Working up to a proto step by step
I just posted a description of a tangible concept demo I recently built. There were a few new things in this, such as learning how to use the serial connection,...
Category: Strategy
Hacking hardware
This past month or so I’ve delved into hacking hardware (not building, but taking apart). I’m leading the efforts at Owl, the company I work with, t...
The value of the open source community
One of the most valuable components of open source hardware and software making is availability of code and guides built by a community around a solution, hardw...
Fun with cardboard circuits
The usual progression for making printed circuits is (very roughly) you design the circuit, prototype it on a breadboard, design your PCB, and iterate on your P...
Acquiring new skillz, one achievement and a time
I am reminded of D&D, where everyone starts at Level 1 and you need to go adventuring to gain experience. Overlaid on that, each character has their class a...
Rapidly leveling-up on a new, well-trodden path
In the past 8 months or so I’ve been on a journey to learn everything I can about microcontrollers, circuits, electronics, components, sensors, and embedded sof...
Nike’s usability failure on the Apple Watch exposes what smartwatches could be
One of the chief reasons I bought an Apple Watch was for Nike Run Club (what used to be called Nike+).[1] But the Nike software’s bugginess and some misse...
Smartwatches: definitions, lifestyle, what works, and haptic afterimages
Despite what many write, smartwatches have been around for a long time. I know this because I got my first smartwatch back in 2005 (or was it even earlier when ...
Wrist wars determining fate of smartwatches and wearables
About two months ago I retired my Suunto T6 (left in image) and got an Apple Watch (right in image). The Suunto was top of the line wrist-top computer for 2006....
Fidgeting with phones
With all the craziness around fidget spinners, I just wanted to point out that back in the day, we used to talk about the ability to fondle Nokia phone. We felt...