RoboTechEd

Everything You Need to Know About the Raspberry Pi

2012-02-12T19:31:00.001-05:00

The online tech community is wild about the soon-to-be released Raspberry-Pi. The cleverly named device is a $25 Linux computer that is the size of a credit card (right). With impressive specs and even more impressive performance, the Raspberry Pi has been seen running Quake 3(bottom), XBMC, and Air-Play, without lag. The R-Pi is due to start sales to consumers later this February, with the construction of the first 10k finishing on Feb 20th. Only the 'B' version will initially be for sale and will be priced at $35.

The device has an 700 MHZ ARM11 processor, and 128MB of RAM. The upgraded ‘B’ version sports a 10/100Mb Ethernet port and 256MB of ram. For the less-techy people out there, the specs are just short of a modern smart-phone (but can easily outperform the newest iPhone4s). The R-Pi is capable of HD video playback, and outputs through HDMI and RCA (the circular yellow plug on older devices). It has 2 USB 2.0 ports which share the same USB Controller. On the ‘B’ version, the Ethernet port also shares the USB controller. R-Pi will boot off of an SD card (sorry, it will not be able to boot off of USB) and will be powered by micro USB cable. The picture below shows the board’s layout.

On a more technical note, the board also has 16 accessible GPIO (general-purpose I/O). All of the pins are unpopulated and will be digital only. But chances are if you plan on using them, then you probably have a spare A/D converter laying around anyways. Another board referred to as the GertBoard will be released at some-point soon as well. This will allow users to more-easily drive high-power motors and sensors on a shield-like board (the GPIO do not have pull-down resistors or diodes to prevent reverse current attached. It is assumed that users using this will have enough common sense to not fry their board). Because of how easy the GertBoard will be to use, the Raspberry Pi may be able to start a new revolution in the hacking community; the same way Arduino has. The most popular Arduino board, the Uno, currently sells for ~$30 and doesn’t have nearly the speed of the R-Pi.
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The Raspberry Pi is being developed with the purpose of bringing computer programming back to schools, and not languages like HTML, that most schools currently consider adequate. With a low cost, the R-Pi may be treated as a form of textbook in some tech classes, and will finally allow students to bring home a computer to learn with (without worrying about bricking their parent’s). More high-end languages will be able to be taught like C, or Java and students will also be able to learn more about the structure of operating systems - because the Pi will be completely Open Source and un-brickable. Hopefully, schools will be able find space for Raspberry Pis in their curriculum and buy a few. A $25 computer is a lot cheaper than a $100 textbook...and a lot cooler.

One of the most recent pictures of a Raspberry Pi. The
final version will most likely look similar.

The hacking community is expected to be the main buyers of the first batch of R-Pis. With projects seen on the forums like a a cheap media station, a car PC, an Android Emulator, a robotics micro-controller, and home automation. I plan on buying one to make a multi-media station for my [parents] HDTV (network media streaming, Netflix, YouTube, Interwebs, picture sharing, music, etc). The reason that the first batch is not going to schools is because the R-Pi foundation is hoping that the hacking community will help develop the learning materials, software and tutorials for the less-advanced users. Within the first month I can guarantee that you will see thousands of easy open-source projects using the Pi...Maybe even here on RoboTechEd!

If you plan on getting a R-Pi then I recommend you follow the organization on Twitter and forwarding their tweets to your phone. They don’t expect their inventory to last very long (I give it 10 minutes), even though they are limiting initial sales to 1 per person. The store will open at some point after Feb 20th and before the end of the month. The foundation also plans to ship world-wide from day one. If you want to get a few of these for your school, then you will have to wait for a little later in the year, the foundation will be selling bulk to schools at some point after they get a feel for their sales. Either way you should hop onto the R-Pi forums and check out some cool project ideas, and contribute to the development!

Google Finally Releases Chrome for Android

2012-02-08T22:30:00.002-05:00

Yesterday Google announced their new web browser for Android - Chrome. Google Chrome Beta is only available at the moment for Android devices running 4.0 (Ice-Cream Sandwich), meaning that almost every phone/tablet out there isn't compatible...for the moment. Chrome is still in Beta (as the name suggests) and little is known whether or not Google will release it for lower-gen devices, but I guess anything is possible. It could be that Google is keeping it for 4.0 until they get the bugs out, and then will later launch an update with backwards compatibility.

The late release may be in response to Google’s newest privacy changes aimed at combining all of their apps together for a more streamlined performance. With Google Sync, Chrome for Android will help Android stick to Google’s goal of simplicity. It will be nice to have all of my computer tabs opened on my PC and vice-versa, but can’t help thinking that this is what Google should have done from the start, much like iOS did. Check out the video below for more information, and if you have a 4.0 device (my Razr will get upgraded soon I hope), feel free to send me a review on Facebook or Twitter or in the comments below!

How-To: Fix Track-pad in Ubuntu on a Chromebook

2012-01-27T16:22:00.003-05:00

If you followed my post on how to install Ubuntu on a Chromebook, then I’m sure you were less-than-impressed with the track-pad. It acts unresponsive at times, and the multi-touch just isn't there. Well, I recently decided to start using my Chromebook for some Android development (RTE App maybe?) and found that there was a driver to fix the track-pad in Ubuntu.

Courtesy of the CR-48 blog (which also shows how to install Ubuntu), you can install functional track-pad drivers. This includes multitouch, two finger scrolling, and better responsiveness. All you need to do is download the DRIVERS and double click on .deb package. Then follow the on screen instructions agreeing to all of the terms of service. It will prompt you for the root password (which is user by default). Once done, restart your Chromebook and start programming!

Have more tips/questions? Tweet me @RoboTechEd or on Facebook.

Everything You Need to Know About MegaUpload’s Shutdown

2012-01-23T13:21:00.000-05:00

A few days ago the FBI stormed into MegaUploads’s headquarters and arrested 7 of the companies top executives. They seized millions of dollars in goods as seen in the Indictment, as well as all of the company's servers. The picture below is what you will see if you try to access MegaUpload right now, the first time many of us have seen a legit image pertaining to something like this.

With SOPA/PIPA recently being disbanded (for now), many people felt more secure with the governments influence on the Internet. Many of us have forgotten that the government still is capable of shutting down websites on command. Whether it be for Copyright Infringement, Money Laundering, Racketeering, or all of the above in MegaUpload’s case. But was MU’s shutdown really for these reasons? Many believe it was the government's last push to regain control of the interwebs in retaliation to SOPA/PIPA’s closure - something like saying ‘We don’t need a bill to enforce the law.’ Although the Internet won the fight against Internet cencorship, we lost one of our largest means to free information. In-fact, MegaUpload was an estimated 4% of all Internet usage - that’s a lot of files.

Now, the hacker community is up in arms. With the belief of a free flow of information as their guns and the hacking expertise as their bullet; Anonymous has gone on a hacking spree against many of the SOPA supporters and government agencies including the FBI. These attacks don’t bring the sites down for long, but they get the point across. In-fact Anonymous released a statement about the attacks.

Many websites are scared that they will fall in the footsteps of MegaUpload. We all wonder if this was just to assert authority, or will the government crackdown? File-sharing company FileSonic recently locked down their file sharing feature in fear. Let’s just hope DropBox isn’t next.

Little is known about what will happen with MegaUpload. It may be back one day, but chances are it won't. I do know however that it will go down in history books as a defining case. If MegaUpload is reborn, the files stored on the servers may be back, but chances are slim. Also if there are any files you legally stored on there, they probably won't returned - instead they'll sit forever in the FBI's basement as a trophy. We do know that this is the first of many casualties in SOPA's wake - oh yeah and MegaUpload’s CEO is still ranked #1 in COD MW3. Just thought ya’ should know.

