Stretch Goal: 300X Arduino
The Faboratory at Yale University has set a number of stretch goals. We don’t mean that in the usual sense. They’ve been making, as you can see in the video …read more Continue reading Stretch Goal: 300X Arduino
Author Archives: Al Williams
A Universal RF Amplifier
If you need an amplifier, [Hans Rosenberg] has some advice. Don’t design your own; grab cheap and tiny RF amplifier modules and put them on a PCB that fits your …read more Continue reading A Universal RF Amplifier
Tech in Plain Sight: Zipper Bags
You probably think of them as “Ziploc” bags, but, technically, the generic term is zipper bag. Everything from electronic components to coffee beans arrive in them. But they weren’t always …read more Continue reading Tech in Plain Sight: Zipper Bags
Replacing Selenium Rectifiers
Old radios often had selenium rectifiers to convert AC to DC. The problem is that the old units, dating back to 1933, are prone to failure and to release dangerous …read more Continue reading Replacing Selenium Rectifiers
Custom Mini-Neon Signs in 10 Minutes
Sometimes, you see a project that isn’t a technical powerhouse but just looks so good you can’t help but think about duplicating it. That’s how we felt with the mini-neon …read more Continue reading Custom Mini-Neon Signs in 10 Minutes
Where Did the Japanese Computers Go?
If you are a retrocomputer person, at least in North America and Europe, you probably only have a hazy idea of what computers were in the Japanese market at the …read more Continue reading Where Did the Japanese Computers Go?
The Surprising Effects of Fast Food Kiosks
For as long as there have been machines, there have been fears of machines taking your job. One of the latest incarnations of this phenomenon is the fast-food ordering kiosk. …read more Continue reading The Surprising Effects of Fast Food Kiosks
Inviting the Public to Take Stereo Photos for Science
[Lynnadeng]’s team wanted to monitor the Los Angeles River over time and wanted citizen scientists — or anyone, for that matter — to help. They built a dual phone holder …read more Continue reading Inviting the Public to Take Stereo Photos for Science
Inside a Portable Satellite Dish
Like many of us, [Gabe] has things he just can’t stop buying. In his case, it is portable satellite dishes. You’ve seen these. They look like a dome or maybe …read more Continue reading Inside a Portable Satellite Dish
Design and the Golden Rule
You often learn the golden rule or some variation of it as early as kindergarten. There are several ways to phrase it, but you most often hear: “Do unto others …read more Continue reading Design and the Golden Rule