Read QR Codes on the Cheap
Adding a camera to a project used to be a chore, but modern camera modules make it simple. But what if you want to read QR codes? [James Bowman] noticed …read more Continue reading Read QR Codes on the Cheap
Author Archives: Al Williams
Hackaday Podcast Episode 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K’nex Computers
What did you miss on Hackaday last week? Hackaday’s Elliot Williams and Al Williams are ready to catch you up on this week’s podcast. First, though, the guys go off …read more Continue reading Hackaday Podcast Episode 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K’nex Computers
Not Repairing an Old Tape Recorder
When you think of a tape recorder, you might think of a cassette tape. However, [Michael Simpson] has an old Star-Lite small reel-to-reel tape machine. It isn’t a repair so …read more Continue reading Not Repairing an Old Tape Recorder
This SSD Will Self Destruct in Ten Seconds…
In case you can’t wait for your flash memory to die from write cycling, TeamGroup now has a drive that, via software or hardware, can destroy its own flash chips …read more Continue reading This SSD Will Self Destruct in Ten Seconds…
The DEW Line Remembered
If you grew up in the middle of the Cold War, you probably remember hearing about the Distant Early Warning line between duck-and-cover drills. The United States and Canada built …read more Continue reading The DEW Line Remembered
A History of the Tandy Computers
Radio Shack, despite being gone for a number of years, is still in our cultural consciousness. But Tandy, the company behind Radio Shack for many years. Did you ever wonder …read more Continue reading A History of the Tandy Computers
A Collection of Lightning Detectors
You would think detecting lightning would be easy. Each lightning bolt has a staggering amount of power, and, clearly, you can hear the results on any radio. But it is …read more Continue reading A Collection of Lightning Detectors
Record Changer Spins Round and Round
There was a time when all the cool kids had a 45 RPM record player. [RF Burns] picked up a 1950s-era player from RCA. However, it needed a lot of …read more Continue reading Record Changer Spins Round and Round
Robots Want the Jobs You Can’t Do
There’s something ominous about robots taking over jobs that humans are suited to do. Maybe you don’t want a job turning a wrench or pushing a broom, but someone does. …read more Continue reading Robots Want the Jobs You Can’t Do
Coroutines in C
It is virtually a rite of passage for C programmers to realize that they can write their own cooperative multitasking system. C is low-level enough, and there are several ways …read more Continue reading Coroutines in C