Inspired by the Christina Hunger's work to use an AAC button board to teach her dog to talk. (https://hungerforwords.com) This software plays audio clips based on buttons pressed.
The commonly used buttons by Christina and others are prone to breaking, have poor sound quality, poor volume, and require battery changes. This software and associated hardware setup allows a more compact and portable design that is ideal for cats and smaller dogs.
The software runs as a simple service in the background on a Raspberry Pi Desktop. The Raspberry Pi interfaces with the buttons using two (or more) USB "Zero-Delay" arcade button controllers for a total of 24+ buttons on one sound board. Additional button controllers, and buttons, are possible but have not be tested.
Installation:
The below install script assumes you are installing on a fresh Raspberry Pi Desktop OS with nothing else. It will enable filesharing for the pi user over WiFi. The audio is sent out the headphone jack.
- Download software to the
piuser home folder. - Change to RustButtonBoard directory:
cd /home/pi/RustbuttonBoard - Run
sudo ./scripts/install.sh - Add your sound files for the words to:
/home/pi/button-board/vocabulary - Edit button mapping file to assign your audio files to the buttons:
/home/pi/button-board/words.json sudo rebootyour raspberry pi.- Success! Press your buttons and you should get audio on the headphone out port on your Raspberry Pi.
Reference Hardware:
The selected hardware below was chosen to not require any soldering or wire splicing. All of these parts connect together using preinstalled connectors so the board can be constructed without any specialized equipment.
Easyget LED Arcade Controller DIY Kit $37.99 (Two are required)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WAYVR9M
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WAZK5K8
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter PRO Kit - 4GB RAM $99.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V5JTMV9
Kinter MA170+ 2-Channel Mini Speaker Amplifier $17.88
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C1Q1FPT
Poly-Planar MA3013G 3 inch Flush-Mount Speakers $45.71
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00197V836
12V to 5V DC USB Buck Converter $12.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SS6XTZY
Audio Ground-Loop Isolator
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B9TS6ZW
USB Type A to Type C Cable $11.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I4ZOIQY
2 Way Barrel Plug DC Power Splitter Cable 5.5mm x 2.1mm $5.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7N1GOH
Rankie 3.5mm to Male RCA Adapter Audio Stereo Cable $5.98
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R4R5B8
Double Sided Tape, Heavy Duty $6.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852XL3CC
White Nylon Self-Adhesive Twist Lock Cable Ties $13.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014U91B22
Holes in the board are cut using the layout template in the templates folder of this repository.