EXOdesk - The First Desk You Have to Plug-In

2011-12-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Chances are we all have one, and chances are it doesn’t need to get plugged into the wall...yet. The desk is an ancient invention that we use today, often with some piece of technology on top. That’s what the EXOdesk aims to change, they took the simple everyday computing tasks you do and put them into your desk.

Using the EXOdesk you can check Facebook, surf the web, and even play angry birds all at the expected cost of $1299. This is thanks to the desk’s 10 point multi-touch display. The desk runs HTML5 apps natively - meaning any future HTML5 apps will be able to run on this handy device - Hello, My Robot Nation! The desk is also capable of being a virtual mouse and keyboard, meaning no more sticky keys or Dusty keyboards. The only issue i see here is the inevitable spilled soda (I don't think this would clean up very easily).

Check out the video below to see the desk in action. And be sure to follow RTE on Facebook and Twitter!

Adafruit's ATmega Pinout Can Save You Troubleshooting Time

2011-12-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ever have problems identifying pins on IC chips? Does constantly looking at the data-sheet just annoy you? Then, counting the individual pins causes you to have hours of debugging - just to find that you have GND hooked up to the wrong pin? Adafruit has your back and made these handy pinout labels for ATmega328 ICs. Meaning that your breadboard Arduino has just become 10 times easier to use! Check out the download HERE and make sure you use some good double-sided sticky tape to keep it securely adhered.

OnLive's PlayPack Free for a Month Thanks to GameSpot

2011-12-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my friends at OnLive Informer I discovered Gamespot’s OnLive PlayPack offer. If you’re unfamiliar with OnLive then you should know that OnLive is a video game streaming service, which enables all devices to become gaming platforms. iPhones (and iPads!) to netbooks, can now all play high end video games like Assassins Creed, Batman Arkham City, and Saints Row the Third. OnLive does this by processing the gaming on their servers, and streaming you the live video with some specialized codec. I have been an OnLive fan for months because of their competitive prices, and simplicity. And now, Gamespot has brought about a way to allow all gamers to experience the fun of OnLive.

If you go and fill out the form HERE you will get unlimited access to OnLive’s PlayPack for a month. Some of the games include Batman Arkham Asylum, Homefront, and F.E.A.R. 3. On top of the unlimited gaming of over 100 titles, you will receive 30% off any game that you do decide to buy - making the newest Assasin’s Creed priced just under $35 USD. The play-pack is a $10 value that Gamespot is offering free for a month to all new members so make sure you make an account and check it out while you can! Be warned though, the promotion does require you enter a Credit Card.

Using an ATtiny to Save Space and Money

2011-12-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever needed a microprocessor that is easy to use but isn't as large and bulky as your Arduino? Or maybe you just don’t want to put a bunch of unnecessary money into a project and using a full Arduino just makes the project not worth the effort? That’s where the ATtiny85 comes in. Using a tutorial found on the MIT High-Low Tech Group page, you can now program your ATtiny using a traditional Arduino. Check out the video below for an easy to follow tutorial as well.

I tried this recently and had no issues. It even works with the newest Arduino IDE (Check out Arduino 1.0 if you haven't yet already). All you need to do is load some hardware folders and program your Uno to be an ISP. Then, change your board type to “ATtiny85 w/ Arduino as ISP” and upload your sketch. If you have an Uno you must remember to jump the ‘reset’ pin to ground so that the auto-reset is disabled with a 10uf cap. Presumably you could also use a 120ohm resistor.

Overall the ATtiny works really well and uses most Arduino commands. The only issue for me is that the Servo library doesn't seem to work - meaning the project I had intended to work on has to use a regular ATmega. Either way, the ATtiny will find a use in some low-processing projects that I’m working on. Leave me some feedback on Facebook or Twitter with some cool project ideas or if you’re having any issues.

Building a Gaming Rig for Under $600

2011-12-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago my friend asked me to design him a custom gaming desktop for under $600 that could handle Starcraft II on Ultra settings. Being the arrogant nerd that I am, I took the challenge and went off with his credit card to buy the parts. I looked over the Falcon Guide and tweaked it depending on the prices at the time and the wants of my friend. I also replaced the graphics card with a budget one that I know could play SCII on max settings (the same one that I use now).

The parts are all listed below and all bought from Amazon. I chose Amazon compared to Newegg because I’m a prime member and get free 2-day shipping on most things. Plus we bought these during ‘Cyber Week’ and there were some pretty good sales on Amazon.

They all came in just a day ago and we started constructing the PC seen above (my first complete desktop build). The computer handles Starcraft II with no lag and hasn't gotten hot enough to even notice a difference from the air temperature. The build was smooth and all disks/drivers needed were provided. The only issue we ran into was realizing that we didn’t buy a disk drive. Luckily you can put anything on a disk onto a flash drive and use that instead. Or resurrect an old drive from another computer (just make sure it’s SATA if you use the motherboard below). I would normally post a how-to but there are hundreds online and the build is pretty simple for the tech people out there.

Let me know if you have any suggestions or questions on Facebook or Twitter and be sure to try to build a desktop yourself! Gaming just isn’t the same on a laptop.

RoboTechEd Finally Has a Facebook Page!

2011-12-06T22:27:00.001-05:00

Are you running out of cool things to 'Like' on Facebook? Is your news feed lacking your daily dose of nerdy news? Or maybe you've been searching FB for months for a RoboTechEd page (which I'm sure everyone who reads RTE does). If you answered yes to any of these then you need to check out RoboTechEd's official Facebook fan page! You can LIKE it HERE and join in on the fun!

My Robot Nation - After My Own Heart

2011-11-02T13:35:00.001-04:00

Not everyone has access to a 3D printer, and the people who do, rarely offer their services at reasonable prices. Now a company called ‘My Robot Nation’ is offering custom 3D prints of custom made robot figurines! And the prices are reasonable too! The prices are as follow; $17.99 for a 2” model, $24.99 for a 3” model, and $169.99 for a 6” model (alright, the 6” model isn't a great price, but is understandable why).

My Robot Nation offers a free online CAD program where users get to choose predefined shapes and body parts to design their own custom robot. The amount of available parts is actually quite impressive and some of the already-built robots are even more impressive. Robots like the one pictured below were all made using My Robot Nation’s WebGL based program and can be viewed/rated under the ‘The Nation’ tab at the top of the screen.

The concept of My Robot Nation is really interesting, and the implementation is absolutely extraordinary. The program has run completely smooth for me so far and I have yet to make a robot which I’m not tempted to buy. The coloring options are in-depth and very responsive. Now to just pool up some money and get a RoboTechEd robot look-a-like (RTE’s background); the last part I need is a one to replicate the antennae in some way and the model will look very close. If you’re able to replicate it shoot me a pic on Twitter and feel free to post any of your creations below and make sure you also follow @MyRobotNation for all updates to the service!

Check out My Robot Nation's photo gallery HERE.

Google to Release Own Antivirus?

2011-11-01T20:00:00.000-04:00

Google is leading innovation when it comes to the web and isn’t afraid to get involved in anything and everything they can be. With that said, a video was recently posted on Google’s Youtube page titled “How to protect your computer from malware” (below). For a company who recently launched an operating system based around it being virus-proof this seems quite interesting - makes me think that Google could be releasing the one thing they haven’t even mentioned yet, Google antivirus.

Think about it, Google has done everything so far, from maps to phones. Many ideas go untouched and get discontinued like GNotebook, or GHealth (I hope they bring back notebook, I never got a chance to use it). And now with Chrome expected to surpass Firefox soon in users I would bet that Google’s next big plan is to develop their own antivirus. Google has yet to even mention the idea, which seems to be common when it comes to Google app development (it’ll be announced when it’s released).

