In the Maker Shed: IR Jammer Kit
You know those people that just love to change the channel on the TV? Put an end to it with this, the IR Jammer Kit from the Maker Shed. Just press the button and you can render infrared remotes completely useless.
Technology
Makers CAN Change the World
RIP Steve Jobs. You, and your Homebrew Computer cohort and Apple Computer, fundamentally changed our lives, through technology. Multiple times. You (and Apple) made magic with technology. I literally gasped the first time I picked up the new MacBook Air. Not a lot of consumer tech makes me gasp.
DIY Sous Vide: Cook Perfect Steaks with Arduino Electronics at BioCurious!
Come one, come all, science geeks, food lovers, Arduino hackers. Build a magical box with Arduino-inspired technology that will control the temperature of an appliance you hack, up to 0.1 degrees accuracy. October 15th at the BioCurious hackerspace in Sunnyvale!
Dual Stage Heating/Cooling Temperature Controller with RGB Display
I am probably flattering myself, taking any sort of credit for inspiring this sweet custom temperature controller built by Adafruit reader Mike to keep his beer-brewing fridge at a constant temperature. Like my recent project, it simultaneously controls AC-powered heating and cooling equipment to maintain a constant temperature, and is mounted in a CANTEX PVC junction box. But there the similarities pretty much end: Whereas I used a cheap off-the-shelf thermostat module from China, Mike built and programmed his own controller using an Arduino for brains, an Xbee for remote temperature control and data logging, and a cool multicolor LED display with letters that turn red when the system is heating, blue when it is cooling, and green when it is at the correct temperature.
“Adalight” OSHW Dynamic Adaptive Display Backlighting
We’ve posted about Phillips’ Ambilight (Wikipedia) real-time multicolor display backlighting system, and various DIY versions thereof, before (see below). If you’re not familiar with the idea, watch a few seconds of the embedded video, as it’s hard to appreciate the effect from still images. If you believe the hype, this kind of dynamic backlighting improves viewing by making it more “immersive” and reducing “backlight bleed.” In any case, it’s certainly cool-looking.
Smartphone Bracelet Stand
Find yourself needing something to prop up your smartphone to video chat or watch some YouTube? How about this snazzy smartphone bracelet stand from Etsy seller oopsmark? Hand-tooled thick leather construction and an adjustable chrome post finish off this fashionably functional accessory.
Foil and Paper Speakers
Catarina Mota, Alicia Gibb and Shelby Arnold built a speaker made entirely from copper foil tape on cardstock. They’re testing it with the JelTone edible piano. The speaker’s design comes from the High-Low Tech Research Group at MIT. The tape is applied to the paper in a coil-shaped pattern. When connected to the output lines […]