DeNada

Free and Open Source AlphaSmart Neo alternative.

There's a wiki https://github.com/libresmart/denada/wiki

Would you like to be a project maintainer? Open an issue requesting maintainer privileges

Current Hardware Requirements (subject to change based on feedback)

• ESP32
• SparkFun SerLCD - 20x4 (use qwiic for I2C, or modify the code accordingly)
• USB Keyboard
• (optional) USB connector port (to avoid damaging your keyboard's usb cable)

Instructions

Installation/Setup:

• Arduino IDE from https://www.arduino.cc/en/software
• Open arduino-alphasmart/arduino-alphasmart.ino
• Install Libraries
  • Sketch -> Include Library -> Manage Librarires -> "Keypad" -> Install
  • ESP32-USBSoftHost.hpp
  • SerLCD.h
  • Wire.h
• Install Board Library
  • Arduino -> Preferences -> Additional Boards Manager URLs: URL_HERE -> OK
    • "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json"
  • Tools -> Board: -> Boards Manager -> "esp32" -> Install
  • Tools -> Board: -> ESP32 Arduino -> "ESP32 Dev Module"
• Upload Code to ESP32
  • Connect ESP32 to computer via USB.
  • Select Port
    • Tools -> Port: -> /dev/cu.usbserial-0001
    • Your port may be different
  • Hold "BOOT" button on ESP32 board
  • Click the "Upload" button in the Arduino IDE
  • Wait for "Connecting..."
  • Let go of "BOOT" button on ESP32
  • Wait for upload to complete
• Use Arduino IDE as a serial terminal
  • Tools -> Serial Monitor -> 115200 baud
• Connect keypad on pins 3,21,19,18,5,17,16,4
  • believe it or not, these are contiguous on the board
  • If the usb cable is down, and you are looking at the ESP32 Chip, these pins are on the right, skipping the first 3 from the top.
• Press keypad buttons to watch things change!
• Connect Pins (you may want to do this earlier)
  • I2C SDA: 18
  • I2C SCL: 19
  • USB DATA+: 22
  • USB DATA-: 23
  • there are 4 more wires you'll have to connect, but that's for power so just find something that has the right voltage
• Whatever you type on the keyboard shows up on the LCD screen.

Caveats

• Only printable characters and backspace are recognized.
• The LCD screen does not scroll.
• Cursor navigation not yet supported.