Molin A0 Architects Drawing Board

Just found a beautiful A0 architects drawing board. I cannot wait to get my first large schemaitc prinout up there for inspection.


Specs as follows.
Molin A0 Architects Drawing Board

Width:1270mm
Height: 920mm

Parallel Motion Ruler
Adjustable Height
Adjustable Tilt
Foldable

 

26-pop-up-hackerspace


Could this be our future? Discuss.
Check out HPAMAKERS\#26-pop-up-hackerspace for 3d models and other files.
*Cover*
Gazebo (provide shade, bit of rain protection)
*Instrumentation*
USB Oscilloscope
USB Microscope
Multimeter
*Computing*
Laptops (Ebooks, CAD, ECAD, Programming, Excel, Music etc)
*Networking*
Low power router: Internet Dongle/Wireless Tether (g1?)
*Electronics*
Parts Drawer
Soldering Iron
*Power*
Several Large Battery Packs (vis. Kal's)

 

21-IET-mindstorms-competition

Post up photos, code, prize info, ideas etc...

 

Why Repeal sections 11-18 of the Digital Economy Act?

Here is a copy of the letter I wrote to my local MP. You should do the same!
Ask your MP to repeal the act!

Dear Mr Dowd,
please find enclosed web links to the results of independent security research that I have conducted into some of the issues I raise in this communication. Also please ensure you are up-to-speed with the technical aspects of the issues raised and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me for clarification or explanation.

My intention is to inform and ensure that you are fully aware of the ramifications of this bill to our constituency and the importance with which I personally regard this issue.

You are probably aware that the Digital Economy Bill was rushed through the last Parliament on 8 April during the so-called "washing up" phase without giving MPs the chance to scrutinize this complex and controversial piece of legislation. We live in the information age and the issues raised by this legislation go right to the heart of our development as a digital society in this new age and, in so doing, demand appropriate consideration.

I believe that the Act has very serious flaws, one of which is the provision to disconnect citizens from the internet which I believe to be a fundamental breach of human rights. Our society relies and will increasingly rely on the internet as a gateway to services, both public and private, goods, information and education. It can be argued that the internet has now become of critical importance, especially those members of our community that are vulnerable, frail, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged for activities ranging from working from home, keeping in touch with loved ones, managing bills or just doing the weekly shopping.

The Act allows the implementation of the 'three strikes' provision that could see families being disconnected from the internet for a minor civil offence, infringement of copyright. Furthermore, the Act holds the account holder liable, not the infringer. As a result people could have their work or education disrupted through no fault of their own. What about the case where the infringer, without the consent of the account holder, gains access and makes use of the account holder's internet connection through an unencrypted wireless network? I believe that around 12% of your constituents are currently exposed to this scenario based on data that I have collected (a passive wireless site survey of 317 networks). Should the account holder be disconnected because of their failure to fulfil their role to enforce the correct security scheme on their wireless router or enforce their own wireless network security policies? In what setting or on what occasion has the government helped or attempted to educate the wider public about this issue? Why should the general ignorance of the public on this matter be punished in this way.

I have conducted my own wireless site survey of my local area which took me about an hour, the results of which can be downloaded in google earth KML data form here: http://samthetechie.org/files/se23_wireless_survey.kml
Screenshot:

Please open this 'KML file' with google earth software to allow you to see the distribution of the wireless networks which are at risk: http://earth.google.co.uk/

The wireless networks in red are unencrypted and those in green are encrypted. You can see how widespread the problem is by the ratio of red to green dots (please zoom in and pan around to ensure that you see the full dataset). 317 wireless networks were surveyed of which 38 were found to be entirely unencrypted and no doubt many of the remaining 279 encrypted networks will be 'cryptographically weak' because they employ the WEP scheme; which is ‘easily crackable’. I am a fully trained electronic engineer (recently graduated from Durham University) and an independent network security consultant so please take it from me, if an individual really wants to get into your wireless network then not a lot can stop them, no matter what security scheme you use.
By unnecessarily criminalising and penalising the use of the internet in this way we will see a rise in the incidence of home network security cracking and invasion by people that have been disconnected or people attempting to evade their own disconnection.

