LINKKI: A planar linkage-based kinetic toy as a tool for education and design

This paper presents LINKKI, a kinetic construction toy based on a planar linkage mechanism with which users can design movements, make kinetic arts, and learn basic STEM subjects through hands-on play. Consisting of a modular box, bars and circles, and active/interactive modules, LINKKI simplifies the technical construction toy to such an extent as to look minimal but still retains the versatility of construction blocks as an educational tool and designer's prototyping tool. The simplicity of LINKKI not only allows intuitive play, but also enables users to easily tweak and create custom parts for themselves, thus making it easy to incorporate raw material in addition to the existing parts for prototyping use. Paying attention to the aesthetic side, it is also intended to encourage a demographic with possibly less exposure to technical toys (casual users, young girls, etc.) to be engaged in motion design and STEM subjects. In this paper, I describe the features of a functioning LINKKI prototype and discuss the adaptability of the toy through diverse usage examples and a user study.