ioio-handbook

IOIO Services

Lending

IOIO can assist you by lending a variety of electronic components and kits that you can use to build functional prototypes. When you get kits and components from IOIO, you will be asked to provide some information that helps the lab keep track of its inventory, such as your name and your student ID. You can lend kits and components during the open hours (Wednesdays 13:00 - 16:00).

Kits

Kits are boxes that students you borrow when you need a complete package that with commonly used components. We currently offer three kinds of kits depending on availability or what platform you’ve been instructed to use.

Grove Kit

IOIO Breadboard Kit

This kit includes an Arduino Nano 33 BLE Rev2 and uses the Grove System to simplify the prototyping process. The Grove System uses a standardized connector with four wires: power, ground, data 1 and data 2. To use the system, the Arduino board is placed in a Grove Shield.

The kit consists of the following components:

Breadboard Kit

IOIO Breadboard Kit

The kit includes the following components:

Micro:bit

image

Micro:bit is a microcontroller developed for teaching environments by the BBC and a number of other partners. Students can use Scratch (a visual programming language) to develop sketches for the Micro:bit. You can find Micro:bit learning material here.

Soldering

You might need soldering when prototyping with microelectronics.

  1. Your first step should always be to reach out to a TA either in your class or during opening hours! They will assist you in the process.
  2. Follow the links the following section (Learn to solder) to familiarize yourself with the process of soldering!
  3. Read the section How to use the soldering room, so that you already know how to use the soldering room when a TA gives you access to it!

    Learn to solder

    SparkFun has this thorough written guide on soldering through-hole components (which are the majority of the soldering you will have to do in IOIO). If you prefer video instructions, refer to this video by SparkFun instead.

How to use the soldering room

To use the soldering equipment, you first have to turn on the power. To do so, follow these steps

  1. Turn on the timed power socket
  2. Turn on the power strip
  3. Ensure both fans are on
  4. Turn on the soldering iron you wish to use

Once you’re done with soldering, make sure to follow the same steps in reverse:

  1. Turn off the soldering iron(s) you were using
  2. Turn off the power strip
  3. Turn off the timed power socket

3D Printing

You might need 3D printing for your projects.

  1. Both if you are already familiar with 3D printing and just need access to a printer, or if you need assistance in learning it, your first step should always be to reach out to a TA either in your class or during opening hours!
  2. Have a look at the following sections to learn about 3D printing and the recommended CAD system!

Learn the basics of 3D printing

https://www.instructables.com/3D-Printing-Basics/ ## https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vFdwz4U1VQ

CAD Modeling

You who is a student have access to a free license to Autodesk Fusion 360, with which you can model their ideas and make them ready for 3D Printing. If you haven’t used Fusion 360 before, check out this tutorial on YouTube.

[!NOTE] Fusion works surprisingly well with a trackpad (at least on a Mac) but it’s best if you use a mouse while modelling in CAD. IOIO has some wired mice in the storage room.

Services for non-designers

Are you an entrepreneur who needs a prototype to showcase an idea? An engineer whos needs user research for your project? Or a teacher who wants (their students) to understand what Interaction Design, Research through Design or Design Thinking is? Or maybe an artist who needs help with turning your concept into reality?

In IOIO, we can help with all of these and more. If you have an idea and not sure if we can help, reach out to us by email: ioio@mau.se, and we will come back to you as soon as possible!

Below, you can find examples of user research, design education and technical implementation, as services we have provided to our “clients” (students and teachers of MaU):

User Research

We offer user research (interviews, workshops according to need, testing) for projects wihin or related to uni. The process is tailored to your project and your needs.

Example case: Agnes and Eszti’s work with Tiago

In this case, we helped a dentist student conduct user research through an expert interview and two workshops (1 with users and 1 with technology experts). The link brings you to a reflection on methods we used to advocate for user-centered design in this highly technical case.

Design Process Education

There are many other programs at MaU that overlap with IxD to different extents (e.g. graphic design, IT&economics). It can be benefitial to understand what IxD is, therefore, we offer workshops with theoretical foundations and gamified exercises.

Example case: Workshop for Graphic Designers

In this project, we were asked to explain to graphic designers what Interaction Design is in a two-day workshop. The link takes you to a folder with the presentations we showed - it consist of a theoretical introduction to IxD and of simple tasks for them to experience designing for tangible user interfaces.

Technical Implementation

We offer technical implementation of smaller-scale projects for teams within/connected to MaU. This can be a prototype, or a smaller part of a bigger project.

Example case: QR scanner for the project Material&Connection;

The “Material&Connection” is a collaboration between S-P-O-K, IUC Syd and others exhibited in the Southern Swedish Designer Days 2025. The robotic arm, the physical material boards and the web page for the material were provided. Our contribution was the program that scans the QR codes via the camera and opens it on a display. The link brings you to the description of the project.