Hopefully if released, the antivirus will stick to Google’s morals - open and free. And if so, Google will definitely give other popular antivirus’ like AVG or Norton a good run for their money - because if there’s a company that most people know and trust, it’s Google. Do you think Google is planning on releasing their own antivirus? Let me know in the comment box below or on Twitter and if Google does release anything be sure to check back here the day of for reviews and news about it.

Updated Petman -World's Most Realistic Humanoid

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Boston Dynamics just uploaded a new video on youtube of their newest revision of ‘Petman’ which is a robot used to replicate human movement for military testing. The newest revision of Petman broke Boston Dynamic’s history of making really creepy robots. Petman actually looks realistic and doesn’t give me goosebumps like their first versions of BigDog. Instead I am rather impressed with Petman’s capabilities - and looks too!

In the video (below) you can see Petman replicating human motions almost to the tee. Petman is seen running, doing push-ups, and walking exactly as a human would and to the upper right you can see what appears to be Petman doing jumping jacks (or some thing like that) from Boston Dynamic’s website. All of these movements make Petman the worlds most realistic humanoid - a title which you would expect to be given to an Asian company. With innovative robots like Petman, BigDog, and the in-dev ‘SquishBot’ I’m confident that we will be seeing a lot more from Boston Dynamics.

Petman is capable of running at similar speeds to humans, jumping, doing push-ups, and even sweating. All to make sure that soldiers are provided with the best gear possible. Research like this really makes the program look good, and (I hope) helps to increase Boston Dynamic’s funding. Be sure to check out their website HERE for more info, and let me know what you think about Petman in the comment section below or on Twitter.

Siri Hacked - Cheaper iPhone4s' Incoming

2011-10-31T14:56:00.000-04:00

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably know about Apple’s newest iPhone - the iPhone4s. The name really hasn’t changed much besides the ‘s’ slapped on the end and to be honest the hardware isn’t a huge jump either. The 4s has a better camera (8MP up from 5MP), a slightly faster processor (dual-core), and a better battery (allthough recently the battery life has been significantly worse due to buggy software). So what makes the iPhone4s better? The ‘s’ is exactly what; Siri.

Siri is Apple’s new voice command software which is built into the 4s. It can do tons of cool things and save tons of time. But Siri is software, and that’s all. Therefor there isn’t any logic reason as to why Siri couldn’t run on older iPhones, except maybe due to a possible lag. Below I have a video from 9to5mac.com which shows Siri hacked to run on an old iPhone4 and working!

When Siri first came out it was hacked to run on an iPhone4, but the servers that do Siri’s commands wouldn’t respond to the outdated iPhone. Assuming that this video is real, there is a lot of hope to iPhone4 users out there and could hopefully save a lot of money down the road. Now to just get the guy to release the programs he used and a walkthrough (although, I’m sure that he intends to and is working on it as afst as he can right now). Check back here in the future for when the walkthrough is released and hopefully you too will be able to get an iPhone4s at the cost of the regular iPhone4.

Bootloading an Atmega328 with an Arduino Uno

2011-10-25T18:01:00.000-04:00

My most recent hack required a second microprocessor, something much smaller than your standard off-the-shelf Arduino. After some research I decided to use an Arduino’s ATmega328 chip due to it’s ease of use and wide variety of online resources. I then went online and ordered the necessary parts for my breadboard Arduino (ATMega328, 16MHz Crystal, 2 22pf capacitors and the parts necessary for my project). But after I received my parts I realized the Arduino boot-loader wasn’t on the chip...Uh oh.

After some research I found that I could bootload the chip using an Arduino Duemilanove (An older version of the Uno). Well, considering the Duemilanove and the Uno are essentially the same, theoretically you could install the bootloader using an Uno. Directions on how to do so are on the Arduino website (HERE), but sadly state that the method will not work using an Uno or older Arduino boards. This is because of the Uno’s auto-reset feature. After a while of testing and research I found that you can download the boatloader using an Uno if you connect the reset pin to the 5v pin using a ~120ohm resistor. This disables the automatic reset, and then you can burn the boot-loader just like you would on the Duemilanove. (Set up the circuit like in the picture below and choose Duemilanove w/ 328 - under the board selection in the Arduino IDE)

You then have your own Arduino for only ~$6 in parts! Not a bad deal, and with some good soldering capabilities and EagleCAD skills (I have neither) you won’t ever need to buy another Arduino ever again. Especially because your Uno can also program any ATMega328 chips. If anyone needs any help feel free to comment below or shoot me a tweet or email!

Installing Ubuntu on a Series-5 Chromebook

2011-10-02T20:32:00.000-04:00

Dualbooting the Samsung Series-5 (I have the 3G version) with Ubuntu is actually a lot easier than expected and is almost the same as dualbooting on the CR-48 (Google’s beta program to Chromebooks). Online there aren't many tutorials on how to do this because the method used on the CR48 still works perfectly. You can find the tutorial HERE, and I personally only had one problem throughout the whole process.

After Ubuntu is installed for some reason my Chromebook wouldn't boot into my Linux partition. After trying all of the possible commands, I decided I needed to do some more research, and discovered my boot-up screen looked different from other people’s. They had a massive blue frowning computer picture when booting while I only saw some ASCII art. It turns out, once you boot into developer mode, you need to install a developer BIOS. To do so you open the terminal (Ctr Alt ->) and type in the following.

localhost login: chronos
chronos@localhost $ sudo bash
localhost chronos # chromeos-firmwareupdate --mode=todev

When you restart, your computer startup screen should look like this (press Ctrl+D to skip)

After running that, you will want to re-run the startup script ‘wget http://goo.gl/hnkxo; sudo sh hnkxo’. Your Chromebook should now boot up into Ubuntu! If you want to easily switch between them click HERE for a simple tutorial. If you have any issues feel free to comment here, or tweet me @RoboTechEd.

Arduino Based Computer Temp Sensing

2011-10-01T19:45:00.001-04:00

The Problem

I bought a new graphics card for my computer recently, just to realize I didn’t have a power supply large enough to properly power the new card - causing it to overheat (temporarily, I opened the side of my computer and used a desk fan to cool it). After buying the correct power supply, I decided I needed some type of temperature indicator on my computer...Hello Arduino! (I actually used my Uno32 for this project, to view my review on it click HERE)

Now, this hack is very simple, versatile, and easy to implement. All you need is a general purpose temperature sensor, an RGB LED (or more if you want your computer to look really flashy), and some appropriate resistors so you don't blow up your LED. The Arduino fades an RGB LED from blue to red depending on the temp of your component. When it is over 50°C, the LED will be red. (50C is close to what most NVIDIA GFX cards can handle). I also have a processing sketch in progress to read the value of the temp sensor and store it into a .txt file, and a C++ program (in progress) to alert you when the .txt file says that your computer is too hot.

The Set-Up

Below is the schematic. I know that it isn’t standard, but it’s much easier to read for electronics beginners. I recommend giving yourself a pretty good length in wire so that you can attach the LED(s) wherever you need to. Also, HEAT SHRINK ANY VISIBLE METAL so that you don’t end up messing up your computer. Often, your computer will use the casing as a ground, so any visible wires would be really bad.

Once you’re all soldered up and ready to go, you’ll want to attach the temp sensor wherever you think has a chance of overheating. To attach it I recommend using electrical tape, and just taping it down (If you have better ideas then let me know). Then put your LED anywhere you think will be easily visible. I recommend taping the wires down with electrical tape as well, or zip-tying it down. You then want to zip-tie all loose wires and attach them to the Arduino somewhere that you have free space. I recommend putting electrical tape on the bottom of the Arduino AND Velcro-ing it down, that way your Arduino doesn’t short, and it won’t move.

