Use a Makey Makey with common items in uncommon ways to reinvent how we interact with the physical and digital worlds. In this build, use everyday paperclips to build your own functional joystick!
| Craft a Scrappy Joystick |
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(Note: This is an adapted build from Michael Carroll's Scrappy Joystick) To recreate an 8 point joystick you are going to create a joystick that is able to move by using a paper clip! You will also use paper clips as the conductive inputs for each directional input.
Unfold the small end of a paperclip to a 90 degree angle from the large end of the paperclip. This will be our joystick base.
Poke this through a 3"X3" square of cardboard. (Use a pencil if you need to pre-poke a hole!)
Place tape over the large end on the bottom of the cardboard to stabilize your joystick.
Take a 3" X 3" piece of cardstock and roll it up to be your second layer of joystick. Use a pice of tape to keep it together. Place onto your paper clip base.
Use a 4" by 4" piece of foil. Roll the cardstock with the foil. You will have extra left over the end. You need it for the next step!
Place the foil covered cardstock onto the paper clip joystick base. Take the extra end of foil off at diagonal to the corner of your cardboard.
Alligator clip to the foil to create an EARTH connection.  To make your directional inputs, take four paper clips and bend the larger end away from the smaller end at about a 90 degree angle and push the small end into the cardboard.
 Fold paper clip in and mold the end so it is rounded and there is more surface area for your foil joystick to make contact. Plus into the soccer app and test your input!
 Repeat fo the other 3 sides and test your joystick with the Makey Makey Soccer App.
 Want to prototype your own game controller? See: Invention Literacy Foundations: Prototype Game Controller for Makey Makey Soccer App |
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Supplies
- Makey Makey
- Paperclips
- Cardstock
- Cardboard
