves - to the point where we vastly underestimated how difficult the soldering portion of this prototype would be for a complete beginner... Our solution will be to eliminate as much soldering as we can in the following iterations.
* **Assembly for certain parts required too much precision.** The 3D shell and the flex PCBs were designed with too little room for error in the alignment and assembly. This meant that valuable time was lost to reassembling and realigning the parts for the controller to work at all. To fix this, we have to include more room for error and improve the versatility of the parts (accommodate for multiple orientations, or use parts that are symmetric no matter the orientation)
* **Too many components, no idea how to test if it's working.** This problem should have been discovered earlier... When I teach children Scratch, I make sure to tell them to test every time they program a new feature or component of the game - how did I ever think we could expect people to just assemble the entire controller without giving them ways to be sure the previous steps had been done properly?!! For the next iteration, we will make sure to include good ways to test the controller at each step in the assembly - making the debugging process part of the assembly, not after it.
* **The wiring and remapping are still too complicated and inconvenient.** Even with a fully assembled and functional controller, one of our participants couldn't intuitively remap the controller to fit her desired mapping. This means the prototype still fails at the following 2 objectives:
  * **Be an educational hands-on experience:** the assembly process should ideally teach the participants about how the controller works but we noticed that the process was still too complicated for most to digest so many people ended up just following the instructions without really gaining an understanding of how the controller works or how they could modify it.
  * **Be accessible to modifications:** If the participants leave the workshop not feeling empowered to modify and expand upon the controller's capabilities, the prototype fails to encourage tinkering and alterations. We need to come up with better ways to wire and remap buttons so that people can feel confident in opening and messing around with the Matchbox after the workshop.

In general, the controller is functional but still much too complicated for our goal of making it accessible for secondary school (middle and high school) students to use. However, from today's workshop, we have seen that our main goal of making learning hardware development fun and approachable with the use of project-based hands-on materials was successful as all the participants agree that the workshop was fun and having fun did indeed help them engage with the concepts being introduced to them.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FCDKXxzyPwjFd8pe1xlhD%2FIMG_2269.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=b640cf96-76c4-4011-841b-41e3a2c6b40f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Seeing our friends having fun during the workshop gives us hope that this project is headed in the right direction! :D</p></figcaption></figure>

The results of today's workshop have been incredibly encouraging. Seeing others having fun with the things we have been working on for so long gives us all the confirmation we need to know we are headed in the right direction. We hope to continuously improve the design of the Matchbox and related materials so that eventually we can bring this same challenge and enjoyment to students and educators from all across the world with our little project and share the love of creating with more!  &#x20;

## v0.2 Small batch production for our first workshop + LOGO!

**June 3, 2024**

We began printing and packing the first batch of 5 Matchbox kits in preparation for the workshop this weekend. The project also finally has a logo!

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FkaTdCGLPMGEjkXSkSTDs%2FScreenshot%202024-06-03%20at%2010.54.31%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9b7556fb-6f19-440d-a3ff-4c7092c6b98a" alt=""><figcaption><p>Behold the first-ever packaged Matchbox kit!</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FUnDIXBAqLKRsh1o6jL6B%2FProject%20Matchbox%20Kit%20meeting.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4ffbbef4-3007-4c3d-b331-d402f43e6b5e" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Matchbox logo is a combination of FireWorks Studios and open source hardware's logo.</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.2 Better d-pad, pre-tensioned buttons, and better case

**May 31, 2024**

Iterating on the buttons of prototype 3, Hei improved the d-pad part to only allow for 2 directions to be pressed at once. In contrast, the old design had no limitations so you could press all four directions at once (defeating the point of a d-pad). This was done by adding a small bulb at the bottom side of the part to raise it off the breadboard to make a seesaw-esque mechanism which prevents 2 opposite direcions from getting pressed at once.&#x20;

We also realized that the round buttons were just a little bit loose, making the already mushy silicone membrane buttons we chose feel a little too rattly. Hei once again solved this by adding slightly more thickness to the round buttons so the button caps sat directly against the buttons, leaving no room for rattling.

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FXC4YbmKjGsRGVOApvVhJ%2F1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b4fb2be9-b919-4137-b58e-0c892a7fd824" alt=""><figcaption><p>new d-pad part</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FvaBpnqhLFIP0eaKyKr31%2F2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9eeae8e6-6f0b-4a7e-923d-072b040fa954" alt=""><figcaption><p>new buttons</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Improvements were also made to the top half of the case to make assembly and disassembly easier - this is the first Matchbox prototype we could take apart with just our hands (no tools required!) Since the Matchbox is going to be a DIY project that encourages people to take it apart to modify it, we thought it was of utmost importance that the case could be easily taken apart to make the components inside immediately accessible.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2F3bqHijNHJJALxcMmiI4F%2F2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ed7cf94c-269a-4f84-abb5-5bfaf2593de1" alt=""><figcaption><p>The improved top case design features TAPERED TABS!! This makes the assembly much more consistent and enjoyable :D</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.2 Meet Matchbox Prototype 3!