I was lucky enough to have a working USB port INSIDE my computer, so that I could leave my Arduino plugged in. The unlucky one’s out there will need to upload the code before they put it in and power it off of a battery, or find some way to get a programming cable inside of their case. After the Arduino code (below) is uploaded, everything should work fine. I set the default room temperature as 17C because that’s how it is in my boiling dorm- but that could easily be changed.
int bluepin = 5;int redpin = 6;int tempPin = A0;int blueout = 0;int redout = 0;float conv = 0.55555; //Wouldnt let me do 5/9float tempC;int limitinC = 50;void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); pinMode(bluepin, OUTPUT); pinMode(redpin, OUTPUT);}void loop() { float tempVolts = (analogRead(tempPin) * .004882814); //Reads temp sensor and converts it to a voltage level float tempF = (tempVolts - .5) * 100; //Converts the voltage level into a temp(F) float tempC = (conv * (tempF - 32)); //Converts the temp into Celcius //Serial.print("tempC ="); //Commented out for testing //Serial.println(tempC); //Serial.print("tempF ="); //Serial.println(tempF);
float CelConstraint = (tempC - 15); //The average temp of my room in C (limiting the colors to be blue at 15 and red at 50) float CelCtoVal = (CelConstraint*29.68);//converts the value //Serial.print("CelCtoVal = "); //Commented out for testing //Serial.println(CelCtoVal);
redout = CelCtoVal; blueout = ((512 - CelCtoVal) + 512) //Inverts the colors so 1024 = 0 and 0 = 1024 //redout = ((redout+CelCtoVal)/2); //Use these lines instead of the above if the sensor sometimes is flickering (averages the values) //blueout = ((((512 - CelCtoVal) + 512)+blueout)/2); //Serial.print("blueout ="); //Commented out for testing //Serial.println(blueout); //Serial.print("redout ="); //Serial.println(redout); analogWrite(bluepin, blueout); analogWrite(redpin, redout); if (tempC > limitinC){ Serial.print(1, BYTE); //Send 1 to Processing sketch if too hot delay(100); } else{ Serial.print(0, BYTE); //Send 0 to Processing sketch if cold delay(100); }}

Work In Progress

Below, I have a processing sketch that will read whether or not your Arduino is overheating and write a ‘1’ into a .txt file if it is. I also have a C++ program that will read that file. This is a work in progress. I just started to learn processing and only know very basic C. I hope eventually to make a program that will print the temp in C, F, and to pop-up when the temp is greater than a certain temperature.

Download Everything

Let me know how this works for you guys! If you have any comments/questions be sure to post below or tweet me!

The Uno32 - A Cheaper and Better Arduino

2011-09-29T17:36:00.001-04:00

If you’re looking for a solid new Arduino with better specs, then you should check out the ChipKIT Uno32 by Digilent. The Uno 32 has over double the regular Uno’s IO pins (20 vs 42), a much faster processing speed(16MHz vs 80MHz), and a massive amount of flash memory (32k vs 128k). I recently bought one to test it out, so let’s dive into the review. ( If you want a head start preview, check it out HERE)

Comparison
The major difference between the Uno and the Uno32 is their operating voltages. The Arduino Uno operates at 5v while the Uno32 at 3.3v(Don’t worry though! The Uno32 still has a 5v output pin for your projects). The only issue because of this, is shield compatibility. Some Arduino shields won’t work with 3.3v, but can be rigged to using a transistor and a pull-up resistor. Also, all of the I/O pins are safe for 5v input, just in case you forget (which I have to admit I did...quite a few times). To find out if your shield can be used, go HERE.

Ease of Use
The Uno32 operates almost exactly as a regular Arduino. The IDE looks the same as Arduino’s, and all of the example programs are able to be used on the 32’. The setup and programming all work exactly the same as the regular Uno as well...Honestly there is no obvious difference.

Advantages
The Uno32 has tons of advantages besides the obvious ones I stated in the beginning. The Uno32 has many more user controlled LEDs, as well as more indication LEDs (ex: USB data LEDs). There are also multiple jumpers across the top of the board that can change whether the board is an SPI Master/Slave, if a pin can be used as PWM output, or even if the 5v output goes through the voltage regulator or not (could be handy for some AC signals?). There is also a huge forum dedicated to the Uno32. Having professionals at your disposal is always an advantage!

Disadvantages
Besides the 3.3v operating voltage, there are two more drawbacks that you should know before buying the Uno32. The Uno 32 has 1 less PWM output than the Arduino. Pin 11 cannot be used as one because of the actual limitations of the chip. Also, not every port on the Uno32 can be used as interrupts, only a few (not a big deal considering I rarely use more than 1 anyways in my projects).

Price
The ChipKIT Uno32 sells for £17.99 at Farnell, which is less than $25 USD. This makes the Uno32 CHEAPER than the Arduino Uno (Yes, at least double Arduino’s specs, at a cheaper price)...A pretty obvious buy for anyone looking into buying a new microprocessor.

Rating
I highly recommend ChipKIT’s Uno32 to anyone looking into an Arduino replacement - 5/5 gears!

-Example Video Coming Soon-

ChromeOS Getting Ready for Tablets?

2011-09-26T23:17:00.001-04:00

Chrome released a new home page for all beta and dev users a few days ago and it seems like an oddly familiar interface. Maybe you would agree, take a look at the pic below.

Yeah, the old scroll interface is finally gone. It seems to be less computer savvy (although much more sleek) and also much more versatile. And although this is speculation, it could mean that ChromeOS is getting closer to a release on a tablet. Like Android(also Google owned) chrome OS is planned to be ported over to tablets at some point in the future. Although it seems to be far away, at least this update is a step into the right direction, and a step to a cleaner looking homepage! (Anyone else have so many apps that it just looked kind of messy when you scrolled down...If you want to add to that mess you should click HERE to get daily RoboTechEd updates!)

Let me know what you’re thinking on Twitter or the comment box below!

New Arduino - The Uno +1

2011-09-24T19:23:00.001-04:00

Last weekend at MakerFaire NYC (which I wish I went to), the Arduino people announced a few new products, which I’m pumped to use; but one board stands out - the Arduino Due. Although the name shows that it is a whole numerical value above the UNO (maybe they're running out of ideas), the Due is much different where it matters; the processor.

The Arduino Due is introducing a whole new breed of processing power to arduino boards, a step from the standard Atmegas - ARM processors. ARM processors can be found across the electronic world; from cellphones, to low powered computers. Simplicity is what fuels the ARM line, and it only seems natural for one to meet up with an Arduino. The Due runs at over 90MHz, and has 256K of flash memory - up from 32MHz and 32K of flash on the Uno. On top of the power upgrades the Due has 16 12-bit analog pins, 5 UARTS, and tons of digital pins. Not a bad upgrade to what is already my favorite nerd toy.

On-top of the Due, it was announced that another microprocessor will be released named ‘Leonardo’. The Leonardo uses the same pinout as the UNO, with a ‘simpler circuit’ and comes with USB drivers for it to simulate a mouse, keyboard, and serial connection (arduino custom keyboard anyone). There are more new products/announcements on the Arduino blog located HERE, and when the Due comes out, I’ll make sure to let you guys know how it is...assuming I can force myself to stop playing with it.

Samsung Series 5 - Making the iPad Retro

2011-09-12T20:07:00.001-04:00

Most people believe that the Samsing Series 5 Chromebook is a tad overpriced ($500 for the 3G version). Because the software is completely free, I can understand why. But the specs of the Chromebook often seem to get overlooked; with a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel processor, an absolutely massive battery (8 hours actual and predicted), a 1MP HD webcam (which is surprisingly clear), and a beautifully bright and crisp screen, a Chromebook beats the netbook standards by a long shot. But what really makes a Chromebook worth its hefty pricetag is the reliability and convenience...And a free 100MB of data per month on the 3G version.

