[dwhite58]

My 10 year old has a mug that plays a tune when you lift it up. Presumably it has some sort of photosensor.
• He has asked how it works i.e. what happens inside the sensor.
• He also wants to know how the voice gets inside it.
• How do they record it
• and could he put his own voice in it.
• How and who manufactures these devices and
• how do they do it so cheaply and could he make one himself!


Help! I have no idea how to answer these questions...

[labman]

Photo cells use special silicone sheets that produce electricity when exposed to light. The voice is digital and stored on a chip. Cost is kept down by spreading the design and fabrication costs over a large number of chips. Likely the voice is part of the architecture of the chip and can't be changed. To make your own, you would a chip factory which costs millions.

For more information try www.bonus.com, http://www.comics.com/wow/, http://www.howstuffworks.com/, and http://scorescience.humboldt.k12.ca.us/fast/kids.htm.
http://www.sciencelab.com/

[caibuadday]

My 10 year old has a mug that plays a tune when you lift it up. Presumably it has some sort of photosensor.
• He has asked how it works ie what happens inside the sensor.
• He also wants to know how the voice gets inside it.
• How do they record it
• and could he put his own voice in it.
• How and who manufactures these devices and
• how do they do it so cheaply and could he make one himself!


Help! I have no idea how to answer these questions....

radio shack... they do sell talking picture frame ( record your own voice)... 99% chance it is design and made in china... it way a lot cheaper to buy one than to make one