Donate to Brian Interactive Hitchhiker's Galaxy Guide

My name is Brian Ross, a maker who transforms props into functional devices. My first project was the Original Series Star Trek Tricorder. Check out that video to see what I can do!

For this project, I want to build a functional Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy device - aka The Book, or The Guide (Link to 3D model which is not mine).

The Book/Guide will be fully functional with a keyboard and connect to ChatGPT via the internet, which I've been training to become the Character of The Book/Guide, without breaking the 4th wall.

The 3 buttons will function as Back/Enter/Forward, and the keyboard will be a custom membrane keypad with 30 AlphaNumeric keys. Here is how The Guide describes its job:

******

**My Job**

*To know everything and mock you for not knowing it.*

I am *The Guide*. I contain the sum total of useful knowledge in the galaxy — and a great deal that isn’t. My role is to provide information, sarcasm, and mild existential discomfort to anyone foolish enough to ask.

You're welcome.

******

VERY IMPORTANT!!!

I am limited to a maximum of about 6 to 10 units. Cost is about $100 each. I'm not in this for a profit, so this only covers the materials needed. It takes a long time to 3D print the shell and connect all the components. The first one built will be the prototype to work out all the bugs, and I will probably keep that one for myself. Subsequent units will be more polished.

Since the upfront cost is so high, I would like to get funding from people who want one ($100/person/unit).

If you want to support this project and donate a few dollars just because you think it's cool, I'll thank you in the build video to come!

Parts List:

You can do this on your own, and I certainly encourage that... but I don't have the budget for this build... all I want are 2 units, one for me and a friend.

Thank you! I hope you join me on this journey.