“sensor box” update
For the past few weeks I’ve had sensors in my studio (2nd floor) and kitchen (first floor) and data collection has been interesting. Some things I’ve learned looking at the data I’ve collected. I’ll post some images to illustrate these in the future, but just wanted to share my notes with other people. The best […]
The “sensor box” project
Digging through sensors I already have, I discovered that my Sparkfun Qwiic Ideation Kit came with an Environmental Combo sensor that can detect temperature, humidity, CO (carbon monoxide), and VOC (volatile organic compounds). The list of VOCs is long but NO2 is in the list. What’s Qwiic? It is a standard from Sparkfun for I2C […]
Context: Gas stoves pollute residential kitchens
Let’s start by saying the thing nobody who loves cooking wants to hear: Gas stoves are bad for the environment and for humans in the kitchen and we should stop using them. Yes, I know they are magic tools for controlling fire. For decades I’ve passed on renting an apartment or a house simply because […]
Interaction Design in the Environment
Starting a new category because I’m starting a new project and it needs a home. For several years I’ve been teaching “Making Things Interactive” at CMU’s IDeATe program with all assignments turned in on the class blog. It’s basically “Arduino 102” where we take what people learned in an intro to physical computing class and […]
Marlin 2.0 and E3D Bigbox Update
Finally had time to finish the port and doing some testing. If you want to help, here’s the link/branch: https://github.com/allartburns/Marlin/tree/bugfix-bigbox
Making Things Interactive, the 2020 Quarantine Variant
It’s that time! As I did in previous classes, I’m posting all my notes and students are posting all their assignments to the class blog.
Bouncing warifuru back in to development
One of the main features of warifuru is a set of tools to help people who use laser cutters for their job. Tools like optimizing layout for the fastest cuts (aka 2d bin-fitting) or patterns that determine the best power/speed for etching a given media by making a big-ass etch grid. Then I found deepnest […]
Joe Johnston owes someone a cookie…
…or maybe just a tip of the hat. EDIT:Â Johnston did give Mead credit! Syd Mead, 1960s art for US Steel promotional brochure.
New project in the development pipe
Preview of a new tool stand I’m developing. Still in the design iteration cycle, but I’m ready to start cutting more prototypes for testing.
Quarantine Planning for the Fall Semester
I’m scheduled to teach another semester of Making Things Interactive this fall, but teaching physical computing remotely? Without student access to a physical computing lab, laser cutters, and 3d printers? Hey, I’m a designer, let’s do some research! Which starts with Alton Brown’s and his wife Elizabeth’s “Quarantine Quitchen“, where they make dinner with whatever […]