New Train Tech Poses Hacking Risk

BBC News : A shift to a mobile communications technology could expose rail networks to hackers, according to a security expert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16347248

Eye Controlled Computer

The eyeboard is an open source project that was built in order to help people with disabilities. His circuit detects the eye movements using the technology called "Electrooculography". Which consists in detecting the resting potential that exists between the retina and the cornea by using skin electrodes around the eyes.

£16 Computer Gets Close To Launch

BBC News : The eagerly anticipated Raspberry Pi home computer is about to go into production.

The $25 (£16) machine is being created in the hope that it will inspire a new generation of technology whizz kids.

The Pi uses an Arm chip similar to that found in mobile phones and is intended to run a version of the Linux open source operating system.

Test versions of finished devices are being checked and if all is well volume production will start in January.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16316439

Self-healing electronic chip tests may aid space travel

BBC News : Self-repairing electronic chips are one step closer, according to a team of US researchers.

The group has created a circuit that heals itself when cracked thanks to the release of liquid metal which restores conductivity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16291943

The World's Most Useless Machine?

Sony's bio battery turns waste paper into electricity

 

BBC News : Sony has unveiled a paper-powered battery prototype in Japan. The technology generates electricity by turning shredded paper into sugar which in turn is used as fuel. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16288107

World's Simplest Motor Mk2?

World's Simplest Motor

A motor made only by a copper wire and a neodymium magnet. It uses one AAA battery but it can be done with AA one too. It's a simple motor, but unfortunately is not an efficient one, the battery drains quickly and heats up.

Samsung flexible, transparent AMOLED display

Is this the future of mobile phones? A paper thin sheet?

http://getandroidstuff.com/concept-video-samsung-flexible-transparent-amoled-display

Silicon rival MoS2 promises small, low-energy chips

BBC News : The first computer chip made out of a substance described as a "promising" alternative to silicon has been tested by researchers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16034693

Scientists at MIT replicate brain activity with chip

BBC News : Scientists are getting closer to the dream of creating computer systems that can replicate the brain.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed a computer chip that mimics how the brain's neurons adapt in response to new information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15772240

Build a POV Light Tube

With this POV light painter, you can paint the town red or any other color that suits your fancy. The LightScythe is a 2-meter long POV tube made up of multi-color LED strips.  POV stands for Persistence of Vision which describes how our eyes see motion blur when an object is moving quickly.  In this case, it enables us to see a message written with light.

An image is loaded onto a laptop which converts it to serial data, then sends it to an Arduino which controls the lightbar. A camera is set for 10 to 15 seconds of exposure, during which time the user walks across the frame, painting the image to be caught by the camera. 

http://hacknmod.com/hack/paint-the-night-with-giant-pov-tube



Electric Mountain Board with Wireless Control

As though an electric mountain board isn’t cool enough for zipping around, this industrious inventor just added wireless control.  He uses a glove laced with sensors & switches to control the device

http://hacknmod.com/hack/electric-mountain-board-with-wireless-control-2

Power USB Gadgets with your Bike!

With more and more gadgets coming out every day that utilize USB for charging, it’s almost necessary to have a USB port available at all times.  This DIYer decided to create a 5V generator using his bike and a modified USB car charger. The 5V USB plugs are situated under his seat and he has a carrying rack for cellphones, GPS, or MP3 players on the go.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/power-usb-gadgets-with-your-bike/

German Rosat spacecraft makes uncontrolled re-entry

BBC News : A big German spacecraft has made an uncontrolled fall from the sky.

The Roentgen Satellite (Rosat) re-entered the Earth's atmosphere between 01:45 and 02:15 GMT.

Incredible 3D Printing With Sunlight and Sand

This 3D printing project demonstrates what you can do in the desert with just two materials: sand and sun.  In the demo above, sunlight and sand are used to build up a design layer by layer to create glass objects using a 3D printing process.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/incredible-3d-printing-with-sunlight-and-sand/

Glasgow surgeon using ultrasound to treat fractures

BBC News : Doctors in the Scottish city which pioneered the use of ultrasound to scan the body are now using it to heal broken bones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15262297

Ofcom delays 4G mobile auctions

The 4G mobile tech will help to bring faster broadband to rural areas

BBC News : Telecoms watchdog Ofcom is to delay auctions that would sell chunks of radio spectrum to support future fourth-generation mobile services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15223275

Army of Tablet-Controlled Android Figurines

With the introduction of the Google ADK (Android Device Kit), DIYers building neat projects around the platform. With the addition of some LED lights and several servo motors (which control the movement of the head and arms), the static figures come to life at the commands of an Android tablet.




Control of the movement and flashing of the eyes is transmitted from the Android tablet by simply swiping your fingers to the music.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/army-of-tablet-controlled-android-figurines/ 

Guitar Hero Flame Thower?

Fire Hero is a suprisingly simple project that uses a Guitar Hero controller. The controller is connected wirelessly to a microcontroller, that turns valves full of propain on and off.

