Technology

DIY Hacks & How To’s: Pocket-Sized Power Supply

DIY Hacks & How To’s: Pocket-Sized Power Supply

I am a big fan of garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. They are great places to find used parts and materials for your next project. But one problem that I often run into is not being able to test battery powered electronics to see if they work. Because there are so many different combinations of batteries that are used in portable electronics, it isn’t really practical to carry around batteries for testing. One device may need 6 AA’s and another may require 4 D’s. So I came up with this simple pocket-sized variable power supply.

Continue Reading Jason Poel Smith14
Which Pi do I have?

Which Pi do I have?

The Raspberry Pi isn’t just a single board any more, there are a growing number of different variants available. Unfortunately they all look rather similar, and sometimes it can be important which board is which. Fortunately there are a number of ways to figure out which board you have.

Continue Reading Alasdair Allan2
Qtechknow: “My Open Source Education”

Qtechknow: “My Open Source Education”

One of my favorite things about Maker Faire are the young makers. If you ever needed assurance that the next generation is up to the challenge that life presents, a visit to Maker Faire will put your mind at ease. Kids steeped in making bring a unique viewpoint and skill set to the world that says: “I can do this. And if I don’t know how I can figure it out.” One of the standouts is 12-year-old Quin, or Qtechknow as he goes by. I worked with Quin to get his FuzzBot project onto MAKE, but met him for the first time at Maker Faire Bay Area last month. He was there with his folks to show off some his projects and give a presentation on Maker Faire’s “meet the maker” stage.

Continue Reading Stett Holbrook
A Real “Man of Steel”

A Real “Man of Steel”

Have you ever talked with someone and just gotten a sense that they were a really good person? I felt that way after speaking with Mark Haygood about his full scale humanoid robot, Hex. He has big plans to improve Hex and develop him into a kit that can be used by schools and youth programs to interest kids in technology.

Continue Reading Andrew Terranova