The tools for wireless hacking are widely available and well known about, please go have a look:

http://sectools.org/wireless.html

http://www.aircrack-ng.org/

Please do not be mistaken about why these tools exist. These tools have been developed and popularised by technical enthusiasts, white-hat hackers, academics, computer experts and programmers from all walks of life in the hope that industry will address the underlying failure of the available wireless encryption schemes (WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc...)to provide adequate protection to all of our home networks. Also please do not be mistaken and the effectiveness of the governments proposed solution to the problem. They are only raising the technical barrier by a very small amount so the resulting fallout will be that families are disconnected rather than tackling illegal downloading. Computer experts have already innovated around the detection schemes which will be at the governments disposal. The technical community knows how to avoid detection and how to achieve plausible deniablity. So in the same way that all other technical arms-races have panned out (just think about 'viruses and spyware' against the 'security industry') the establishment or 'the authority' of the day has already lost.

This is a VITAL issue for me as my civil rights are threatened by this law!

I would greatly appreciate a meeting with you or a personal email or written response to this letter.

Yours Sincerely, Samuel Carlisle BEng (Hons) Dunelm MRI

 

25-hpamakers-reprap

Calling HPAMAKERS,


we have ordered the electronics. Things are moving!

We are compiling information to make our reprap:

Wiki: http://hpamakers.co.uk/index.php?title=25-hpamakers-reprap

Links: http://delicious.com/samthetechie/%2325

Document: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtPlyIZQV2PIdHRjY3VCejhXNThyMHdSa1R4N2owN1E&hl=en_GB

If you do not have access but would like to get involved then get in touch.

samthetechie
-- Can't stop the signal.

 

[Linux] Do you Ubuntu? LiveCD Howto

Ubuntu has grown from strength to strength over the years and linux is fast becoming, if not already, a viable alternative to windows or mac for the average user.

How do you spend most of your time on the computer?
89% Facebook/Social Media, 7% Email/Chat, 3.7% Browsing and 0.3% Excel/Word/Powerpoint... Linux can do that.

Tinkerers should not be Linux haters.
Hack away! Just don't fail. That having been said, if you like to hack and tinker then your Linux system is going to need some extra love when you have borked it. Hackers and tinkerers you have been warned- no names *cough* Ro, Kal, Phil.

Linux?
If you are interested in Linux but have not yet given it a go then now might be a good time to head on over to http://www.ubuntu.com/ and have a look.

Live CD
The live cd feature boots Ubuntu on your laptop or desktop without having to install over your current OS.

1. Following steps 1&2 on this page to download and burn linux to disc:http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
2. Ensure BIOS is set to boot from CD as the first entry otherwise the CD will not be checked before your OS is booted.
3. Insert the disc and on the ubuntu boot menu, select "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer".
4. Enjoy.
Note: Although a LiveCD session is a good way to demo Ubuntu without making changes to a machine, a LiveCD will always be slower than a proper installion that runs directly from a hard-drive (because a CD will always be physically slower than a hard drive). LiveCD sessions are good for:
-a quick 'demo' on a machine before installing/upgrading Ubuntu
-checking if the hardware works as expected
-seeing if you like the look & feel of the distro

More info on LiveCD: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

Summary

Pro's
------
Linux is far more secure than windows.
Linux is free: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download/

Con's
------
It needs a little bit of love to get going properly but then so do all computers.

Any questions or comments? Give me a shout.
Sam

 

22-simple-raised-bed

Take some old Pallets + unused space + soil + seeds = raised bed!

