In his DIY electronics project, maker Mirza Makes transformed an ordinary TV remote into a fully functional keyboard for his portable computer. The idea was to give it a soft keyboard, the kind of ones seen in TV remotes. The build centers around a high-performance Raspberry Pi 5 paired with a compact Elecrow 5-inch TFT touchscreen display to provide a functional visual interface directly on the handheld device.
To overcome the engineering challenges of cramming PC hardware into a tight remote control body, the maker planned carefully to mount the different parts so that the whole assembly is compact and neat. He repurposed a membrane keypad by wiring it up with an MCP23017 I/O expander chip to handle button matrix inputs over I2C, while integrating a TPS61088 boost converter module to ensure reliable power delivery. The outer shell was meticulously designed, 3D-printed and finished with airbrush painting for a clean, commercial look.
Despite encountering tight assembly constraints and typical hardware troubleshooting along the way, the finished build successfully functions as an all-in-one handheld computer with its own screen, power management, and tactile physical keyboard. The project stands as an impressive demonstration of hardware hacking, combining microcontroller design, custom 3D printing, and Linux-based single-board computing into a nostalgic, playful device.
