Two German students have invented a beer mat, or coaster, that uses sensor chips to determine when the beer glass it supports is empty and then radios the bartender for a refill. One of the students interviewed for the story suggested that lifting mugs from sensing mats could double as a voting system during karaoke competitions. [via] Link.
Here is a neat site that has a lot of art made from “junk” – many of the pieces are made from old computer parts and are wired or constructed to move around. Good place to get inspired and make things…Link.
Ryan St. Evens and Digg pointed me towards another interesting thing to do with a PSP “Through a combination of PSPbochs (x86 emulator for PSP) and vMac (680×0 emulator for x86) – Mac OS 7 is running on a PSP! Since it’s an emulator running on an emulator running on a slow-ish processor, the whole thing takes about 4 hours to boot. But who cares?!” [via] Link.
If you’re in Europe Oct 17-20 join us at the MAKE Faire At Euro OSCON! Phil Torrone: computer, portable device, and gadget hacking. Beth Goza: digital crafting in the virtual world. Nick and Dom Ludlam: open source promise.tv and digital TV hacking. Fabienne Serriere: electronics and computer hacks. Ewan Spence: podcasting projects. Ulrika Ek: crafting, linen, and silk screening. Fernando Botelho: open source computer for the blind. Bert Thomas: electronic gadget hacking. Melissa Coleman and Nadya Peek: spatial awareness with tactile feedback. Usman Haque and Adam Somlai-Fischer: low-tech sensors and actuators. Roger Ibars: self-made objects. Mark Hoekstra: master the stuff around you. Jo Walsh and Schuyler Erle: cutting-edge OS GIS and open geodata work. Link. Use this code (euos05makr) to get 25% off the conference.
Here’s an update on the iPod subway map saga – the MTA wants $500 to license the maps for one year so ipodsubwaymaps.com could once again allow the downloads – I used to make NYC maps for all my devices when I worked there, it’s pretty awful that public transportation maps are not really public. Link.
If a household ladder is extended with a melodic function, it will develop into a real musical instrument. The ordinary ladder transforms into a soundladder. Stepping on a bar of the ladder creates a sound or tone which is different from rung to rung. So you can create a piece of music by stepping up and down on the ladder. Together with a partner you can even play a duet. Link.
Surfer Steve has an excellent set of instructions describing how to build your own Surfboard. Everything is documented from shaping, glassing, sanding, and even artwork. [