How Raspberry Pi Powers Yoto Player

Introduction

This is a case study of Yoto Player an SME-size company from the Consumer audio Industry.

Ben Drury and Filip Denker, his co-founder, both have backgrounds in digital music. They became first-time parents while planning their new business. This event made them consider how young children utilize technology.

They intended to develop a product that allows children to enjoy technology without having to stare at a screen or rely on their parents for assistance.

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The Challenge of Screen Time for Kids

Drury believes that “audio is better than screen time for inspiring creativity and imagination.” This idea came from seeing how children learn at Montessori nurseries, where hands-on activities are key.

However, most digital entertainment for kids focuses on phones and tablets, leading to more screen time.

With young children spending lots of time on platforms like YouTube and apps, Drury and Denker wanted to create an audio product that kids could enjoy without needing to look at a screen.

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Crafting the Perfect Audio Player for Kids

Drury explains, “Yoto Player is designed so kids can control their own listening experience using physical NFC cards.” Kids love collecting and organizing these cards, making them perfect for storytelling and podcasts.

Initially, Drury had used Raspberry Pi for monitors and servers, but he hadn’t thought of it for a standalone device.

He started using the Pimoroni 8×8-pixel Unicorn HAT (later upgrading to a 16×16-pixel version) and worked on the product design in a makerspace workshop. They wrote a lot of code for the Raspberry Pi, as well as for the Yoto app for iOS and Android.

The research and development, as well as the engineering and design of the first product, took place in the UK. The first version used the Raspberry Pi 2, then switched to the Pi Zero and finally the Raspberry Pi Zero W when they launched.

This was a “huge thing” for Yoto because it allowed them to create a wireless storytelling player. “We were worried about getting enough Pi Zero W boards since they were new at the time, but we took the risk and managed to secure the supply,” Ben said.

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Why Yoto Chose Raspberry Pi

Ben Drury has always loved British computers and engineering. He has great memories of using his BBC Micro, Acorn, and Archimedes computers. So, when he learned about Raspberry Pi, he was really interested.

He even became an early investor in Pimoroni, a trusted Raspberry Pi Approved Reseller that later teamed up with Yoto. This collaboration added essential hardware expertise to Ben and Filip Denker's understanding of software and user interfaces.

Yoto launched its first Kickstarter campaign in December 2017 and shipped 750 units by the end of 2018.

They had some problems with electromagnetic interference (EMF), but because of their close collaboration with Pimoroni, who offered invaluable technical support, they were able to enhance the design.

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Successful Launch and Impact of Yoto Player

The first Yoto Player was a hit! It launched with a starter pack of stories, including favorites by Roald Dahl, and blank cards for kids to record their own stories on the player’s 8GB SD card.

The interest in Yoto grew when Roald Dahl’s grandson became involved and joined the Yoto board. Many children’s publishers followed suit, bringing popular stories like The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and works by Enid Blyton to the platform.

Yoto also offers phonics cards and 100-word visual cue cards to help kids learn vocabulary in five different languages. Ben and Filip, the co-founders, think that language acquisition should begin at a young age, particularly for bilingual kids.

They consider the Yoto Player to be a useful instrument that allows children who might not have a large vocabulary at home the opportunity to improve their language abilities.

The Yoto Player's development was "absolutely crucial" for the Raspberry Pi, according to Drury. "We wouldn't have been able to build it in the first place without Raspberry Pi," he said.

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Source: "Yoto Player". https://www.raspberrypi.com/success-stories/yoto-player/. Raspberry Pi, Accessed 30 September 2024.

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Conclusion

The Yoto Player is a wonderful device for kids! It lets them listen to stories and music without looking at screens. They are able to be more imaginative and creative as a result. With the help of Raspberry Pi, Yoto made it easy for kids to use.

It’s not just fun; it also helps them learn new words and languages. As more families find out about the Yoto Player, it shows how it can be a great tool for kids to learn and explore their world!