The Chromebook weighs just over 3 lbs and is very comfortable to carry. I see it as a replacement to a tablet, which for a business/college student, is a must. The SSD allows it to boot up in less than 8 seconds, every time, and the battery makes it so it needs to be rarely charged (preventing that “I have 3 minutes to get an outlet before I loose everything feeling). A Chromebook has all of the convenience factors of a tablet, while giving you the processing necessary for a heavy Internet user. Plus - It has a keyboard (ever try to actually type something more than a paragraph on a tablet!?).

I bought my Chromebook for school, not to replace my main PC, but as an alternative to my tablet (which I realized I only really enjoyed using for gaming anyways). I hacked it to run Ubuntu just in case I need to run some necessary programs, like most tech majors are forced to. I highly recommend it as a replacement to a tablet, or even a laptop depending on what you use it for. And for the tech savy people out there who need their programs, files, and games? Just load your chromebook up with linux and enjoy the 10 second boot - it is open source ya’know.

Roboweek Day Three - Self Replicating Printers

2011-04-11T21:01:00.003-04:00

RoboTechEd’s third #robotofnote for Roboweek isn’t a stereotypical robot. It doesn't walk, talk, or really have much user feedback. But what it lacks it makes up with it's ability to create. Makerbot is a stationary robot that is completely open platform, and arduino controlled - pretty sweet if you need a 3D printer (you guessed it, Makerbot is a 3D printer). A Makerbot kit costs a small price of $1,300 but is way cheaper than a commercial 3D printer. And the best part is that once you have one, the Makerbot can self replicate!

Also available online is a huge amount of CAD files that are known to work on the Makerbot, from coffee mugs, to nuts and bolts. The Makerbot is able to make these things by melting plastic into the desired shape - anything up to 4”x4”x6”. To find out more on the Makerbot, click HERE and make sure to check out the video below to see it in action. And if anyone makes or buys one of these let me know, selling copies of the original may be somewhat fruitful (no...for real, a self replicating 3D printer is pretty sweet)!

Are you celebrating Roboweek? If you're making something cool, would you use a Makerbot to help?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Are you celebrating #roboweek? What are you doing to celebrate? A good idea would be to download the RoboTechEd Chrome App! Check it out, and tweet @roboteched or @roboweek with any #robotofnote!

Roboweek Day Two - Technological Overkill

2011-04-10T20:12:00.002-04:00

I’m not sure if you’re subscribed to Robot Magazine (if you’re not, you should be), but if so then you’ll recognize our second Roboweek #robotofnote - DARwIn OP. The OP in this little humanoids name stands for Open Platform, meaning everything about him is available to the public. The code, the parts, and even instructions on how to make one yourself. So if you have tens of thousands of dollars of machinery, you can make a lil’Darwin yourself...Although I doubt most people have the tools/materials to do so.

What makes Darwin so amazing though is the amount of technology packed into such a little bot. He has multiple speakers, mics, an HD camera, built in wi-fi, a mini SD card slot, a 3 axis accelerometer, an ethernet port, 2 USB ports, HDMI out, and many more ridiculous features (I think that list is sufficiently jaw-dropping). The only thing that Darwin is missing are lasers - but I think everything currently crammed in there is sufficient for a little humanoid that stands just under a foot and a half tall. Darwin was made at Virginia Tech, and according to the video below, the project started in 2004, and has had many versions until their success (maybe my school should start something soon, so that by the time i graduate I’ll have a cool little robot to play with). To find out more information about Darwin-OP click HERE.

Which robot is better? DARwIn-OP or NAO?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Are you celebrating #roboweek? What are you doing to celebrate? A good idea would be to download the RoboTechEd Chrome App! Check it out, and tweet @roboteched or @roboweek with any #robotofnote!

Roboweek Day One - Robotic Teamwork

2011-04-09T17:45:00.002-04:00

Roboweek is here! A robot’s equivalent to Hanukkah (or something along those lines). And that means I have the first robot for RoboTechEd’s roboweek celebration! These robots were made at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control in Switzerland. They have been featured on tons of other technology blogs, and even on the news. Pretty sweet for two robots with one of the simplest concepts ever - playing catch. Yeah, you remember playing catch in the backyard with dad? Seemed like a thing that epitomized life, something that separated you from your computer...Until Now.

These two robots in the video below do exactly what you think but better, they fly. Pretty crazy right? While watching the video you see that they sometimes loose control of the ball, which is bound to happen when your already flying and trying to hit the ball up. But what I really think is cool about these two is that you often don’t see robotic teamwork. Multiple bots speaking to each-other to complete a task isn’t a new idea, but implementing it successfully is pretty rare. Overall I give these robots two thumbs up for their awesome teamwork and simple nature. Happy Roboweek guys, keep up the teamwork!

Happy #roboweek day one! Do you know any robots worth celebrating? Tweet me any #robotofnoteless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Are you celebrating #roboweek? What are you doing to celebrate? A good idea would be to download the RoboTechEd Chrome App! Check it out, and tweet @roboteched or @roboweek with any #robotofnote!

Roboweek is Here! Are You Ready?

2011-04-08T15:50:00.000-04:00

Today’s pretty exciting, for a few reasons. First of all, the second annual #Roboweek starts TOMORROW. And no, I’m not messing with you. National Robotics Week is a real event (nationalroboticsweek.org), and is a week long of celebrating...well you know...robots! I don’t know about you, but I plan on celebrating all week by the only way I know how - blogging! Everyday throughout #roboweek I will be posting solely about robots, so make sure to check back here daily! To find out about local #roboweek events, follow @roboweek and tweet all of your traditions and news to them using the #roboweek hashtag. Robots everywhere are begging you! They need a week of appreciation (you would too if you worked over 100 hours a week)!

The second big announcement is that I have developed a Chrome app for RoboTechEd! That’s right, you can now get easy access to your favorite indie blog! Click HERE to download it, and don’t forget to rate it! Feel free to give any help and suggestions by tweeting @Roboteched or emailing me HERE. It only takes 5 seconds, and will guarantee you never miss a #Roboweek post!

Are you ready for #Roboweek? What do you have planned?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Google's Self Driving Car - Hitting 40 in Parking-lots

2011-04-07T16:19:00.001-04:00

For years now DARPA has issued a driver-less car challenge, which colleges and companies across the country have entered. Most contestants never finished the competition because they break or crash midway, which is understandable. But these cars were just on a long dirt road, with no other cars nearby; something completely different than real world driving (not saying what they did wasn’t great). Of course the leading technology company had to get a piece of this, sponsoring some teams like Stanford, but never really entering themselves.

But why wouldn’t Google enter their own team? They clearly have the resources, and the brains to dominate in the competition. Well, apparently they didn’t need a competition to make a driver-less car. And skipped all of the testing in remote areas (publicly at least). Google now has a self driving car that they claim can easily navigate through busy streets by itself. Just give it a destination, and it’ll get you there.

In the video below a Google Prius is driving, with limited sensors (keeping the car from looking odder than it already does). The driver does nothing but make sure the car doesn't malfunction, while the aggressive driving is just to show the cars extreme capabilities (so don’t worry about Terminator cars...yet). Google currently has testers driving these cars on the road, who get paid to sit there essentially. So expect this to catch on quickly, although I doubt it'll go into production for a bit; no one wants to hear that a robotic Prius hit some kid chasing after a ball...then again, no one wants to hear that without the car being robotic.

To find more out check out the NYTimes article HERE.

