Computers & Mobile

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for digital gadgetry, open code, smart hacks, and more. Processing power to the people!

Top ten “internet of things” videos

Deane Rimerman, of ReadWriteWeb, put together a top ten list of YouTube’s most popular videos introducing the concepts behind the “internet of things” (basically sensors and microcontrollers connected to the internets). Our “Introduction of Arduino” video, from 2007, starring Bre Pettis and Joe Grand, is #2 on the list. Here’s a nice intro to the […]

Dirt cheap $50 Android tablet prototype

Seriously, I’ve spent more on dirt for our backyard garden than you’d end up paying for this tablet from Allgo Systems. Technology demonstrations, such as in the accompanying video, lower barriers of entry and expose new possibilities that normally wouldn’t exist. For a few dollars more than the leading name brand microcontroller board you could have a complete system with I/O, display, storage, etc. I know it’s like comparing apples to oranges, but it does get you wondering. What sort of projects would you build with access to cut-rate tablet hardware like this?

Your Comments

Your Comments

And we’re back with our twelfth installment of Your Comments. Here are our favorites from the past week, from Make: Online, our Facebook page, and Twitter. Skull artist Noah noticed when the Silver Skull Spoons article was re-posted on Craft: I love Tom’s skull spoons! You might be interested to know that he was inspired […]

How-To: Snap-action Batarang prop

How-To: Snap-action Batarang prop

Instructables user spookylean shows us how to make this cool little folding prop based on a weapon from the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum. He does it the labor-intensive but inexpensive way–cutting the profiles by hand from clear hardware store Plexiglas and then painting them black. I am too lazy for that and would probably just have them laser-cut from black plastic to start with. Embedded magnets lock it in the deployed position.

Weyland-Yutani patents handy facehugger removal device

Weyland-Yutani patents handy facehugger removal device

The worst thing about summertime in Austin is the facehuggers. They’re more than just a nuisance; if you’re allergic to alien embryos, like I am, they can actually be quite dangerous. Plus there’s that whole chestbursting thing–inconvenient, embarrassing, and uncomfortable to say the least. I’ve gotten pretty good at removing them using the old spork-and-a-defibrillator trick, but it’s terribly slow and, no matter how careful I am, I always seem to end up burning myself with molecular acid and having to stick those little bits of toilet paper to my face. Fortunately, thanks to space medic Ronald Renne, now there’s a better way. [via Gizmodo]