Open Totem

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Here is a list of Totem modules you can build using simple and readily available materials

===== Basic modules =====

These modules are great as a way to start exploring, including for children, students, beginners.

[[battery module|Battery module]] – 9v battery, marked with arrows representing the current flow direction

[[double led module|Double LED module]] – Two LEDs in series, marked with arrows representing the current flow direction

[[led and resistor module|Led and resistor module]] – One LED and a resistor to avoid burning the LED. Marked with arrows representing the current flow direction

[[motor module|Motor module]] – Various motors

[[open circuit module|Open circuit module]] – To be used as a switch with aluminum tape, by covering fingers with aluminum, metal object, etc.

[[blowing switch module|Blowing switch module]] – Blow on the little strip of aluminum tape, it touch the base and close the circuit. Derived from the open circuit module by design students during a Totem workshop, they then created a collaborative game called Soufflerie based on the idea: [[soufflerie|Soufflerie]] :-)

===== Advanced modules =====

These modules are best introduced when participants have created at least a couple of things with the basic modules.

[[buzzer module|Buzzer module]] – Make horrible, annoying sounds :-) Kids love it, but for everyone sanity it's better to use very few of them in a group workshop. They are nevertheless great for prototyping games: [[prototyped games|Prototyped games]]. Marked with arrows representing the current flow direction as buzzers are directional.

[[tilt switch module|Tilt switch module]] – The circuit is off or on depending on the angle of the module. Very useful to create simple interactive gesture-based prototypes. You can combine several of them to test for different angles and movement. Internally, they are just a tube with a small metal ball, rolling against 2 connectors, so it's still a very cheap and simple component.

[[rgb led module|RGB LED module]] – Using a RGB LED allows to easily switch between 3 colors with different switches. Fine color mixing is not possible, but this module as been used with success in the [[soufflerie|Soufflerie]] prototype to help spectators to visualize the constant change of which player ares blowing.
Marked with arrows representing the current flow direction

===== Created but not yet tested during workshop =====

[[vibration|Vibration]] – The same vibration micro-motors that is in your phone.

[[motor speed variator|Motor speed variator]] – A frequent request in workshops is to slow down motors. Adding resistors or LEDs to the circuit doesn't work as below the starting voltage the motor will just stop. A solution is to add a PWM-based speed variator in the circuit. As it is a complex component by itself, with 4 connections, it is best to introduce it at a later stage, when motor speed is a roadblock.

===== Materials for the base =====

* Foam board 3mm up to 5mm. Thicker foam board, for example 10mm, won't work well with small crocodile cables.

* Aluminum adhesive tape

===== Tools =====

* Glue gun to glue the components

* Scissors

===== Cutting =====

**Manually**: You can cut Totem bases using a rotative cutting blade. Foamwerk sell one that work well. It's relatively cheap, easy and can be done anywhere.

**Laser cutter**: You can also use a laser cutter. It'll allow you to cut more complex designs like the ([[beveled disc base|beveled disc base]] or the [[connect square base|connect square base]].
Of course check that you have proper ventilation and filtration for the fumes.
The foam retract with heat: set your laser to a very low power and use several passes to cut the foam.

**Water cuter**
they work better than laser cutter as they don't burn the foam but they are much rarer than laser cutters.

**Mechanical cutter**: Not Tested. Please help by testing with the [[beveled disc base|beveled disc base]] and reporting here! :-)

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