What do you think Google do next? What do you want them to do? #ilovegoogleless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Google+1 - Combining Friends With Your Searches

2011-04-05T23:22:00.003-04:00

Google released their newest social-network feature recently, calling it ‘Google +1’. And although 50% of my posts have to do with Google (yeah I am somewhat obsessive), I think this is one of their neatest ideas yet. G+1 is built into Googles new profile pages, and is a simple way to say “This is a website worth checking out, but not worth tweeting”. It is a little button next to a Google search result, that says +1 (duh). When you click the button it adds an update to the +1 page on your Google profile; so that all of your Google pals can see what you've been searching (Click HERE to see my recent +1s).

But what really is making this +1 feature look promising is its ability to weed out the useless search results. You know, searching ‘RoboTechEd’ and getting your favorite blog instead of some random TV show. Then, when you +1 it, Google will start to catch on that RoboTechEd is an amazing blog, and bump it higher on the search results list. Getting you the results that you are actually looking for!

To sign up for G+1 go HERE, it is still in development stages, but won’t affect your performance (so there’s no reason not to). Also, check the this video for more info, and make sure to +1 RoboTechEd on Google! And Tweet this post so your friends can, and their friends can too! (a guy can dream cant he?)

What do you think of Google +1? Are you testing it? #ilovegoogleless than a minute ago via web Favorite | Retweet | ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Dorm Room Automation 01 w/ Arduino

2011-03-13T16:08:00.000-04:00

So my year is almost over, and I have some overly ambitious goals for next year. My future room mates and I want to automate our dorm room (Yeah, that IS my college life). And with my new Arduino and Ethernet shield, I definitely have the materials. And after a few late nights, I now have a working code.

In the video below you see me display a message, and change a RGB LED. I used an LED instead of a motor because I only have one motor, and my Arduino doesn't give out enough power to run it. But the code is the same, you just hook up the LED output to a transistor or even directly to a motor (if you need to change the code, feel free to ask for help). The hookup is pretty simple, and is typed out in the code itself - but could change depending on what LCD screen you have, so yet again feel free to ask for help (tweet me @roboteched or post below).

This part of the code in my final room automation will take place every 30 seconds, so that other code can be executed in-between (like temperature, light switch controls, etc). To do this I use the Time library on Arduinos website. My next goal is to control the LCD using a ShiftOut IC. If you have any ideas, or know how to do this, let me know and I’ll reference you! Check back sometime within the next week for an update on my next project.

CODE DOWNLOAD

My Vex Programming Guide - Still In Noob Version

2011-02-09T22:25:00.003-05:00

Are you a novice or beginner programmer? Or are you even a pro? Either way, I have the PDF for you! I have been writing this for some time now (about half a day), and it is about 40% done so far - It’s a C programming guide! It focuses in teaching beginner programmers (preferably high school), how to program their Vex Robot efficiently, as well as understanding what is actually going on. We all know how to work computers, but knowing how they work and why they work that way opens countless doors (yeah, it just got deep).

This PDF isn’t very clear considering I’m the one who wrote it, and it’s not very in-depth (yet) because I JUST started it; but I’m hoping the more people who read it and utilize it, the better feedback I’ll get. Meaning the more accurate and efficient guide for the aspiring Roboticians. If you have any interest on helping with this project you can check it out HERE (or below). If you have any questions comments or concerns, tweet me or shoot me an E-Mail. Both which can be found on your favorite technology blog.

/** Reminder: This PDF focuses on programming Vex robots, so some information may be not completely accurate with the C language, and much information I purposely left out. **/

Best Buy Sale - My Favorite Store Gets Awesome'er

2011-02-08T23:07:00.002-05:00

Yup, here comes another Superbowl commercial blog post. But at least this time it’s technology related, I promise (although the adorable Star Wars kid still rocks). Another popular commercial featuring Justin Bieber and Ozzy (as seen below) shows BestBuy’s ‘buyback’ policy, which for a limited time is free to all customers (meaning it normally costs something). The buyback program allows you to sell back your tech gear for a discounted amount; meaning we get the newer gear cheaper.

Seems like a pretty good deal if your already in the market for a new cellphone, laptop, TV, or even a tablet (good time to jump on the bandwagon). The disadvantage of the offer is that the offer only works for up to 2 years after you buy the device. Which is great for people like me, who want to keep up to date; but may not be such a plan for your parents. Either way, you can bet your buck that Best Buy is going to make huge money off of this, because in 2 years and 1 day from now, I guarantee you most people would have forgotten about the offer. But I guess with the offer currently being free; it’ll be worth the time now upgrading that old dumb-phone, or get yourself a tablet (iPad’s are excluded in the deal. It’s sad, I know).

Superbowl Commercials - Always Worth Your Time

2011-02-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

The Superbowl is over with, and it means you can finally sit down and have your TV back; just you and those Superbowl commercial re-runs. We all love them, and at this point they seem to attract as many viewers as the Superbowl itself. Finally connecting the football fanatics to the people who thought you could only kick the ball in football (yeah I’m sure they exist). For a brief moment all of America is in perfect harmony. And the Superbowl commercial that just plain rocked was Volkswagen’s Dark Vader commercial.

Nothing says awesome like a little kid walking around in a Darth Vader outfit. And nothing is better than a Kid still appreciating the now ‘ancient’ (yeah...they’re getting there) movies. This commercial had it all - A cute kid, humor, and star wars; everything I could ever ask for in a commercial. And with 15 million YouTube views in less than a day - it’s hard to say I’m not the only one with this opinion. Haven't seen it? Or want to see it again (Yeah I know you want to), check it out in the video below.

Minecraft - My Second Life

2011-01-22T16:30:00.002-05:00

Minecraft is a simple Java game that makes you question how important graphics are. Yes, the game is 3D (both ways, it offers an option to play it with 3D glasses, and is 3D), but is the definition of simple. Remember when you were a kid, and played with Legos? You could build everything you ever imagined, with no limits; well besides your patience or how many blocks you had. Well, Minecraft is like that, but with zombies, and unlimited building blocks. The current version is 25% off because it’s in Beta, but you can try the game out for free with friends HERE.

It’s hard describing Minecraft in words. Even Notch, has had issues describing what it is really all about. But I think on his recently updated website, he says it best:

“Minecraft is a game about placing blocks to build anything you can imagine. At night monsters come out, make sure to build a shelter before that happens. It also has music by C418!”

When you first start to play, you question how this game has sold over a Million copies (No legit, it has). The concept is simplistic, the graphics are simple (but they get the job done), and a lot of features are still in development. No surprise considering the game was completely constructed by one guy, up until recently. But then as you continue to play you find that it is nearly impossible to log off. And before you know it, it’s three in the morning, and you still haven’t eaten dinner (It’s happened).

The addicting aspect of the game is the ability to do anything you like. The possibilities are endless, from building automated airlocks, to zombie hunting, and even playing the song Still Alive from Portal (below). Then, accompany that with multi-player with tons of friends, and you have hours of sleepless nights...Or my college Life.

Verizon Got iPhone - About Time

2011-01-11T11:31:00.001-05:00

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that today the iPhone was released for Verizon today. Huge news for the company who originally passed up on the iPhone (but had a nice save by picking up Android devices). Now the battle of iPhone vs Android no longer is a fight between services, it truly will reflect which is the better phone. But with the newly adopted iPhone, will Verizon become Americas even more prominent service provider? Most people I know with AT&T have an iPhone, and switched for that purpose. But with Verizon’s reliability and large network, it is possible that many AT&T customers will switch to Verizon when their contracts end. Either way, with iPhone holding a considerable amount of smarthphone users in the US, I have no doubt that those numbers will rise, as will customers switching to Verizon.

But even though Verizon will be carrying the iPhone soon (February 10 release, Feb 2 preorders), I don't recommend you change quite yet, or even use that upgrade that you have on it now (you can wait to feed your angry birds thirst). Because every year apple releases a new 'iProduct' late in June every year, and with june rapidly approaching, what is waiting another couple of months? Maybe by then even the White iPhone will be released....never mind, I can’t even believe I just considered that.

