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The ScratchBit is an unreleased small round device with 4 lights and a button. It was designed to be a low-cost physical device that could connect any physical object to Scratch by acting as input.[1] It was being developed in partnership with the LEGO foundation,[2] although after being delayed, no additional information was given on a possible future release. The ScratchBit may have been quietly canceled, as the MIT Media Lab website states that the project ceased being active after May 2021;[3] as a result, the project can be considered vaporware. It was first previewed at Scratch Day @ MIT 2018.[citation needed]
A case was also designed for the ScratchBit, although it is unclear whether the case would have shipped alongside the ScratchBit.
Blocks
The ScratchBit was planned to release alongside a ScratchBit extension with 13 blocks: 6 hat blocks, 3 Boolean blocks and 4 reporter blocks.[4] They are listed below:
when (moved v):: extension hat— dropdown contains "moved", "shaken", and "jumped" optionswhen button pressed:: extension hatwhen tilted ( v)?:: extension hatwhen it gets (dark v):: extension hat— dropdown contains "dark" and "bright" options<at rest?:: extension><button pressed?:: extension><tilted ( v)?:: extension>(spin:: extension)(speed:: extension)(brightness:: extension)(tilt angle ( v):: extension)
A preview of the extension was made, and can be accessed here. An eralier prototype of the extension and its blocks can be viewed here.
Example Uses
The ScratchBit was specifically designed to allow kids to use the materials around them (such as cardboard, bikes, desks, etc.) as inputs for their projects on Scratch.[1] As such, the main intended use case for the ScratchBit was to mount them onto an object so that the object could be used to control a project, including:
- Controlling an aircraft by tilting an object left and right (with a ScratchBit being attatched onto the object)
when green flag clicked
forever
point in direction (((tilt angle (→ v):: extension) / (2)) - (90))
change x by ((tilt angle (→ v):: extension) - (5))
end
- Transforming an animal by shaking a wand (by taping a ScratchBit onto one end of the ScratchBit)
when (shaken v):: extension next costume
- Detecting an intruder by detecting when a door opens (by mounting a ScratchBit on the door)
when (moved v):: extension start sound (alarm v) speak [Alert!]
A video demonstrating all three of these example use cases can be found here.
Gallery
A ScratchBit
An early design for the ScratchBit
