Author Topic: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?  (Read 2103 times)

FrugalBeard

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Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« on: June 07, 2015, 06:11:12 AM »
My 2 year old wants to get on my lap and type on my keyboard when I work from home. I showed him how pressing letters makes them appear on the screen and I think he understood and wanted to do more. We cut the wire off an old keyboard so he could imitate me which he loves but is all pretend. I thought it'd be cool if I could actually set up something low-cost low-risk for him to actually type with and I wondered if I might have finally come up with an actual use for that $35 Raspberry Pi I've not had a reason to buy yet. Basically I would just want something that he could turn on and press letters to show on the screen, ideally large don't size. If he's interested we could expand age appropriately to saving files, get behind the scenes, etc. is this possible and not too difficult? (I'm more software than hardware guy but expect I could figure it out) I'd so rather do something like this than buy an obnoxious plastic closed-system consumer toy that does something similar
« Last Edit: June 07, 2015, 06:13:40 AM by FrugalBeard »

Rubic

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Re: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2015, 06:30:07 AM »
I've tinkered with a Raspberry Pi  (running it as a file/print server), but I don't think it would be appropriate for a 2-year old because it's too fragile.  Get an older tablet or a SIM-less unlocked Android phone and download some free apps.

I donated my old Nexus to a coworker for her children.  They now use it to play free games they downloaded from wifi, but I'm sure there's also educational apps for kids.

FrugalBeard

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Re: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2015, 11:37:36 AM »
Good point on fragility. I already have an old tablet... And I can charge it with my solar charger on good days for that matter! I like the idea of having full control/customization, but there's enough apps these days I can probably get close enough to whatever I'm looking for.

FrugalBeard

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Re: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2015, 11:58:57 AM »
Although what I like about the keyboard is how tactile it is.. On a tablet you lose that and it's easy to accidentally tap the keyboard away esp at that age. I was thinking hooking a keyboard to a Pi might be less risky than a regular computer.

Rubic

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Re: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2015, 05:20:56 PM »
You can pick up a bluetooth keyboard for your tablet from Amazon for around $12-13.

StockBeard

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Re: Raspberry Pi basic text output for kids?
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2015, 12:30:06 PM »
What screen would the Raspberry pi be hooked to? Shouldn't you factor that into the costs? It sounds like old tablet + cheap blutooth keyboard might be a better approach?

btw interested to see what kind of app, etc you come up with. I have a 4 year old and would love to teach him a bit of basic programming, etc...

 

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