CES 2011 - Predictably Awesome

2011-01-10T15:45:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I know. I missed CES 2011, and all of the fascinating things that it had to offer. But sadly a trip to Las Vegas isn’t in the budget for a college student. But, I did manage to follow it through a slew of other websites, and I think i got can sum up what I missed pretty easily. Tablets, smaller hardware, and 3D. (cmon’ guys, please be a little less predictable next year).

Last year was a big year in the tablet world, with Apple’s iPad making a big debut. Now everything I read online is about apps, and tablets. But the good thing is that the tablet world is no longer tyrannized by Apple. Microsoft and Google finally took their steps and now seems as though they have a fighting chance to take down the iPad. Toshiba’s new tablet running Android Honeycomb (gotta’ love the new operating system names), was shown at CES this year, and with functionality such as USB ports, SD card slots, HDMI out. How could you not want one? Oh yeah, this may be obvious, but it sports full flash capability; take that Apple. (No seriously Apple, I have an iPad and would love some flash without jailbreaking it)

Every year technology gets smaller, and my heart fonder. This year on display was an LED projector, about the size of a bluetooth headset. It has standard VGA resolution, and is claimed to project up to 40” images at high resolution (not too sure if I can believe that yet). It was also said that it will be making its way into consumer’s phones at some point this year. Pretty sweet, now my smartphone is a phone, a computer, and a TV all in one. Next let’s make it make me food and I’ll be in love.

Movies, video games, computer screens, and even cell phones are trying to give you the 3D experience (Which is a problem because I get a headache from 3D). And apparently it was unavoidable at CES. With products such as the 3DS coming to market soon, it was unavoidable for it to be a hit. The 3DS offers 3D portable video gaming, without glasses. Expect it to hit the shelves soon this year, and check back here when the time comes for my reviews on it!

CES 2011

Onlive Gaming Review - Better Than Expected

2011-01-08T01:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, so soon after writing my recent blog post about the OnLive game system, I couldn’t help but caving in and dropping the money. At the sale price of 66 bucks, it was either buy a whole game system with access to hundreds (well, maybe like 40 at the moment) of games, or buy a single game that I will get bored of in a week. Not too hard of a choice. What really amazed me was, as soon as I ordered the system, I instantly had access to the whole game library on my computer. Instantly, with no additional fee. Pretty Snazzy eh?

The whole computer gaming thing has never really been my style, probably because I have a pretty sad computer with almost no graphic card (its integrated). So playing high end games such as Assassins Creed on my computer made me skeptical. But as soon as I downloaded the OnLive client, I was playing Assassins Creed with minimal lag (I’ll say there was lag simply because I kept dying). Instantly, no download and no wait. But the issue remained: I’m not a computer gamer. A mouse and keyboard either confuses me, or causes me to hit the wrong buttons at the worst times. So I had a theory....What if i plug my wired XBox controller into my computer...And yes they still make wired controllers. It worked like a charm, and immediately everything came together. I now have high end games on my computer, and soon on my TV (whenever the box gets here).

Overall I am pretty impressed with the OnLive game system. There is minimal to unnoticeable lag, no high end processing, unlimited game demos, game renting, and all at the price of a new game. I’ll give it 4.5 / 5 gears just because my college Internet is too slow to let me play a game...which you'd figure wouldn't be an issue with the tuition price.

Check out my post below for more info on it! Or click HERE

OnLive - Streaming to a Device Near You

2011-01-06T23:02:00.004-05:00

Yeah, I know I’m a bit obsessive, but seriously, the cloud has invaded our lives more than we know. And OnLive gaming is proof of that. OnLive is like a not-so-powerful XBox, or PS3...or a more powerful Wii (Sorry couldn’t resist). It streams gameplay online, so that your piece of hardware doesn't do all of the computing. What does that mean for you and me? No more scratched discs, no more expensive hardware, and no more annoying game updates.

So, there is a disadvantage to this epic game system (if it even qualifies as a game system). The current library of games is...less than expected. There are a few major titles like Borderlands and Assassins Creed, but overall there are just so few games that grab my attention. But, the system is new, and it must be hard for a new system to earn rights to popular titles, so one can only hope better games get adopted as this becomes more mainstream. And at a price of $66 through Jan 9 ($99 normally), how could a person NOT try it out? Think about it, the new Dead Space, or a new game system? Which I might add, allows you to play the games on your computer as well....umm...Maybe Dead Space was a bad example.

Oh yeah, must I add, it is unofficially going to bring these games to the iPad. Kind of cool considering the iPads low processing capabilities. Check out the video below, and make sure to check out their website HERE. ~~Oh yeah, and if you get it or have one let me know how it is!~~ I just bought it, and will soon be posting a review!

Sony Rolly - Rolling Into Our Hearts

2011-01-04T11:08:00.001-05:00

If you think Roombas have infiltrated consumers homes, as nothing more than a ‘cool-to-have,’ then you just wait until you see the Sony Rolly. It should be rolling into your neighbors home (Yes, pun intended) in no time. The Sony Rolly is a portable robot, that plays music and even entertains guests. It does this through its awesome dancing skills, and its high quality sound. Yup...A Boom-box that dances, changes colors, and wins over my heart. Too bad you didn’t think of it first.

What makes the little Rolly so amazing is the amount of technology packed into something that can fit in your palm. It has high quality speakers, multiple actuators which allow it to move, and flap its ‘wings’ in synchronization with the music, Bluetooth audio streaming, and my favorite feature: sharing dances with your friends. (I don’t have one, but I presume if my friends and I did, we would have choreographed dances to the Star Wars Imperial March or something).

These adorable robots, have a rather limited market; music lovers. But not just all music lovers, music lovers with money (an even SMALLER market). Sony has sold these for a little over $200, and they cost up to $300 on eBay. Yet somehow since I started to look them up, Sony has been sold out...

School Break

2010-12-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

Seeing as I own a desktop, and I have limited access to usable computer, I will not be posting until early January. :( check back then for updates!

Chrome OS: Free Netbook, Please!?

2010-12-14T20:16:00.008-05:00

Everybody and their mother (seriously, even my mom) has applied for Google’s new Chrome OS beta testing, or as they call it ‘Pilot Testing.’ This new revolutionary netbook is simple; nothing but a web browser, and lacks end-product functionality, like USB Support, and ~~printing~~ (which you can expect in later updates). It sports an Intel Processor (said to be ~1.6GHz), 2GB of RAM, and also comes with fully built in webcam support, Bluetooth, and a free 100mb of data a month courtesy of Verizon. Not a bad gig for free, eh? And for you fellow nerds out there who are planning to ‘jailbreak’ it, no worries; It comes with a built in mode to allow you to edit the source code (probably because Google is looking for easy solutions to the initial issues).

It is said that Google has around 60,000 to send out to people. Yes, that is 4 zero’s. And best of all, the application takes a total of 20 minutes; no jumping through flaming hoops, or giving Nigerian bankers your bank account info. Not only that but it’s rumored that you get to keep the netbook after the trial, which should be an incentive to almost anybody.

Now, I know that by informing people of this will lower my chance of winning, but I want to see Google succeed with the best users more than I want the netbook...Well, that’s half true, but I could use a little competition seeing as I’m Google’s biggest fan. So, want to see what Chrome OS is all about? Check out the video below for a demo of what you can expect. And if you’re already sold, click HERE for the application.

Update: Yeah! My friend (Not me :( ) , so feel free to check out his blog on his Chrome experience. Appropriately named 'The Chrome Chronicles.'