**May 30, 2024**

Hello! We finally received our custom PCBs ordered two weeks ago! Hei and I spent the better half of the previous 2 days trying to figure out a consistent assembly method to put all the parts together... Keyboard PCBs have been the bane of our existence since day one but it looks like we finally figured something out! Take a look at our current latest model - Matchbox Prototype 3!

<div><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fgr2twOzxrkSyra149qln%2FIMG_1836.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=10dc0fcc-7bfa-48b3-8ade-25085b501077" alt=""><figcaption><p>Prototypes 2 and 3 side by side - all the messy wires and sketchy soldiering have been replaced by the custom PCBs Bryan and Austin made!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FyFcEUc9j3JmfjI5kCHhA%2F7D6B3CBD-A660-4A7F-BEFF-ADB4EC1B2C16.JPG?alt=media&#x26;token=8621112d-7e48-4ee3-b32b-ce1223426b9b" alt=""><figcaption><p>Prototype 3 in its brand new 3d printed case - Hei redid the whole case and made it smaller for better handling.</p></figcaption></figure></div>

## v0.2 Custom PCB Ordered!

**May 18, 2024**

Hello! Bryan here. I'm working on the PCB design of the Matchbox to replace the v0's soldering cables. We hope to minimize soldering work in the assembly process of the Matchbox. As our leader, Enoch, has been struggling to solder those cables between the board and the Keyboard matrix receiver.

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FBhqqrlmPOYdteEp7I4la%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fbda242a-22d8-4527-b388-97129ff38d6f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Flex PCB connector</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FDdjQPXqguwt5pv9Lofnq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=be1da101-3237-4982-9771-f3d155a9e672" alt=""><figcaption><p>KeyBoard Mapper Product</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FtLz03g8PuWVfWXIVd2sP%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c9e45dd8-6d9e-4f4e-b799-3c962f70cf1d" alt=""><figcaption><p>KeyBoard Mapper Design</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FodOpjqy7xc5oJDcwRqBK%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=43ee1728-7ce7-4420-a319-c81f6d21bf90" alt=""><figcaption><p>KeyBoard Mapper Preview</p></figcaption></figure>

## v0.1 3D printed shell and buttons!

**April 16, 2024**

Wow, this project is off to a great start! After one intense weekend of tinkering at the university, Hei managed to create a working 3D-printed shell for the controller on his first try!!!

It's amazing to have someone so familiar with 3D printing on the team because Hei could foresee and prevent lots of small errors, errors that would have taken me weeks to figure out on my own!&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FU3371KDyn6aby1qcCl65%2FIMG_1614.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=440acb43-3926-41e7-b2bb-56efce88f448" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

&#x20;

## v0 First Matchbox Devlog entry!

**April 8, 2024**

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FbCV1NKIDfQcDUMK6ccRo%2FIMG_1538.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=a812f80f-df49-457f-84eb-a0c755c1c929" alt=""><figcaption><p>v0: The first functional prototype!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2Fl94FxbXyfoOpfe9XhcOA%2FIMG_1540.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=852a3fd0-4a79-470e-938f-68bd5aaf1c88" alt=""><figcaption><p>buttons buttons buttons!</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://1197780896-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FvPztHFSs1nYDm5JJtucv%2Fuploads%2FiNLOoKVSq91oOyjMXx2Q%2FIMG_1542.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=e9d1d83f-2cf4-4e64-8719-79aba0ae35f3" alt=""><figcaption><p>we love our whiteboards!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Hello world! We’re gonna recycle old keyboards to make affordable DIY gamepad kits for kids!\
\
After a bit of tinkering, [@mcscwell](https://www.instagram.com/mcscwell/) [@heiinhongkong](https://www.instagram.com/heiinhongkong/) and I have come up with our first working prototype! Apart from looking like an absolute fire hazard, this v0 prototype features 15 key custom remapping, all without the help of any software or emulation! We are hoping the simplicity of this idea can keep costs low and make the project more accessible for more people to get into electrical engineering!\
\
On a personal note, this project has been the perfect opportunity for me to finally begin learning about developing hardware. I’ve been wanting to work on hardware projects for the longest time and when this opportunity presented itself I simply had to drop everything to make it happen! Looking forward to sharing more of our progress soon!

-Enoch