Materials Needed:
Soil, Volume (m^3) = Area of raised bed (m^2) x Depth of bed (m)
Wooden Planks
Wooden Pegs

The most practical design I know is:
1. Put a plank of wood (ripped off the old pallet) long side along the ground like standing on its edge.
2. then you put pegs either side to hold it upright
3. then fill with soil.

looks good, works great
takes like 2 hours tops

Old Pallets: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/Mr8m5VJ_5-aaJSAzQwsnXQ?feat=directlink
Proposed Site: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/AZd9OLyNTSu1dwrLYpD8PA?feat=directlink

 

20-very-low-powered-messaging-service

UPDATE: upon reflection, I could actually just hack an Classic 4 prototype from work to do all of the storage (it has some flash memory) and message writing (using keypads) and sending (would be done over serial link to the arduino / radio transceiver rig)! Note: there is also a wifi link for internal communications.
Another idea about shorter range personal messaging over the 805.14 link.

This is a slightly edited re-post of a comment I left on Kal's Blog: http://www.invaderzone.com/

What do we understand by the term: 'off grid'? I reckon it means:
-no power grid
-no mobile phone service/signal
-no telephone service
-no internet

I think we should have a backbone of communication that does not rely on Internet i.e. a radio based network so we could, say, send data over radio links. I suppose this would be very useful if the internet or mobile phone networks went down or just generally for fun!

#20-very-low-powered-messaging-service

It would send things like SMS messages over standard radio links using minimal power. So the first thing to say is that means we probably wont use a desktop/laptop because they are power guzzling beasts.

I reckon the minimum hardware needed to do the job is as follows.

Core Specification:
1 x arduino
1 x storage card e.g. SD
1 x radio transceiver
1 x hacked ps2 keyboard
1 x small LCD screen
1 x solar panel
1 x battery bank

this would give the basic hardware platform to send and receive and store messages completely 'off grid'.

optional specification:
1 x ethernet shield for arduino

this could allow a full webserver to be run on the system. Now that would be interesting!
e.g.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boolean/3399075841/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boolean/3399886646/in/photostream/

There are several conflicting goals when sending data over a radio link like this: reliability, processing, modulation techniques, security and efficiency etc.

The ideal outcome would be twofish / blowfish / some equally insane encryption on a 100% reliable link which consumes the least amount of power possible. Well this is just not going to happen- firstly, it is virtually impossible and would take an absolute genius if not a team of geniuses to pull off. So I think we should have a more modest initial goal:

Get the link working (unsecured, not optimised for low power)

Later development would consider the following issues:

Issue 1:
The system is powered on all the time?

Solution 1:
Scheduled communication.

Issue 2:
Time synchronisation between transceivers.

Solution 2:
Send SYNC packets between the transceivers.
Most watch crystals drift at 20us/second so we could use that as a starting point to work out the optimal sync period.

 

18-wifi-pineapple

I am now certain I need to get a free weekend for some router hacking.



 

17-wiimote-smartboard

I think that the following project by Johnny Lee from Carnegie Mellon University is fantastic and is really making waves in education, with makers, hackers, and general techies.
Latest: made a couple of infrared LED pens for my friend Jesper in Sonderborg (Denmark). It was fun to borrow some labspace at the university for an afternoon.

 

16-google-wave-brainstorm

I have just finished watching: Google Wave Developer Preview at Google I/O 2009
I would like to see more use of google wave as a tool to create 'infospaces' in real-time. So I am going to attempt to tweak the platform to optimise the initial layout of a wave to help structure the contributions a bit and add some intelligent behaviour to facilitate the dynamic presentation of resources (such as links, talking and research points/focuses/ideas) during the session.
For example, I would love to see a dynamic delicious tag cloud as links are added during the session. This would be a fantastically productive way of holding a meeting? I will need some people to test this out with so please get in touch! It is my hope that this project will be the key to all of the others. I think that once you truly 'crack' real-time collaboration and combine it with brainstorming and discussion, you have a powerful design and research technique/process. I think this could help make rapid progress on all of the projects.

