Chatterbox is an educational build-it-yourself, program-it-yourself smart speaker kit designed for kids to prepare them for the future where voice-driven artificial intelligence is ubiquitous.
There are already many smart voice assistants on the market like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but they are always doubted for tapping into personal data for financial gains.
Focusing on these privacy issues which most people are concerned nowadays, a California-based startup has launched Chatterbox DIY smart speaker powered by Mycroft, an independently developed and open source assistant focused on privacy.
It activates only when a user taps a dedicated button on the top of the case. Kids first have to build it according to step-by-step instructions and then program the smart speaker on their own, which makes them learn how voice assistants work.
Each smart speaker kit consists of a recyclable chipboard case, a Raspberry Pi computer, ChatterVoice HAT and a microphone to listen to commands.
Using the companion app, kids can create new voice-activated skills. They can build unique skills to get a weather update, ask questions, control connected lights, send messages, listen to music, make voice-based games and do so much more.
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Chatterbox is a DIY kit for children to build screen-free technology that helps them to put emphasis on communication and creative thinking. It is currently being crowd-funded on Kickstarter, one can back the campaign for about $119 to get one of these in December 2019.
