I have several projects for this, but the one I am experimenting with
currently is to make a game for my kids to play. One of them is visually
impaired (read as blind), so sound and touch are the major play options.
I selected the ISD because of the simplicity of interface, and maturity of
the product. From what I have read, the early ISD's did have "click
problems", but there were work arounds...and those are resolved in the newer
products. I selected the ISD4000, because i am currently using an ISD1110,
and I hate wasting pins for the address space
The SPI interface on the
ISD4000 looks really promising. This will additionally be my first surface
mount components project, so that should make it a joy also.
basically, the game is kind of like a reverse laser tag...a virtual maze,
that will send different sounds to let you know where the walls are. Uses IR
proximity detection to let you know when you get close. That way, you can
moved the "walls" around easily.
The ISD1110 project was a clicking location and alarm system for VI
children. You put an emitter on the parent, and a "sensor belt" on the
little one. The clicker sounds every few seconds, to let the visually
impaired child know where the parent is (beats having to wear squeaky
shoes!). there are 4 sensors on the belt, one of the front, one in the back,
one on each side. The tone changes depending on the orientation of the
child, to the parents emitter (so the child knows if they have turned and
are walking away, or towards the parent). Using pretty low power IR. If the
child gets out of range, an alarm goes off (not that anyone would ignore
there child, but because kids do the DARNEDEST things).
Eventually, I plan to offer these in public domain, and to the American
Federation for the Blind. So, if you must steal the idea and make a product,
at least send a donation to the AFB. ;-)
My other project is the dirt cheap braille printer, sent as another thread
in this group...but that is on hold for the moment, as we have a manual
brailler to get "up to speed" on.