After a successful day's hacking on the Arduino line-scan image sensor at the Dorkbot Bristol Hack Day, I can now claim FIRST LIGHT! I had the sensor working earlier in the week, but I now have a way to actually see what it can "see" (all 128 pixels of it). I thought about installing and learning a C++ graphical framework like Qt or GTK+, but ( Read more... )

I have now received the chips from RS Components, and the mix-up with the ADC/DAC parts has been resolved. The TSL1401 is connected to the Arduino and sending pixel data to the host. I have a Boots disposable 35mm camera to hack into a lens and housing for the sensor. I expect I'll take the whole lot to the next Dorkbot hack day on Sunday ( Read more... )

I've switched back to part-time working for a few weeks now, so I've had a bit more spare time. Not that I've done very much productive with it, you understand. Well, I did make a photographic trip round the harbour:


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The two big events recently were the Vintage Computer Festival at Bletchley Park and the annual bubble car rally at Keynsham.


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Oh no, it's been two months since my last update here! Lots been going on, but also lots not getting done ( Read more... )

I'm starting to look forward now to the Maker Faire in Newcastle in mid-March. I need to get a few things fixed up, like the Compukit UK101, to take along. I also need to make a couple of things pretty much from scratch, to take along and see if they generate enough interest that I could make them into products ( Read more... )

I have just received word from O'Reilly that I have been accepted to exhibit at the Maker Faire in Newcastle, March 13-14th 2010 ( Read more... )

Today, I sent off my proposal for the 2010 Maker Faire in Newcastle. I should find out in January if I've been accepted. It'll be the same Compukit UK101 exhibit as last year, plus some new goings-on with the Arduino and maybe some other 8-bit chips ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I received a small parcel containing two SID chips (6581) rescued from doomed Commodore 64s. My plan is to wire one of them up to the Arduino, which I'm currently doing. I'll need a 1MHz Phase2 clock, which means dividing down a 16MHz oscillator module with a 74HC393. Wish the Arduino had a 16MHz clock output pin! Once I have a clock, ( Read more... )

Saturday was Dorkbot Bristol's Mad Hatters and Mad March Makers and Shakers day (or something), and we all turned up at Hamilton House for it. Only to find that we didn't have the right key for the fifth floor doors. Once that was sorted out, hat-making began in earnest. It was millinery, but with electronics! My modified hard-hat (from ( Read more... )