prototype phase

components

Dalek voice changer toy mask
Via Epia SP13000 mini-itx motherboard
Generic 256mb Nvidia chipset Graphics card
1gb ram
300gb 3.5" hard drive
pico PSU-120 (12v 120 watt ATX power supply)
Generic MS-Media Center remote control & receiver
2gb USB stick
various fans, wires, switches and sockets
XBMC Live software

notes

The intention for this build is to create a device that can display movies, episodes, music and photos of many formats through a SD analogue television. The device has to be able to be controlled by a remote no more complex than a standard TV remote, no keyboard or mouse. The device may be left running for many hours without actively being used, it should consume as little power as possible and be low noise. It has to be hard drive based and not require a CD/DVD player so that favourite films or music can be replayed without fear of damaged discs due to small fingers. Lastly it needs to be housed in a case that is interesting to a 4 year old boy.

The motherboard was acquired early in the prototype phase and was used bare to test various software and hardware configurations. The VIA Unichrome chipset proved problematic with XBMC but not with Geexbox, however the former had superior functions, developer base and scope for modification. A cheap ($50) generic nvidia graphics card was added to advance the prototype phase into the build phase. The Pico PSU was added around this time to test that it could provide enough power.

With all the components so far assembled all that was left was to find a suitable enclosure, this proved time consuming. The Dalek mask was chosen mainly because it appeared large enough to house everything, it looked great and there weren't any better alternatives available within budget and time constraints. The only concerns were the construction of the back of the Dalek head and providing adequate airflow.

Testing during this phase took place with temporary connections made for a keyboard and mouse. Other connections include a VGA out, s-video out, audio L + R as well as 3 USB header connections providing for the IR remote receiver, XBMC Live OS stick and an external USB x 2 socket mounted on the back plate. The XBMC Live software was chosen for its ease of modification and that the OS could be stored on a separate device to the media content to allow for possible future changes of software.