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     ftp://cherupakha.media.mit.edu/pub/programmable-brick/README
     Last updated:		Tue Jul 16 07:56:40 1996
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION

In the Programmable Brick project, we have created small computers for
kids.  The Bricks can connect to the real world in a large variety of
ways through various sensors and actuators.  The Programmable Bricks
have been developed at the MIT Media Laboratory by Fred Martin, Randy
Sargent, and Brian Silverman.
  
The technology for the Bricks are based on that from the MIT 6.270
LEGO Robot Design Contest, and related to the earlier "Logo Brick"
from the Media Lab.

The first Programmable Brick, completed in 1994 by Randy Sargent and
dubbed the "Pocket Brick," fits in a pocket (dimensions are 2"x3"x4"),
had 8 sensor ports and 4 motor ports, had omnidirectional infrared
input and output built in, and had 8-bit sound input and output.  This
Brick uses 3 stacked boards with surface mounted components on two
sides.  The Brick has an internal 9 volt alkaline cell which is good
for projects which use sensors but use motors only occasionally; for
heavy-duty motor applications, a second "rechargeable battery brick"
could be connected.  Unfortunately, the Pocket Brick was very hard and
expensive to produce in quantity, so it was only used in small numbers
during Randy's Master's thesis research.

The newest Programmable Brick, completed in 1995 by Fred Martin and
dubbed the "Model 120", is simpler, cheaper, and more robust than the
Pocket Brick.  It still retains much of the functionality of the
Pocket Brick (6 sensor ports, 4 motor ports, infrared input, and 1-bit
sound output.  Some other features can be added as external devices,
such as a microphone or infrared output).  It is about twice the size
of the Pocket Brick, primarily due to incorporation of rechargeable
cells for heavy-duty motor applications and an off-the-shelf LCD
display (instead of the Pocket Brick's custom but flakey display).
Fred is now using the new brick with kids and teachers in several
elementary, junior high, and high schools, developing robot contests
inspired by the MIT 6.270 contest.

Both Programmable Bricks were developed in a group effort at the MIT
Media Lab and funded by the LEGO company.  The design effort included
much input from Mitchel Resnick, Brian Silverman, Seymour Papert, and
the LEGO company.  Brian Silverman wrote the software environment
currently used for the new brick, while Andrew Blumberg and Randy
Sargent wrote the software for the Pocket Brick (this software made
use of 6.270 code written in part by Fred Martin).  Many MIT students
have helped in the technical design and construction of the various
bricks; this is a partial list: Fei Hai Chua, Dennis Evangelista,
Chris Gadda, Hanna Jang, Owen Johnson, Mark Neri, Darren Schmidt,
Victor Tsou, Anne Wright, and Elaine Yang.

------------------------
Files in this directory:
------------------------

pbmanual-120.ps			Manual for the Programmable Brick Model 120.
				Print on a PostScript printer.

pblogo-reference-only.ps	11 pages excerpted from the above
				manual that cover the Brick Logo language.

sensors.ps			13-page document describing how to
				build sensors for the Model 120
				and Pocket Programmable Bricks.

TO COME:

twenty-things-to-do.txt		Twenty things to do with a Programmable Brick.
				Introductory brainstorming list that gives some
				of the spirit behind the Programmable Brick
				project.

pbrick-thesis.word.hqx		Microsoft Word version of Randy's
				thesis describing the design of the Pocket
				Programmable Brick, as well as experiences
				with it.  (Note that hardcopy of document can
				be purchased from the MIT Media Lab by
				e-mailing el-pub@media.mit.edu).

pbrick-thesis.ps.Z		Compressed version of postscript
				for above thesis.  Must be uncompressed with
				UNIX "uncompress" and then can be printed
				on a postscript printer.



pocket-brick-picture		Picture of the Pocket Programmable Brick

pocket-brick-diagram		Diagram of the Pocket Programmable Brick