My original inspiration for this capability was a New Scientist article I read a few years back. This is the bit that really caught my attention:

We have our wireless computers augmented by video cameras, projectors, and conferencing to remote participants as necessary.

Whenever a topic emerges in the course of conversation, the students instantly google it and introduce any interesting results into the discussion. As we accumulate data, references, web links, ideas, sketches, computer-aided design models, and other relevant material, we record it in a blog-like website that represents our small community's evolving, intellectual capital. The blog is accessible to any of us, at any time, from anywhere in the world.

This sort of creative practice may not seem very disciplined. It may even horrify those who think of teaching as the structured, authoritative dispensation of knowledge. But it is thrillingly intense and it enables us to make astonishingly rapid progress. It works, and I bet that this style of collaborative teaching will catch on.

source: Higher learning, the Wi-Fi way

I am so tempted to call it: 'brainwave'? Is that really lame?

 

15-collaborative-gardening

Aim: A platform to allow gardeners to share data and knowledge about cropping times, local conditions etc in an attempt to monitor and optimise food cultivation processes and techniques.

What?
Composting (green and brown waste)
Water Butt (n.b. modify design to allow draining --> prevent stagnation)
Veggie plot plant info packs per vegetable.
Freecycle element: i.e. give away free cuttings, clippings, excess cropped veg or fruit (Wanted, Offered etc.)
Surveying (trundle wheel, camera)
Google Sketchup

Here is an awesome email from Tasha which will really help kick started the garden project.


Ok so here it is!

This is pretty much as far as I can go with your garden. Below is a list of "beds" these "beds" are comprised of plants which get on well together. It is up to you where you place the beds in your garden. As general rules I would advise no straight lines/borders just create soft curved lines that allow the plants to be placed together and also so you can reach the middle of the bed at any given point. During the winter the only preparation I would do is clear that right hand corner a bit so you can use that raised bed and then cover all the areas you plan on using with mulch and cardboard to keep it warm and help kill off any weeds you don't want over winter. Then when you come to plant you just cut holes in the mulch/cardboard and work straight in. I've read that people are finding they get greater yields leaving the soil in tact for many reasons yet to be fully understood by modern science.

Beds:
1. Nasturtium and Courgette; the nastrutium creeps and traps aphids, attracts predatory insects and helps curcurbits. (I think this would be good in the raised bed so the nasturtium dosn't get completely out of control (also you can eat all of the nasturtium plant)
2. Peppermint and Broccolli; the smell of peppermint repels cabbage fliesand slugs
3. Carrot, onion, lettuce and coriander; onion will deter carrot fly and repel slugs and corianders smell will help repel carrot fly
4. Potato, tomato, basil, parsley, oregano, mint; oregano provides ground cover, basil is said to make tomatoes taste better and mint repels slugs
5. Pea and Garlic; garlic deters rabbits, slugs, aphids, carrot fly and cabbage worms (sounds good)
6. Rosemary, sage, thyme and tarrago; sage deters cabbage fly, aromatic herbs deter slugs, spiky textures do as well (these could be put near the house for cooking convience or put at random in amongst the beds I guess)
7. Pakchoi, spinach, watercress and borage; borage is a magick bullet in companion planting it's said to improve any plant yield
Yarrow increases the essential oil production of some herbs and can be used as a compost enricher (plant all around the garden)
Marigold produces natural pesticidal in its roots and lasts for years in the soil even once the plant has died (again plant everywhere)

I would try to grow everything from seed in compost pots then put the pots straight in the ground when they are big ennough. Tell me what you think for some direction and we can go from there. We need to sort out how you will get mulch, composting, water supply. Also there are tonns of things we could do in the garden to help make the house more efficient. Oh, in terms of design I thought it would be nice if you made the arch trail with something and put a seat in it. I do have a very rough sketch of a plan but I don't have a scanner, so not much use sorry.

