This is the nerdiest project I have ever worked on. I have reached my pinnacle of nerd-dom. This is my week-late midterm project. It is a Moog Etherwave Theremin (that i previously constructed from a kit), which I have augmented with a clear acrylic top, and a hackduino circuit that takes a control voltage from the theremin, and controls two RGB LEDs! I strategically sanded parts of the theremin cover to both diffuse the LED light even more, and simultaneously show off the beautiful circuit board inside. I still need to tweak the code, but the physical part is done!
The instructable contains the Illustrator file to make your own cover with a laser cutter, and I will post the code there as well after I perfect it.
“Who lives longer? the man who takes heroin for two years and dies, or a man who lives on roast
beef, water and potatoes ’till 95? One passes his 24 months in eternity. All the years of the beefeater
are lived only in time.”
Aldous Huxley (1954)
“One sort of believes in recycling. But one believes in it as a kind of palliative to the gods.” This much I know, Fay Weldon,The Observer Magazine, (30 August 2009)
Hard disks get too old, keyboards lose their keys, modems break, disk drives run too slow, VHS don’t have a proper recorder anymore, wires get no plugs, screens fall apart. They are all abandoned somewhere, apparently useless.
What happens to these products when they are no used anymore and get trashed?
What is the best way to keep using these products anyway?
How can we exploit their potentials, their hidden qualities and unknown properties?
The answer is RECYCLING.
If we really want to use technologies to their best, we need to preserve and save as much as we can.
FloppyTrip is the new frontier in recycling. This brand new smart drug satisfies everyone, from the youngster who never saw a floppy disc before, to aged nerds nostalgic of the ’80s design. Not mentioning those who work into recycling, those who need a new drug to stop feeling hungry, scientific researchers interested in new hallucinations.
FloppyTrip is for everyone.
FloppyTrip is easy to prepare.
FloppyTrip is cheap.
More importantly, FloppyTrip is legal. How to make your own FloppyTrip
Instructions:
Remove the metal cover from the inner memory disc in the floppy, use a knife if needed. Cut the
plastic part through the frontal surface. Put slight pressure on the plastic part and let the inside
memory disc get out of the floppy.
Fill a soucepan with water and bring to a boil. Dip the memory disc in the water. Let it boil for a
few minutes, until the water is completely dark. Turn off the fire, then strain in a jug, making sure
the disc is removed from the liquid. Add two tablespoons cane sugar and top up with a small
amount of gin. Stir with a spoon and serve hot.
Hey gang! For next week, you’ll be making a quick tutorial video. Deliverables, due Tuesday April 6th at 11pm EDT:
Post on this here class blog with:
-your embedded video from YouTube or Vimeo
-a short supplies/tools list for executing your how-to
Your video should:
-show the internet how to do something – dance, cook, craft, hack, whatever you like.
-be concise and informative
-be short (5 minutes maximum)
-be your best work, but remember, it’s a quick assignment so don’t stress yourself or go overboard. On that note…
-challenge your abilities. If you know how to edit video, show us your skillz. If you’ve never done it before, show us your best one-take wonder!
Here are the notes from class!
Things we like about how-to videos online
short
funny
informative
entertaining
clear steps
script
personable – person’s face in video
compelling subject
music
safety warnings
good pacing
delivery
resources at the end
considering target audience/vocabulary
screen capture software: decrease screen resolution so we see the tools (ScreenFlow, snapz pro, new quicktime, screenium)
use a tripod
be specific
include sticking points/deal breakers that could hang up the project
