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Radar 10am One Thing: MaKey MaKey

MaKey MaKey, developed by a couple of graduate students at the MIT Media Lab, may be be the closest thing to a “perfect” user interface ever made. Why? Because their invention can become anything to anyone by turning any object into a hyper-personalized UI. Want to play piano using bananas? No problem. How about playing Super Mario Bros. using Play-Doh? Sure thing. This opens up unlimited, highly-personalized, memorable experiences for the end user.

At its most basic, MaKey MaKey functions like a keyboard and mouse. Clip a couple of objects to the MaKey MaKey board, and plug the board into your computer via USB and when the connected object is touched, it sends a signal to the computer just like when you press a key on a keyboard or click a mouse button. The board is also highly customizable, allowing for additional inputs and customization. Any object that conducts a bit of electricity can be used, from ketchup to your best friend.

As Volkswagen proved, “fun” can change people’s behaviour for the better. MaKey MaKey offers both individuals and brands the ability to revolutionize the way we interact with digital environments, expanding the range of what we can design, create, and learn. With more than 11,000 backers and $568,000 raised on Kickstarter, we’re not the only ones who see the value in this. A  $40 USD starting point for something simple enough for users of all skill levels can’t hurt, either.

We likey likey.

Today’s One Thing was written by Tribal DDB Digital Strategist, Kevin McHugh.

Check out this video on MaKey MaKey