What to do if your keyboard on the screen. And if there are dozens of screens: At CES, the Russian design Art Lebedev, the company shows upcoming Optimus Aux Optimus popularis keyboard with a mini and a series of six unique keyboard for data input devices on the key to the home screen.
As many projects start, I found random parts that were laying around my room, and bought a couple additional things.
The parts are listed in the photo, but here are a few notes to help explain things:
I used an Arduino Duemilanove. You can use any Arduino as long as there are 7 digital (3 of them PWM), and 1 analog I/O ports.
The control knob I used fits the 1/4" shaft of the potentiometer. Make sure you buy a knob that has a set screw so that the baby can't easily pull it off the toy.
The resistors you need depend on what LEDs you use, what brightness you want, and desired buzzer loudness, etc. For the red 3mm LED (used for on/off status) I used a 390 ohm resistor. I used a 330 ohm resistor in the buzzer circuit so that the 'buzz' wouldn't be extremely loud. I used a 10k ohm resistor for the pushbutton switch and the rocker switch. For the yellow LED I used a 300 ohm resistor, and for the RGB LED I used 770 ohm resistors because the LED was super super bright.
I used 3 screws to attach the Arduino board to the case, 2 screws to attach the buzzer and 4 screws to attach the back plate. Screws work nicely because the threads are big and grab into the plastic case. Use whatever sizes fit your components.
Everything should be available for purchase at RadioShack, although they're also available at higher quality stores.
For tools you will need a soldering iron and 3D printer. If you don't have a 3D printer you can mount the switches into a box or send your file to a company that can print the case for you. You'll also need odds and ends like a screwdriver, wire cutters, solder...
Here are links to the parts I used: Buzzer Momentary pushbutton switch Rocker switch Control knob 3mm red LED Arduino Duemilanove RGB LED Rotary potentiometer Yellow LED 5mm 9v battery connector Toggle switch Resistors Wire Header Heat shrink Replicator 2 3D printer Solder station
This week on the podcast we're debunking productivity myths, checking out smart watches, and migrating Google Reader to Feedly. We're also answering your questions about the future of Wi-Fi (802.11ac), getting your parents off of AOL, and using a TV as a computer monitor.Here's how you can listen to our episode:
Feedly Gets Its Own Syncing Service, Detaches You From Google Reader and Feedly Launches a Standalone Webapp, No Extension Necessary: The internet probably doesn't need to be reminded that Google Reader is heading out the door on July 1st. The good news is, Feedly has already stepped up with its own sync server and extension-free webapp.
Instagram Can Now Record 15-Second Video Clips with Special Filters: Instagram is one of the most popular photo-sharing sites. Today, the company announced Video on Instagram: essentially, a Vine-like app for sharing quick video clips and add filters to them in typical Instagram style.
What Can I Do with a Smartwatch and Should I Get One? I keep seeing new “smartwatches” show up on gadget sites, but they all seem pretty different. What is a smartwatch, exactly, and should I consider buying one?
More Productivity Myths, Debunked by Science (and Common Sense): “A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.” “If you had more hours in the day, you'd be more productive.” These are common productivity tropes you've probably heard before, and you may even be wasting time trying to follow them when they don't make sense for you. Let's take a look at some of the most popular claims about productivity, and see if there's science to back them up.
How to Get (Nearly) Stock Android on Any Phone, No Rooting Required: Recently, Google fans finally got what they've wanted since the HTC Hero first came out: stock Android versions of the most popular, non-Nexus handsets. However, if you aren't able to pick up one of those phones, you can still get the stock experience, without having to root your device.
The Basics of Music Production: The Complete Guide: Over the last month we've learned all about the basics of music production, posting new lessons on a weekly basics. With the lessons finished, now you can get the complete guide and find out how you can learn more.
A correction from last time: “There is an important thing to note about what's safe to clean with CCleaner. The latest version will also, by default, remove saved sessions. So if you are like me and expect all 30 of your tabs to be there when you reopen your browser, uncheck Session under Chrome, Firefox, or Opera. Hopefully no one else figures this out the hard way!”Should I get an 802.11ac router? What are the benefits? Can I upgrade my MacBook with an 802.11ac card? Read this to learn about the benefits and if any are worth it right now. As for your MacBook, no, not really. It might be possible but I wouldn't hold your breath.How can I get my parents to ditch AOL? Only get them off of AOL if it's costing them money unnecessarily or it's causing you problems. If they're fine on it, lay off. If you have to solve tech support issues, tell them you aren't helping until they switch. If they're worried about transferring their address, set up a Gmail mail fetcher for them so they'll get all their AOL email in Gmail.Can I use a 1080p or 720p TV with a computer?Will it look bad if I use VGA input? VGA isn't great on TVs. You'll get by with VGA at 720p but it'll probably look bad at 1080p. You're better off using a digital connection, so go for a TV with DVI or HDMI instead. Many Vizio TVs have several HDMI ports and one that includes HDMI with computer audio input. If you can find a TV like that, use it. If not, get an HDMI to DVI converter.There are two ways to send in your question:Please keep your questions as brief as possible. This means about 3-5 sentences for emails and 30-60 seconds for calls and videos. Your questions can be specific, but broader questions are generally better because they'll apply to more people. For example, "how can I breathe new life into my old PDA?" is much better than "what can I do with an old HP iPAQ 210?" Either way, we look forward to hearing from you!
