Chatterbox is a DIY cardboard smart speaker for kids, powered by a Raspberry Pi

Having realised kids are more likely to play with boxes than what comes in them, tech’s given in. Nintendo has its Labo and Labo VR cardboard creations, and now Chatterbox ($109) is taking on Alexa, with a DIY cardboard smart speaker, created for kids. In fact, it’s in part created by kids, who’ll first need to put together the dinky cardboard robot, powered by a Raspberry Pi and custom ChatterVoice HAT. Unlike most smart kit, privacy’s at Chatterbox’s core – it never collects data, and only listens when the big yellow button on its bonce is held down. And what can it do? Whatever kids as young as seven programme it to. Which presumably means sending messages like: “We know how to build robots now, and so will no longer do your bidding, parents and teachers!”

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.