COLOUR BUDDY: Learn Colours With Lights

This system uses a colour-changing LED (RGB LED/ tri-colour LED) that switches to a new colour every 5 seconds. Simultaneously, the colour name is displayed on an OLED mini screen (SSD1306). This pairing helps learners connect colour names with the actual shades, making the process engaging and enjoyable.

- RAKESH JAIN

Colour Buddy is a playful yet educational system that merges technology with early childhood learning. It highlights how simple electronics can be turned into interactive learning aids for children. The Bill of Materials required to build the system is listed in Table 1.

This circuit is designed for children. It makes learning colours enjoyable by combining visual display and text, while also introducing beginners to microcontrollers, LED colour mixing, and I²C display control.

The idea is based on the principle that two different colour combinations can generate a new colour. For example, by adding red and green, yellow is produced. In an RGB LED, various colour combinations generate multiple coloured lights, and through interfacing with the OLED, the name of the colour is displayed on the screen.

Circuit and working

Fig. 2 shows the circuit of Colour Buddy. It is built around an Arduino Uno and powered by a 9V battery. It controls a common-cathode RGB LED and an OLED display. The battery connects to the Arduino's DC jack, which regulates the voltage to 5V.

Each LED colour pin (red, green, blue) is linked to a digital output through a 220Ω resistor to limit current. Using high/low logic signals or PWM, the Arduino mixes colours, changing the LED colour every 5 seconds while updating the OLED with the corresponding colour name.