Archive for the ‘Makers’ Category
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Thought: Feedback can be turned to alternative input if inverted.
Fabian Hemmert does research through and about design and creates projects like shape-changing-mobiles, weight-shifting-mobiles, breathing and pulsating ambient-life mobile device feedback.
The mobile concepts are designed to provide different feedback mechanisms that are physical.
I've often written about the importance of feedback when ...
Posted in Design, Input, Makers, Movement | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Wireless door access using the TI hackable watch
What seems "novelty" can often be essential in a different context. This type device could be great for access.
The TI Chronos development kit will allow many great projects that cleverly exploit the resources of the Chronos watch.
This video shows a hack that wirelessly ...
Posted in Access, Automation, Living, Makers | No Comments »
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Make has put together a list of Open Source Hardware projects.
These are projects in which the creators have decided to completely publish all the source, schematics, firmware, software, bill of materials, parts list, drawings and "board" files to recreate the hardware - they also allow any use, including commercial. Similar ...
Posted in Lifekludger Links, Makers | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Meet Darrell
Earlier in the year I was contacted by Darrell. Darrell may not realise it, but he is a Lifekludger.
Darrell has a son. His son lives with a disability. His son's disability prevented him from using a mobile phone.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="earpiece"][/caption]Unable to press a button to activate 'hands ...
Posted in Access, Design, Devices, Input, Makers, Voice | No Comments »
Friday, September 4th, 2009
More DIY motorised blind mods from over on Instructables:
Build A Motorized Window Blinds Controller For About $15.00 - More DIY How To Projects
[hat tip Liz Henry of hackabilityblog]
Related posts:Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote
Voice Activated iPod Controller
Have ramp will travel
Posted in Living, Makers | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
This story from the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows the power of connection and what can be achieved when a Maker (Jon Bjornstad, a Santa Cruz freelance computer programmer) is backed by a Giver (Roy and Ana Cook of Saratoga) to help a Liver (Karadole, a paralyzed woman who lives in ...
Posted in Computer, Computing, Givers, Input, Livers, Makers, Thoughts | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
A neat project showing automated 'venetian' blinds controlled via computer and remote.
I once had a mod done that used a stepper motor from a hard disk that turned the blinds via the wand on the blinds. That way it was able to leave the blind in tact and could ...
Posted in Automation, Makers | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Excellent life kludge here by student at MIT to automate door opening.
I especially like the various options of operation. Key, switch, knock and remote via iPhone, no less. - Access is about providing options.
[chris@localhost » iDoor – iPhone Controlled Hydraulic Door]
[via Hackaday]
Related posts:Wireless door access TI watch
RFID controlled phone dialing
More on ...
Posted in Access, Makers | No Comments »
Sunday, May 31st, 2009
[caption id="attachment_427" align="alignnone" width="203" caption="buttonless remote"][/caption]
This remote has no buttons. Instead it uses an accelerometer to enable activation by movement.
About the accelerometer:
[Via: Make: Online : Arduino powered buttonless remote control]
Related posts:Talking Remote Holder
Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote
PowerSwitch kludging by Dave Faxon
Posted in Devices, Input, Makers, Movement, Switching | No Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
This video shows how you can combine Dasher, a clever text entry program, with RoboRealm, a clever machine vision program to write a sentence using a Red Ball and a WebCam.
You do this without touching the PC!
This could be used on a Wii, XBox or PS3 to control a browser.
[YouTube ...
Posted in Input, Makers, Visual/Light, Writing | 2 Comments »
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
More and more uses are surfacing for RFID chips and I can foresee many practical applications for alternative access to a myriad of life related activities.
Hackaday reports on a phone prototype which uses RFID tags to dial.
It is common for our motor skills and eyesight to deteriorate as we get ...
Posted in Access, Communication, Living, Makers, Switching | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="{usb relay}"][/caption]
There's been discussion previously on the blog about some off the shelf, usb controlled power outlets that a few readers were chasing.
I recently received the below email from a reader, Tom Stephenson, about USB control of devices using relays.
Thanks Tom.
Hello Dave - Lifekludger,
I think you ...
Posted in Input, Makers, Suppliers, Switching | No Comments »
