Inspiration
I've always been fond of the Dragon Ball Z universe. One of the most iconic pieces of technology in the series is the Scouter - a device worn over the eye that can detect power levels. I wanted to look as cool as Vegeta!
The Build
Following the same approach as DjBot, I opened up McDonald's toys and reassembled their components into something new:
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Audio components extracted from talking toys
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Custom wiring to create a button-triggered system
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Ergonomic fitting for wearing over the ear
How It Worked
The device played sound effects in your ears when you pressed a hidden button inside. It wasn't detecting actual power levels, but the illusion was perfect for a 9-year-old.
Pattern Recognition
Looking back, I can see a pattern emerging in my early projects:
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Take inspiration from fiction
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Deconstruct existing devices
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Reassemble into something new
This approach of learning through deconstruction would become fundamental to my engineering practice.