Archive for the ‘Makers’ Category

A myriad of relay controls for Makers incl USB

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 ...

Puff activated kick pedal mod for Guitar Hero

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

[caption id="attachment_332" align="alignnone" width="290" caption="{puff switch for gh}"][/caption]Ben Heck has modded the kick pedal on the drums of guitar hero so it can be operated by puff of the mouth by someone who uses a wheelchair.   Ben shows exactly how he went about the awesome mod over on his blog in ...

Mobile-controlled Home Automation DIY

Friday, December 26th, 2008

Control 8x240v outputs via mobile/web. sydney guy. Even without wap, offers great step-by-step DIY environmental control idea. [Link] Related posts:XEG, the mobile phone pad More medical applications for mobile technology Old Phones Made Mobile

USB Autheticated Deadbolt Servo

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Neat project demonstrating potential use of a USB drive access to a door. [wp_youtube]JKTXRlaXLDQ[/wp_youtube] YouTube - Makers Local 256 USB Autheticated Deadbolt Servo: Couldn't seem to get into the website mentioned. [via Hack a Day] Related posts:Robot arm makes my brain ping Wireless door access TI watch iDoor – iPhone Controlled Hydraulic Door

Awesome NES Controller Coffee Table

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Kyle, an Aussie no less, has built a ripper coffee table come trunk that actually looks like and operates as a Nintendo controller. The build quality is great and the finishing touches and attention to detail fantastic. He details the build over on his blog "Ultra Awesome". Aside from a great fun ...

Hardware prims

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Some various links to sites highlighting some of the thinking and experimenting being done around 'adaptable' hardware. Some of it 'open-source-hardware'. Anything used as a basis to build something else I like to refer to as a "prim" - borrowing from the secondlife concept of "primitives" - small basic building blocks ...

Lifekludger Research Lab

Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

Seeing this site and video made me think that a Lifekludger Research Lab would be a good idea. Someone getting behind outfitting Lifekludger endeavours. Te GRL's slogan is "Dedicated to outfitting graffiti artists with open source technologies for urban communication". How cool would it be to have support for Lifekludging with the ...

Alarm backup power from phone lines?

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

I came across this site called 5min.com. It's a how-to style video sharing site with heaps of neat tricks and tips. This video below got me thinking about emergency backup sources for such things as alarms etc. Watch it to the end. How to Get Free Electricity Watch more DIY videos on 5min.comhttp://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Get-Free-Electricity-12198 Near ...

Turn phone into walking radar to detect physical spaces

Monday, February 4th, 2008

The "Walking Radar" project connects up a Basic Stamp and IR sensor to your cell phone in order to detect objects in the environment and influence games on the device or trigger SMS messages to be sent. [Make] It occurred to me this gadget if hooked up to the vibration part ...

Modeling Second Life virtual objects in the Physical – Paper Prototyping

Friday, January 18th, 2008

I recently came across this site called Export To World which offers a method of taking virtual objects created in Second Life and creating a physical paper model of it in First Life. In effect making physical objects from virtual ones. Novel concept you say, but so what? Well, think of the situation ...

5 Dangerous Things Kids should do

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Dangerous Things Kids should do     photo by Leo Reynolds 1. play with fire 2. own a pocket knife 3. throw a spear 4. de-construct appliances 5. break the DMCA (digital millennium copyright act) [5.5 drive a car] Confused? Then watch this video from TED. You may just be able to impart some real life educational value into ...

Unforseen custom uses for Wii as input device

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

There exists assistive technology devices that use tracking of a reflective dot by infrared to control a computer. They cost in vacinity on USD $4-500. Now take a look at this video and think about the unforseen possibilities of general purpose 'stuff'. And what happens with mass market uptake and ...