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128 Birch Street
Boston, MA, 02131
United States

(617) 390-4076

Invent Boston designs and develops original products to add science + whimsy to  every day tasks at home.   Our first product is a Two Minute timer, Two Minute Turtle, a visual timer. The Two Minute Turtle helps children and adults focus on two minute tasks such as brushing teeth, physical therapy, taking a shower and speaking (practicing a presentation or learning a language).

Prototyping

Steps to prototype the original Two Minute Turtle Timer, a visual 2 minute timer for brushing teeth. 1) Figure out how to program the chip, 2) where to source the materials such as microchips and LEDs, casing, 3) what design to choose, 4) what to encase the circuit board inside of, 5) which animal and name works for the design. We like where we have ended up thanks to focus groups of kids and parents and shops. We have many more ideas for improving healthy routines at home with kids. If you have tips or ideas too, for making healthy habits fun for kids, we’d love to hear them.

lining up the rectangular two minute timers

lining up the rectangular two minute timers

The Two Minute Turtle timer started as a rectangle. Finding the right LED lights, the right chip and material to put it in all took trial and error at the workbench. The Two Minute Turtle timer would not have gone through all these stages if we did not believe it was worth making, that it would make parents’ and kids’ lives better. When you can turn onerous tasks into play, it’s worth it!

teaching kids to solder with adult supervision

teaching kids to solder with adult supervision

Two Minute Turtle timer was created for kids, our kids. And now for all children.

the first batch of two minute timer circuit boards

the first batch of two minute timer circuit boards

Pouring epoxy into the molds to encase the Two Minute Turtle Timer

Pouring epoxy into the molds to encase the Two Minute Turtle Timer

Each two minute timer required 3 different curing and pours. 

placing paper on the back of the Turtle Timer in the mold with a stick

placing paper on the back of the Turtle Timer in the mold with a stick

In an early prototype we put paper on the back of the timer. Later we decided to color the epoxy.

1 2 3 4 5
lining up the rectangular two minute timers
teaching kids to solder with adult supervision
the first batch of two minute timer circuit boards
Pouring epoxy into the molds to encase the Two Minute Turtle Timer
placing paper on the back of the Turtle Timer in the mold with a stick

Prototyping

Steps to prototype the original Two Minute Turtle Timer, a visual 2 minute timer for brushing teeth. 1) Figure out how to program the chip, 2) where to source the materials such as microchips and LEDs, casing, 3) what design to choose, 4) what to encase the circuit board inside of, 5) which animal and name works for the design. We like where we have ended up thanks to focus groups of kids and parents and shops. We have many more ideas for improving healthy routines at home with kids. If you have tips or ideas too, for making healthy habits fun for kids, we’d love to hear them.