attachable board allows engineers to make their electronic prototypes behind their phones

Meet attachable commi board for electronic prototypes

Kevin Yang designs concept Commi Board, an attachable board that allows engineers to make their electronic prototypes behind their phones. A way to let people learn and practice electronics, the magnetic device brings prototyping, coding, and testing into a single system centered on a smartphone. Instead of asking users to buy computers, microcontrollers, and displays, Commi Board uses the phone as the main interface and processing unit. The attachable board for electronic prototypes also connects through USB-C or Bluetooth.

Commi Board is modular, as users place electronic components directly onto the board. Connections are guided through a dedicated app, which reflects the physical layout of the circuit and helps users understand how components relate to code. Errors appear during the process rather than at the end to avoid a trial-and-error approach. A key design choice is simulation since instead of requiring a separate microcontroller for every test, the attachable board for electronic prototypes simulates microcontroller behavior using the phone’s computing power. Users, then, can write and run code without flashing firmware onto external chips.

all images courtesy of Kevin Yang

Dedicated app allows users to share their projects for others

Programming is offered through four methods with the Commi Board. Users can write code using an AI-based natural language system, visual programming blocks, Scratch-like logic, or a fully integrated development environment. Beginners can start with guided logic and move toward text-based programming as their understanding grows since the system does not force a single learning path. Real-time feedback is central to how the design helps users. With this, voltage states, logic changes, and circuit responses are shown immediately on the phone screen. This makes cause and effect visible, and instead of reading theory about signals or pins, users see results as they interact with the system. It is a way for the designer to support learning through direct action.

The app includes cloud storage and a project-sharing space. Users can save projects, reload them, or study work made by others. This allows learning beyond individual use. Shared projects function as examples, references, and starting points. The board can load these projects without rebuilding circuits from scratch, saving time and reducing frustration. Tech-wise, the system integrates printed circuit board design, GPIO communication, USB-C 3.2, BLE, and Bluetooth, choices that allow stable data transfer between the phone and the board. So far. the project remains in development, with some API and software layers still in mock-up form. Early prototypes revealed connection and stability issues, which informed later iterations. The project began in June 2024 at the Royal College of Art in London as a student initiative, which later on won the A’ Design Award in the Education category.

Kevin Yang designs Commi Board, an attachable board for electronic prototypes

users can put the device on the back of their smartphones

detailed view of the board

there’s a dedicated app to help the users with the circuit paths, voltage, and more

project info:

name: Commi Board

designer: Kevin Yang | @Kevy.Design