Tech in Plain Sight: Escalators
If you are designing a building and need to move many people up or down, you probably will at least consider an escalator. In fact, if you visit most large …read more Continue reading Tech in Plain Sight: Escalators
Author Archives: Al Williams
Lorenz Attractor Analog Computer with Octave Simulation
[Janis Alnis] wanted to build an analog computer circuit and bought some multiplier chips. The first attempt used apparently fake chips that were prone to overheating. He was able to …read more Continue reading Lorenz Attractor Analog Computer with Octave Simulation
No Dish? Try a Portable Weave Helix Antenna
When you think of satellite communications, you probably think of a dish. But that’s not the only option — a new device from the American University of Beruit and Stanford …read more Continue reading No Dish? Try a Portable Weave Helix Antenna
Soldering Holder from Old Lamps
One of the neat things about 3D printing is that you can create custom parts to fit salvage to use in projects. For example, [Willyrags05] took a lamp — looks …read more Continue reading Soldering Holder from Old Lamps
Hackaday Podcast Episode 254: AI, Hijack Guy, and Water Rockets Fly
This week Hackaday Editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams chew the fat about the Haier IOT problem, and all other top Hackaday stories of the week. Want to prove your …read more Continue reading Hackaday Podcast Episode 254: AI, Hijack Guy, and Water Rockets Fly
Steamboat Willie Never Sounded Better
Mickey Mouse’s introduction to the world was the 1928 cartoon, Steamboat Willie. Not only was it the first appearance of Mickey with sound, it was also one of the first …read more Continue reading Steamboat Willie Never Sounded Better
Random Number Generation by Brain
If you want to start an argument in certain circles, claim to have a random number generation algorithm. Turns out that producing real random numbers is hard, which is why …read more Continue reading Random Number Generation by Brain
Read QR Codes without a Computer
Did you ever watch Star Wars and wondered how people understood what R2D2 was saying? Maybe [Luke Skywalker] would enjoy learning to decode QR Codes by hand, too. While it …read more Continue reading Read QR Codes without a Computer
Inside a Fake LM358
[IMSAI Guy] got some fake LM358 op-amps. Uncharacteristically, these chips actually performed well even though they didn’t act like LM358s. [IMSAI Guy] did a video about the fake chips and …read more Continue reading Inside a Fake LM358
Bell Labs is Leaving the Building
If you ever had the occasion to visit Bell Labs at Murray Hill, New Jersey, or any of the nearby satellite sites, but you didn’t work there, you were probably …read more Continue reading Bell Labs is Leaving the Building