Transformer Robot Inside a Beer Can

Cleverly disguised as a beer can, this prototype robot transforms upon command.  Its brain is an MBED control board and the design incorporates two servos.  It is controlled by a Wii remote and gets around by walking on its three legs, or rolls for faster getaways.  Unfortunately, there is only limited information about the project’s build details.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/transformer-robot-inside-a-beer-can/

Apple unveils refreshed iPhone 4S, but no iPhone 5

BBC News : Apple has unveiled the latest iteration in its iPhone range, but there was no sign of the widely rumoured iPhone 5.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15172238

Android 'most popular' with smartphone buyers

BBC News : Smartphones running Google's Android are the most popular among those buying new handsets, suggest figures.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15076474

Y12 Project Ideas

Ideas for potential projects can be downloaded from here to help you devise an idea for a unique project.

http://www.ikes.freeserve.co.uk/ELECWK/index.htm

Babbage Analytical Engine designs to be digitised

BBC News : A project to construct one of the earliest mechanical computers based on sketches by its designer, Charles Babbage, has received a major boost.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15001514

Google Launches Google Wallet on Sprint and works with Visa, American Express and Discover

In May Google announced Google Wallet - an app that makes your phone your wallet - with Citi, MasterCard, Sprint and First Data. With Google Wallet, you can tap, pay and save using your phone and near field communication (NFC).

They’ve been testing it extensively, and today have released the first version of the app to Sprint. That means they’re beginning to roll out Google Wallet to all Sprint Nexus S 4G phones through an update - just look for the “Wallet” app.

Laser beam 'kicks' molecules to detect roadside bombs

BBC News : A laser beam that makes molecules vibrate could help detect improvised explosive devises, say scientists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14973447

Blackberry maker RIM profits fall sharply

BBC News : Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) has seen its second-quarter profits more than halve, hurt by low demand for its older models.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14941243

Incredible Collaboration of Swam Robotics

In the very near future, these researchers believe robots will combine together to do all the tasks assigned to them. The Swarmanoid Project is a glorious example of a glimpse into the future which demonstrates 60 robots working together in a collaborative environment.  The goal of the swarm robotic project (4 years in the making) is to use the different capabilities of each class of robot and combine them into a system to accomplish tasks.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/incredible-collaboration-of-swam-robotics

How to: DIY Segway for $400

The Segway may not have set city trails ablaze, they have sparked plenty of DIY versions.  A Segway is a costly transportation method since they cost as much as an entry level car. So, if you are tempted to build one of your own, follow this DIY Segway project and build one for a little over $400.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-diy-segway-for-400/

Could a robot be conscious?

BBC News : "If a robot is produced that behaves just like one of us in all respects, including thought, is it conscious or just a clever machine, asks Prof Barry C Smith, director of the Institute of Philosophy."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14886421

Jelly batteries: Safer, cheaper, smaller, more powerful

BBC News : "A new polymer jelly could be the next big step forward for lithium batteries."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14852073 

An Alarm Clock That Shreds Cash If You Don’t Wake Up

Need a little motivation to get up in the morning?  I bet an alarm clock which shreds your money would motivate you to get out of bed. Insert money the night before and, if you wish to sleep in, face the consequences: it WILL shred your money!  Instead of shredding real money (which is illegal), perhaps it would be better to place a fake bill in the clock and donate the real one to charity.  It’s only a concept at the moment, but perhaps not for long.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/alarm-clock-shreds-cash-if-you-dont-wake-up/

DIY Bluetooth Camera Shutter Release

If you’re into photography, you may wish for a way to activate your camera shutter from a distance.  By making use of a bluetooth transceiver and an Android smartphone, guy created a fairly simple way to send signals to his Nikon D90 through the shutter release plug in and snap pictures using his cellphone.



http://hacknmod.com/hack/diy-bluetooth-camera-shutter-release/

Electronic Component Art

 

British couple Lenny and Meriel Lenfesteys use parts from computers and electronics kits to create tiny figures called Sparebots.Sparebots are more commonly referred to as Life of Sparebots .

http://www.insanetwist.com/2011/03/life-of-electronic-components.html

Electric motor made from a single molecule

BBC News : "Researchers have created the smallest electric motor ever devised."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14763223

GCSE Revision

As Y12s, you are a very varied bunch! Some will have done Electronic Products GCSE, some will have done the Engineering Diploma and some will have never studied Electronics before.

To get everyone to the same level, we will beging by doing a whirlwind revision of GCSE Electronics. I will begin by introducing Electronic Systems, and then describe Logic Gates. Click on the links to view the relevant handout.

Mobile phones help to target disaster aid, says study

BBC News : "Mobile phones of people fleeing natural disasters can be used to target emergency aid according to a new study."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14761144

Boolean Equation Solver

Y12s : Over the next few weeks we will be looking at Boolean Algebra. This is a form of algebra that will help us express the requirements of our digital circuits which we will soon build.  Simple Solver is a Windows program that will give you the answer to your boolean equation!! Please be aware that I will expect any work from you to show all steps to the solution, and not just the solution itself.

Free Text Books!

This weekend BBC Click talked about a great web site - bookboon.com. It is a web site that offers free text books that you can download. The text books are funded by some advertising, but hey they're free!