Category Archives: Makers

A shape-shifting navigation device for both the sighted and visually impaired (w/ Video)

Without doubt, this concept has to be the most lateral thinking piece of technology I’ve seen recently. Just think what it would be capable of if it had GPS built in and a route could be preprogrammed in it from a map. Or a phone providing real time navigation information from a pocket and the cubeContinueContinue reading “A shape-shifting navigation device for both the sighted and visually impaired (w/ Video)”

Maker uses 3D printing to create eye-tracking wheelchair

  UK-based maker Patrick Joyce, who has degenerative condition motor neuron disease (also known as MND or ALS), has created an eye-tracking wheelchair controller that allows a user who has lost all motor functions except for eye movement to be able to control their wheelchair and an onboard computer. With Joyce, fellow Maker David Hopkinson, helpedContinueContinue reading “Maker uses 3D printing to create eye-tracking wheelchair”

Robot-building twins enable themselves through 3D printing technology

  The ABC runs a article on two brothers with advanced muscular dystrophy in Melbourne who are using 3D printing tools to build things they need. The brilliant thing about 3D printing is that you don’t need your own. You can design your own things and send the file to others who have a 3DContinueContinue reading “Robot-building twins enable themselves through 3D printing technology”

Open source, 3D Printed, thought controlled prosthetic hand

3D Printed, thought controlled prosthetic hand for less than $1000. – Opensourced   http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1   via Meet Easton LaChappelle, The Teen Building A Cheaper, Better Prosthetic Arm.

Special Stylus solutions by shapedad on Etsy

Shapedad is an outlet on Etsy that provides custom solutions for stylus’ for touch screens in many formats. Shapedad says: “It all started when the wife of a quad (quadriplegic) patient ordered a regular Stylus Socks stylus from our Etsy shop.” Some examples below:                       ContinueContinue reading “Special Stylus solutions by shapedad on Etsy”

Doorbell sends SMS Message when Pressed

  Along the lines of the Notifying Doorbell comes another project to enhance a doorbell. This Project from Martin’s Hobby site has details on a Wireless Doorbell that sends SMS Message when Activated. Includes the code for you to make your own. Via: Hacked Gadgets

Notifying Doorbell

[wp_youtube]0IIwuAmIro4[/wp_youtube] From Notifying Doorbell by ClementStorck on YouTube “This project will help you to hack your doorbell to send Push notification and an email with an attached picture when somebody’s at the door. It use the free PushingBox service to delegate all the programming part and make things easy.” “The principle is simple, when someone rings the portal, a pushContinueContinue reading “Notifying Doorbell”

The MaKey MaKey configurable input system

It’s amazing how many times some creative, fun thing gets invented for basically ‘play’ that can be used in an alternate scenario for such real world benefit. Such it is with this MaKey MaKey system that allows anything to be an input device. This really got my brain whirring as to how many ways thisContinueContinue reading “The MaKey MaKey configurable input system”

Make your own Touchscreen Stylus Brush

Rainy Day Magazine features an article on how to make a stylus and brush for capacitive touch screens like the iPad/iPhone etc out of some stripped copper wire and a ball point pen casing. The article contains lots of great information, links, ideas and photos and is well worth a read. [via] DIY iPad Brush…ContinueContinue reading “Make your own Touchscreen Stylus Brush”

Apple keyboard & touch pad tray

The Combine collective is a group of like minded artists working together to achieve a common goal. They have come out with these stylish keyboard trays, designed to combine the mac wireless keyboard and trackpad into one clean unit. It occurred to me that this idea could be good for people requiring a way ofContinueContinue reading “Apple keyboard & touch pad tray”

Mosspuppet makes a stylus – Shuddup!

Not sure how effective or durable this stylus would be, but I love Mosspuppet and he does offer a little interesting commentary on ‘conductive foam’ availability – something other DIY stylus, like these here, here and here use. I suppose protein bar and other foil type wrappers are yet another alternative in our ‘Touch Barrier”ContinueContinue reading “Mosspuppet makes a stylus – Shuddup!”

Clutch Pencil adapted as Touch Screen Stylus

Over on his Artworks blog Crabfu has this excellent how-to video on making a touch screen capable stylus from a clutch pencil and conductive foam. This is one of the best ideas I’ve seen, using a readily available item in the clutch pencil. My thoughts in using it with your mouth are that if youContinueContinue reading “Clutch Pencil adapted as Touch Screen Stylus”

DIY Touchscreen Stylus using Conductive foam

Finally, a Stylus kludge that actually looks workable as it can be made different lengths and is cheap and easy. Now, I just need to get hold of some of that conductive foam so I can get someone to make me up a mouthstick version. If anyone has some foam you can post to me,ContinueContinue reading “DIY Touchscreen Stylus using Conductive foam”

Soft Sock Stylus for Touch screens

Over on Instructables is how to make a stylus out of anti-static socks for use on capacitive type touch screen devices – ala iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad etc. The stylus was the creation of dsLabs. Looks neat, but not sure I’d want to put this sock stylus in my mouth for use as a Mouthstick!ContinueContinue reading “Soft Sock Stylus for Touch screens”

Open-source hardware heads towards mainstream?

Interesting article on Computerworld talks about the emergence of open-source hardware and the ways it seems to be moving towards more mainstream acceptance. Open-source hardware developments offer great hope and advantages for the adaptive technology field where there is not a huge mass market need and such specialisation and individualised needs exist. Here’s a snippetContinueContinue reading “Open-source hardware heads towards mainstream?”

Mobile Phone Physicality and Inverse Feedback for Input

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 operating all mannerContinueContinue reading “Mobile Phone Physicality and Inverse Feedback for Input”

Wireless door access TI watch

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 unlocks aContinueContinue reading “Wireless door access TI watch”

Make Open source hardware list 2009

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 to open source softwareContinueContinue reading “Make Open source hardware list 2009”

A True Hands Free Bluetooth Headset

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. Unable to press a button to activate ‘hands free’ voice control dialing – yesContinueContinue reading “A True Hands Free Bluetooth Headset”

Story of ‘good will’ highlights Lifekludger concept – Santa Cruz Sentinel

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 Croatia) – with the endContinueContinue reading “Story of ‘good will’ highlights Lifekludger concept – Santa Cruz Sentinel”

Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote

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 be taken with me, asContinueContinue reading “Automated blinds controlled via computer and remote”