DIY Car Movie Player/Tablet Holder

I recently discovered that driving a long distance with 3 kids in the backseat can be a little overwhelming if the children don't have something to occupy them. I ended up playing a movie on my phone using the holder that connected to the dash but discovered they struggled to see the small screen so far away and that it was potentially dangerous to the driver. I wished to have a built in movie player to solve the issue, but most cars don't come with this standard. Thus, I thought it would be cool to create a car movie player/tablet holder that can be placed in virtually any car! This project is perfect for any parent, nanny or simply someone who wants to entertain their backseat!

Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL):

This project also tackles some of the STELs including context, practices and standards which are described below.

Technology and Engineering Context:

Information and Communication - The project enhances communication and even information from those in the front seat to those in the back seat. Even if the message is as simple as "sit back and relax".

Technology and Engineering Practices:

Making and Doing - This project address making in the sense of the person actual makes the product and doing in how exactly the pieces fit together.

Core Disciplinary Standards:

Influence of Society on Technological Development - This project stems from a need developed from society (entertaining children in cars) and could very well evolve into a product mass produced. In this way, society influences what exactly gets developed technologically based on need.

Objectives:

By the end of this instructable you should:

- be able to use the product made in a functional manner

- be able to apply the product and the process of making it to the STELs

- be able to put together a tablet holder

• Cardboard
• Hot Glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Popsicle Sticks
• Decoration (optional)
• Paint/Paint brush (optional)

Cost: I reused a cardboard box and had all of the other supplies on hand. However, assuming the other supplies all need to be bought, this project would cost approximately $10.

Use the image and dimensions above to cut out the corresponding cardboard pieces. It is important to note that these dimensions reflect a standard car and an iPad. Please adjust the dimensions as necessary to fit your car and tablet.

When completed, you should have the following pieces in these dimensions/amounts:

Format: Piece Name: Dimension - lengthxwidth (Amount)

Piece A: 23" x 12" (1)

Piece B: 17" x 10" (1)

Pieces C1-C4: 0.5" x 9.5" (4)

Pieces D1-D4: 0.5" x 8" (4)

Pieces E1-E4: 0.5" x 8" (4)

Pieces F1 and F2: 8" x 9.5" on the outside with a 5" x 7" square hole (1)

Piece G: 8" x 10.5" on the outside with a 5" x 7" square hole (1)

Glue and tape piece B to the back of piece A to reinforce the main piece (A).

Glue pieces C1, C2, C3 and C4 together using hot glue. Be sure to press each piece together for 10-15 seconds before adding the next piece. Repeat this process for D1-D4 as well as E1-E4 and you should have 3 "stacks" when you are finished.

Find where you would like to place the tablet on Piece A and mark it; ideally the placement should be in the center of Piece A but change as appropriate for your purposes.

Using hot glue, attach Pieces C, D and E to Piece A in a "U" shaped pattern with the opening at the top. Use the picture above as reference.

Hot glue popsicle sticks to one side of Piece F1 and then attach F2 as shown in the pictures above. Popsicle sticks should also be hot glued to the edges of the new piece (F).

Using hot glue, attach piece F to the three sides of C, D and E leaving room for the tablet to slip behind. It may be useful to slide the tablet in the "U" spot and then attach piece F so that the slot is big enough.

Place Piece G on top of pieces C, D, E and F and use hot glue to secure it in place.

In the top of Piece A, add 2 holes using scissors. These holes should go through both piece A and piece B about 2 inches into Piece A. Add string/ribbon but don't tie it. When placed in the car, the ribbons can be used to secure the tablet holder into place.

And there's the final product! You can paint and decorate it however you desire. Place it in the car, tie it in place and insert the tablet with a movie playing.