Alto (a little teachable object) is an open source AI experiment. It introduces the basics of machine learning by helping you build your own teachable object. You can teach Alto to recognise things, by pressing one of the buttons on its side. Once Alto sees something you’ve taught it, it will point at it with one of its arms.
By building your very own Alto from scratch, users can learn about making, soldering, electronics and coding through our GitHub instructions page. We also made follow-along lessons that teach the basics of ML fundamentals, like Bias and Confidence, using your new teachable object.
Alto was designed to be simple and straight forward to assemble, requiring minimal tools and supplies, and all the components can be purchased for under $100. Additionally, the designs and code can be forked, encouraging makers and hackers to customise and explore more applications of machine learning.
Project completed at:
Google Creative Lab
Collaborators:
Zebedee Pedersen (Manager)
Patrick Stevenson-Keating (Creative)
Jim Bailey (Software)
Responsibilities:
User Experience
Rapid prototyping
Arduino / electronics
Cardboard engineering
Timeframe:
6 months, 2020
Alto is the DIY cousin of a higher quality 3D printed version, Milo. The original housed the components safely and securely, allowing us to conduct workshops and explore our idea with more robustness.
© 2023 Douglas Mann
remind me to change on jan 1st pls :)