Tasha x

p.s. watercress likes water, thought of having a small water feature? If not you can always dig a small trough for it to be planted in so the water collects there.

 

14-home-automation-modules

Aim: achieve a basic level of home automation by having a low-power sub-system being able to switch more energy intensive systems on and off.

Development Milestones

1st: digitally controlled relay
2nd: serial port control
3rd: wireless control
4th: web interface

 

13-318-house-web

Aim: This project aims to pull together the requisite information, hardware and software to make a web-based intranet and information point for my home.

What?

Weather: int / ext temperature, forecast, photovoltaic gain, wind speed, humidity int/ext
Time / Date
Calendar: public holidays, house calendar
News --> RSS
Events --> RSS
Power consumption monitoring: Reverse engineer an OWL system.
Local info: Shop opening hours/location, bus/train routes/times, taxi numbers


How?
Good question...

In terms of the data and control structure, I currently see a subsumption layer architecture being appropriate.
There will be sensor inputs, a sequencing layer, a behaviour layer, actuator outputs- see digram "subsumption"

#13-318-house-web

 

12-online-collaboration-platforms

Further to "Feed my delicious mind"...

A workshop I ran a while back entitled: 'An Introduction to Online Collaboration Platforms'.

To my knowledge, this is the first and only computer workshop hosted by the Durham University Engineering Society (note: I would love to run a workshop on ardunio after exams...if you want to get involved then get in touch): http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dg4dhwgp_12fpkcbv4j

It is a quick presentation with some links to youtube commoncraft videos and some urls with examples of the platforms in use. Click, watch, install delicious and then please share bookmarks with me! username: samthetechie

 

11-lego-mindstorms-environment-mapping

Aim: Design, Test and Build a fully autonomous mapping robot from lego mindstorms.
Day-1
Pretty awesome project brief.
This project is just before exams and runs for two weeks so we should really be looking to be working to deadlines and just get on with it. With that in mind...
We are using a software module from a project from a German University to interface Mindstorms with Matlab, details to follow via delicious and by updating this post. This also allows us to control the robot through Matlab, using a serial link over bluetooth.
We are also using Mindstorms NXT for running the introductory demo/example programs.

#11-lego-mindstorms-environment-mapping

 

10-Classic4OmniBot

Aim: Create a robot controlled by the Classic 4 using omni wheels and dc motors.
This robot would be known as the Classic 4 Omnibot. This would be a hack of the 'Classic 4' theraputic device I collaborate on at work to control some actuators to make a cool robot. So...I think it would be awesome to recreate: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pprk/
with the Classic 4 as the brain.
Here are some pics:

#10-Classic4OmniBot

 

9-Jennic-Wireless_Sensorboard

Aim: get to grips with the Jennic Wireless Sensorboard which I am currently borrowing from work.

 

8-Custom-MSP430-JTAG

Aim: Create a custom JTAG connector for the MSP430.

because the proprietary ones simply cost way too much!

 

7-solar-charging-circuit

Aim: create a charging circuit to usefully harness power generated by solar panels.

This might allow charging AA, AAA batteries or portable devices like Ipods and mobile phones.

An interesting blog post by google: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/should-you-spring-clean-your-solar.html

 

6-mini-wind-turbine-and-generator

Aim: generate some electricity from wind

 

5-physical-email-notifier

Aim: Use data from gmail to trigger an actuator in my lab.

This may take the form of a coloured LED or something similar.

 

4-plant-monitoring-modules

Aim: Monitor physical parameters relevant to plant growth and put the information online.

This will compliment future projects.

 

3-stepper-motors-for-robotics

Aim: Create some stepper motor driver circuits which will later allow the design of a robot.

 

2-web-interfaces-for-stepper-motors

Aim: Allow stepper motors to be controlled over the Internet.
This will be a nice compliment to other projects which will allow integration with various sites like Twitter and Gmail. On ToDo list to write this one up.

 



Page Last Updated: 23rd April 2010 00:15