But as far as input devices go, it’s pretty miserable to use, so keep that in mind. The graphical overlay could be swapped out, and the conductive carbon traces underneath connected to the GPIO pins of your microcontroller of choice. In terms of construction, it appears that the keyboard could be repurposed relatively easily. Then we have the huge A/B/C/D buttons that I gather were used by the multiple choice activities featured in the book that would have came with the Smart Start, which incidentally, I don’t have. Above those are 10 number buttons that are also labeled with the solfège syllables, as apparently at least one of the machine’s functions can generate tones. The buttons to change modes, which presumably would be the ones least frequently pressed, are placed nearest the user. The SmartStart’s keyboard, if one could truly call it that, also defies expectations. Later VTech computers had a strong focus on portability, so that even if you ultimately needed a flat surface to actually operate them, they at least offered a handle or carrying strap so they could be easily moved by a child. There’s only one way to find out.Īt a glance the shape and ergonomics of the Smart Start make it abundantly clear that you’re supposed to place it on a table and sit in front of it, which frankly seems overly optimistic for a young child’s toy. While the Smart Start looks decidedly juvenile on the outside, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few surprising technical discoveries lurking under its beige plastic exterior. Somewhat ironically, VTech did still at least attempt to make the Smart Start look like a desktop computer, complete with the faux disk drive on the front panel. That’s due at least in part to the fact that it was aimed at a younger audience, but surely the rapid advancement of computer technology at the time also played a part. Even though it was released just two years prior to the PreComputer 1000, you can tell at a glance that it’s a far more simplistic device. In fact from a technical standpoint it wasn’t far removed from early desktop computers, as it was powered by the same Zilog Z80 CPU found in the TRS-80 Model I.īy comparison, the Smart Start has more in common with a desktop electronic calculator. Featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and the ability to run BASIC programs, it truly blurred the line between toy and computer. Much Smarter: VTech PreComputer 1000Ī perfect example is the PreComputer 1000, released in 1988. In the late 1980s, when it became obvious the personal computer was here to stay, these devices were seen as an affordable way to give kids and even young teens hands-on time with something that at least somewhat resembled the far more expensive machines their parents were using. Regular readers may be aware that I have a certain affinity for vintage VTech educational toys, especially ones that attempted to visually or even functionally tie in with contemporary computer design.
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