So far my design integrates a circuit board, graphic display module (a screen), and a button input.
After meeting with Dave Carroll from CDT, he suggested that I check out Parallax.com with features easy to program circuit boards that can control my screen, light out LEDs, and take input from buttons. The circuit board is designed for student learning and I know some C++ so I'm willing to investigate whether I can do it myself or not. There are also people you can hire to do it for you, so I'd be open to that as well. My decision depends mostly on time and my skill level.
I'm meeting with a professor who teaches physical computer on Tuesday to discuss the project further.
