creating

a microcontroller for all ages

2012-05-16T03:19:45Z

Can't wait to get my hands on one of these in August...

squishy squashy circuits

2012-05-09T16:34:57Z

I'm taking part in a Learning Party at Assemble - a community space for technology and art in my neighborhood. Tonight's theme is "Circuits & Contraptions" so what better time to make conductive playdough?

I cooked up the recipes two nights ago, and I'll be bringing both conductive and resistive playdough, some 10mm LEDs, a couple of 9-volt batteries, a tiny piezo buzzer, a small DC motor, and a handful of pipe cleaners for extra squiggly conductive shapes.

I've been interested in the possibilities of conductive playdough for a while, ever since watching AnnMarie Thomas's TED talk.

Here are some other great resources, links, and recipes:

a blog post from SparkFun electronics with links and directions

a printable recipe for conductive and resistive playdough

and the original conductive playdough site created by AnnMarie Thomas's research group.

animation

2011-12-23T19:48:38Z

hiatus

2011-12-23T02:04:11Z

I'm not spending much time online - as little as possible for the next week and a half - so rather than post sporadically and worry about it, I'm just going to declare a slight pause and resume with the new year. Hope everyone who celebrates has wonderful holidays. See you again in 2012.

more of the same

2011-12-21T02:56:52Z

See yesterday's entry. A quiet rhythm to the day.

quiet day

2011-12-20T04:33:57Z

Groceries. Knitting. Reading. Talking. Minimal time online.

arrival

2011-12-19T02:13:48Z

Yes, we have internet access.

almost in transit

2011-12-18T04:52:53Z

Supposedly we have internet access where we're staying...

paint

2011-12-17T04:14:11Z

Winter break began at noon - hooray! And now comes the difficult part - beyond rest, reflection, and family time, what projects will I focus on during these two weeks?

That question partly answered by the arrival in yesterday's mail of a small jar of conductive paint. I think I may play with paper and circuits. What happens when pop-up constructions use conductive paint? Can I make something that is interesting beyond the gee-whiz factor? What are the fewest materials I can use and still have fun? Can I make switches? Probably. Can I make a variable resistor with this stuff? Dunno. I'll play and see where it takes me.

half

2011-12-16T04:51:29Z

Half a school day left before winter break.

mostly offline

2011-12-15T04:11:15Z

Mostly offline this evening, reading a book, and then helping the youngest make the family recipe for Old English Toffee - household treat and teacher presents.

lackadaisy

2011-12-14T04:43:36Z

Lackadaisy writes about the construction drawing process, and about ways to create characters you can draw consistently.

planning

2011-12-13T04:53:58Z

Our winter holiday break approaches, and my mind turns to all the projects I'd like to start or complete, books I'd like to read, time I'd like to spend looking at the horizon - both literally and figuratively. The challenge - as always - is to find one or two things to concentrate on, not fourteen, so that I return rested and renewed.

triangle party

2011-12-12T04:19:33Z

Brought to us by the amazing Vi Hart.

mist

2011-12-11T04:28:56Z

By the time the audience arrived, the mist had dispersed, but it lent a surreal air to the space before our concert began...