SPOKE Board
Teacher's Quick Start Guide
Capacitive Touch Sensing Made Simple
What is SPOKE?
SPOKE is a capacitive touch sensor board based on the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. It transforms GPIO pins into touch-sensitive inputs, allowing students to create interactive projects using everyday conductive materials. Pre-loaded with CircuitPython and configured as a plug-and-play USB-MIDI device, SPOKE requires no coding experience to get started.
Two Versions Available
SPOKE (Full Board)
Round PCB with 27 capacitive touch sensor inputs
27 onboard NeoPixel RGB LEDs for visual feedback
Pre-assembled and ready to use out of the box
Perfect for brainstorming, workshops, and temporary builds
Plug-and-play USB-MIDI functionality (no setup required)
Great for rapid prototyping and classroom demonstrations
SPOKE-mini
Compact DIY kit - students solder their own board
26 touch sensors (requires soldering 26 resistors and Raspberry Pi Pico)
No onboard LEDs - more minimal and embeddable design
Perfect for permanent installations and custom enclosures
Excellent project-based learning opportunity combining electronics and coding
Students can take their completed project home
Teaches practical soldering skills alongside computing concepts
Shared Features
Works with metals, conductive inks, fruits, pencil drawings, and more
Easy customization using CircuitPython (beginner-friendly)
No special software required - edit code with any text editor
Can function as MIDI controller, keyboard, or mouse
Getting Started in 5 Minutes
Note: These instructions are for the pre-assembled SPOKE board. For SPOKE-mini assembly instructions, see the separate assembly guide.
Step 1: Connect Your Board
Plug the SPOKE board into your computer using a USB cable
The board should appear as a drive called CIRCUITPY
On Apple devices, you may see a keyboard notification - just close it
Step 2: Test Touch Sensing
The board comes pre-configured as a USB-MIDI device. To test it:
Visit spokeboard.com/play for interactive web-based MIDI tools
Alternatively, open any MIDI-compatible application (GarageBand, Ableton, FL Studio)
Select CIRCUITPY or Pico as your MIDI device
Touch the metal pads on the board - you should hear sounds!
Watch the NeoPixel LEDs light up when you touch each sensor (full SPOKE board only)
Step 3: Attach Conductive Objects
Use crocodile clips to attach conductive materials to the sensor pads:
Fruits and vegetables (bananas, apples, potatoes)
Metal objects (keys, coins, cutlery, copper pipes)
Conductive paint or ink (Bare Conductive)
Thick pencil drawings on paper
Aluminum foil or copper tape
Important: Press the RESET button on the board after connecting new objects to recalibrate the sensors.
What Materials Work with SPOKE?
Metals
Copper pipes, brass keys, stainless steel spoons, aluminium foil, coins, nails, jewellery
Organic Materials
Bananas, apples, potatoes, lemons, mushrooms, plants (less reliable than food)
Conductive Inks
Bare Conductive paint, graphite-rich inks for creating custom sensors
Textiles
Conductive thread, fabric with embedded conductive materials, wearable projects
3D Printing
Conductive filaments for creating custom 3D printed touch sensors
Pencil Drawings
Heavy, thick pencil lines (graphite content makes them conductive)
Hidden Sensors
Tinfoil behind plywood, inside seashells, or under non-conductive surfaces
Classroom Setup Tips
Essential Supplies
SPOKE boards or SPOKE-mini kits (one per student or group)
USB cables (included with board)
Crocodile clips for connecting objects
Assorted conductive materials (see table above)
Computers with USB ports or tablets with USB adapters
For SPOKE-mini: soldering irons, solder, safety equipment
Choosing Between SPOKE and SPOKE-mini
Use SPOKE (Full Board) when:
Students are new to electronics and need immediate results
Running short workshops or demonstrations
Focusing on creative exploration and rapid prototyping
Visual feedback from LEDs is important for learning
Boards will be reused for multiple projects
Use SPOKE-mini when:
Teaching soldering skills alongside programming
Students will create permanent, custom-designed projects
Building complete project-based learning units (2-3 weeks)
Students want to embed boards inside custom enclosures
Students will take their projects home at the end
Lesson Structure
Introduction (5 minutes): Explain capacitive touch sensing and show examples
Demonstration (10 minutes): Connect SPOKE board and demonstrate with various materials
Hands-on Exploration (20-30 minutes): Students experiment with different materials
Reflection (5-10 minutes): Discuss findings and brainstorm project ideas
Safety Considerations
SPOKE uses very low voltage (5V USB) - completely safe for students
Supervise when using sharp objects like pins or nails
Ensure food items used are washed and handled hygienically
For SPOKE-mini: follow proper soldering safety procedures with supervision
Troubleshooting
Board not detected - Try a different USB cable or port. Ensure the cable supports data transfer, not just charging.
Touch not working after connecting objects Press the RESET button on the board to recalibrate the capacitance thresholds.
Material doesn't trigger sensor- Ensure good electrical connection. Some materials have low conductivity - try metallic objects first.
No MIDI sound Verify MIDI device is selected in your software. Try spokeboard.com/play first.
LEDs not lighting Check that the board is powered via USB. Note: SPOKE-mini does not have onboard LEDs. If code was modified on full SPOKE, ensure NeoPixel code is present.
Next Steps
Once students are comfortable with basic touch sensing, explore these options:
Review project ideas in the SPOKE Project Ideas document
Customize behaviour using the Coding & Customizing Guide
Explore advanced features like keyboard/mouse emulation
Visit spokeboard.com for additional resources, web-based MIDI tools, and community projects