Simple Machines Made Simple Review: Why This Toy Beats Digital STEM Apps

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I love this. As a product engineer, I see far too many “educational” toys that miss the mark by overcomplicating the experience or burying the learning under layers of digital distraction. Chase Roberts’ "Simple Machines Made Simple" does the exact opposite—and that’s its genius. It’s a masterclass in focused, tangible design, and as someone who’s spent years thinking about how to translate complex ideas into intuitive interactions, this project feels like a breath of fresh, mechanically-pure air.

The core innovation here isn’t a new microchip or a fancy app—it’s a radical simplification. The project leverages precision mechanical engineering and durable material science to create a self-contained, interactive board book. Think about that for a second....