atomsforagents.
About the directory & our standards

Voice & audio / Device firmware

Pocket push-to-talk translator, voice notebook and computer remote

Leon Furze reprogrammed the Cardputer's keyboard, microphone, speaker and display into a push-to-talk assistant, English/French translator, voice notebook and terminal. The Mac mini handles transcription and responses.

Read the original build See shopping list
M5Stack Cardputer ADV running the voice terminal
Leon Furze · original build photograph

What the hardware does

The pocket keyboard, microphone, speaker and screen become a push-to-talk terminal.

How the agent helped

First-person article explicitly states: 'The whole thing was built end-to-end in live sessions with Claude Code'; explains device execution workbench, audio streaming, flashing, iteration and failures.

Before you build

Advanced setup with a separate Mac mini. The agent has broad host access; spoken confirmation is prompt-based, not a security boundary. The creator reset the device after the experiment.

Follow the build

leonfurze.com

Original build story

First-person build article with hardware photographs and embedded demonstrations

github.com

Supporting source

Hardware

All hardware

Shopping list

Save as Markdown

Host permissions are broad; spoken confirmation is not an authorization boundary. The creator reset the experimental device afterwards.

Confirm before buying

  • The Mac mini generation and memory are not disclosed.

Quantities are for one build. Unless marked source-specified, they are planning quantities; confirm kit contents and the chosen configuration before ordering.

  1. Qty. 1Plan / confirm
    Required

    M5Stack Cardputer ADV

    Handheld voice interface.

    ADV uses TCA8418 keyboard control and ES8311 audio; original Cardputer drivers are not interchangeable.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Creator source. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    View product

    Product page

  2. Qty. 1Plan / confirm
    Required

    Mac mini

    Speech and agent host.

    Exact generation/RAM not disclosed; the experiment runs host services on macOS.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Creator source. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    No exact purchase link verified; confirm the model and requirements above before ordering.

  3. Qty. 1Plan / confirm
    Required

    USB-C data cable

    Connect to the computer for programming or data.

    A charge-only cable cannot flash firmware. Example requires a USB-A host port. If your computer has only USB-C, use an appropriate USB-C data cable instead. Reuse the device’s included cable where possible; this is not a standalone power-supply recommendation.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Setup requirement — check against your configuration. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    Example part

    Accessory example: USB-A to USB-C, 1 m, data capable

  4. Qty. ExistingPlan / confirm
    Required

    2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network

    Connect handheld to host.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Setup requirement — check against your configuration. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.

  5. Qty. Built inPlan / confirm
    Included

    Built-in microphone, speaker and keyboard

    Voice and text I/O.

    Do not buy separate audio modules or a keyboard.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Creator source. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    Built in or supplied with the stated device; check package contents before buying separately.

  6. Qty. 1Plan / confirm
    Required

    Device power supply

    Power the device.

    Reuse the Mac mini supply and handheld charging arrangement.

    Sources & quantity basis

    Setup requirement — check against your configuration. Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration.

    Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.

Source reviewed, not assembled or hands-on tested. A working product page does not confirm stock, firmware compatibility or a complete build.

All projects

Built something with a coding agent?

Share your hardware project so others can try it.

Submit a project