Robotic Gripper: Replacing Fingers With Balloons

2010-12-06T14:45:00.001-05:00

You wake up every morning and pour yourself a hot cup of coffee, probably ignoring the physics behind what you are actually doing (I don’t blame you, the only thing i think about is going back to bed). Well had you not, you could have had the next million dollar idea that is revolutionizing modern robotics. The main ingredients consist of two things, coffee grounds, and a balloon.

Cornell University invented the idea as a replacement for robotic hands. The problem with previous robotic hands are that they had to be extremely articulated; something which had proven a challenge when doing tasks that require grace, or precision. The balloon (as seen by the picture) is able to lift objects, as well as carry them with a very high success rate. These robotic balloon hands were able to lift objects as delicate as an egg, or as small and difficult as a coin. “So how does this work” you are asking, “how are coffee grounds, and balloons able to do all of this?”

Well, the balloon stretches, allowing both the coffee grounds, and air inside. When the balloon is partially inflated, it can stretch around objects (much like when you were a kid, and shoved your face into your balloons because it would form to your face). But when the air is removed, the shape stays, and contours to the object that is being lifted. The coffee grounds act as ‘small gears’ that lock together; so the conformed shape stays. This also creates a vacuum between the object and the ‘hand’ so that there is almost no chance of slippage. Pretty simple idea, no?

So next time you do something simple like, make coffee, or blow up a balloon, think about what it’s actually doing - because who knows what will revolutionize the robotic world next. And I bet whatever it is, it won’t top the weirdness of a humanoid robot with balloon hands (seriously, it’s a pretty creepy thought).

The Kinect - For Kids and Hackers Alike

2010-12-01T21:31:00.004-05:00

Remember when the Wii came out? It was the hottest new tech toy on the block, and was said to revolutionize modern gaming - not so much. But I guess it was a step in the right direction, considering both Microsoft and Sony have followed suit. The new Xbox Kinect is the hottest thing on the market and it has been reported that it sold just over 2 million within the first week (a lot of cash at $150 a pop).

Well this revolutionary camera is redefining casual gaming all together, and has become the new fad for household hackers. When the Kinect came out, one underground hacker had a $1000 reward for the first person to successfully hack it enough to where a computer could control it, and use it as a peripheral. Within the first 2 days there was a video of someone controlling the Kinect's internal motors through a terminal window. Now there are a seas of free open source 'jailbreaks' online, each unlocking nerd fantasies.

Anything you can imagine can be done with this person tracking camera. From playing Super Mario, to Minecraft. Yes, even Minecraft has been reported; so would it be wrong of me to want it, but just for the sake of computer games? I don’t think so, I think it would be wrong of me NOT to hack it. Seriously...Minecraft.

IPv6 Awareness: Are You Ready?

2010-12-01T16:16:00.003-05:00

Most people have at least HEARD of an IP address, and for those who haven’t...Let me guess...this is the first blog you’ve been on? If you know this already please skip to paragraph 2, if not, feel free to read on: An IP address is an ‘Internet protocol’ address, and is essentially your computers name on the Internet - So contrary to belief, when you name your computer ‘Boss Man’ or ‘Yoda’, not even the Internet will know.

IP addresses currently are made up of 4 bytes, each ranging from 0 to 255. This gives the available unique computer names to be just over 4.2 billion. Seems like a large number, but with the number of computers in the world, the dawn of the current IP address has arrived, and soon, it will be extinct. So what’s next...complete chaos? Maybe a repeat of the Y2K? Nah, some computer savvy people have your back, and chances are, their solutions are already on your computer.

IPv6 is the upgraded version of what you currently have, and instead of using 4 bytes, it uses 16, allowing for nearly 350 trillion addresses. And if that ever gets filled up, none of us will know, because it’s expected to last for multiple more centuries. But the issue though with IPv6 isn't the available addresses, it’s the service providers. You know, the people who you’re paying right this second just to read what I’m writing. Most service providers haven’t switched over fully to this new system, or don’t appear to be ready when necessary. Which could cause a huge problem when the time comes.

Now to be honest, there’s not much you can do, besides hope that your service provider is ready when the time comes, and chances are, they will be. But the only way to be sure is to ‘raise awareness’ for this issue.You can do this by making sure you have a router that is IPv6 compatible, and tell your friends. In fact, a great way to do so would be to click the tweet button below. Just saying.

iOS 4.2: So Close to Being Done Right

2010-11-30T23:55:00.003-05:00

I am personally against apple, and am definitely a Microsoft fan-boy, but there are some things that apple just does right. And one of those is their portable devices. iPads, iPods, and iPhones dominate the market, and deservingly. My iPad is the best thing I've ever owned, and recently it got a little bit better.

A few weeks ago iOS 4.2 was released across all devices, allowing for multitasking, folders, as well as a bunch of other new installments (most of which were released in the earlier update for all devices, minus the iPad). And although I previously jail broke my iPad to get pretty much all of these features, I decided to update it, breaking my old jailbreak. And it was a great choice, minus the lack of free open source apps.

Pros

Multitasking: The first huge advantage of updating to iOS 4.2 was the ability to multitask. It is used the same way it previously was during my jailbreak, but now it has a much prettier UI to go with it. A simple double-click opens up a tab at the bottom, with a series of apps that I can switch between easily, and more successfully than previously (Pandora would crash every couple of minutes, or in between app-switches before). This new feature has become natural for me quickly, and was one of the reasons I previously jail broke my iPad.

Battery: With all of my old applications, my processor was constantly clocking at almost full power; which caused quite a strain on the battery. Now I'm not sure how Apple got around this problem, but with the addition of multitasking, they somehow were able to reduce this ridiculous battery drain. Multitasking does drain it quicker, but it's not very noticeable considering I use my iPad all day, and charge it twice a week with almost no battery issues.

Folders: Not much to comment on here. They should have existed from the start. They're super late, but are well done and extremely handy.

Printing: Using an iPad for business can be smart depending on your job, but as a student it completely replaces the need for a laptop. Printing is a necessary function, which really is defining the iPad as a business tool. Being able to print papers wirelessly is a huge advantage now, and I'm glad it's native now...no more stupid 10 dollar apps that have a 5% chance to work with your printer.

Cons

The Mute Switch: There’s few things apple did wrong, but one of them is HUGE. They changed that button on the side, from a screen lock...to a mute switch. I'm sadly disappointed with apples decision to do this; why fix something that's not broken?

Multitasking: I noticed this right away, but every app you open automatically stays opened in the background...causing someone like me who plays like 1000 games for 2 minutes at a time to kill their battery fast. Many non computer savvy people wouldn't ever even notice this, reducing their performance significantly over time. If using iOS 4.2 you have to remember to force shut down your unused background apps when you can, unless you want Nazi zombies to be taking up memory while your on Facebook....

Yet Again, Google Docs Impresses

2010-11-05T23:08:00.005-04:00

Ever notice my fascination with cloud-based computing? Well after fiddling around on Google Docs (which has now become my only word processor), I found out even MORE advantages of the cloud; and this time, it’s not because I have an awful computer.Google Spreadsheets allows for more than you'd expect. It easily allows for use of graphs, or charts, just like Excel, but you can export them to external sites.

So, you want to show someone your data? Embed the given code into your site, and BAM!, the graph/chart will appear and automatically update when you edit the spreadsheet. But what really amazed me is Google’s new take on the ‘fill-handle.’ Below is a chart I made, showing the birth place of 11 random presidents on top of a Google Earth map; It took me a total of 3 minutes. With the ‘ctrl’ key plus the fill-handle, Google will automatically search the Internet for related words. Want a list of fruit? Type in apple, banana, and pear, select them, and ‘ctrl’ fill-handle down, and Google will automatically search for related words, and put them into the spreadsheet. You want to find out the origin of the fruit? Google has a formula for that. In the next column, put in “=googlelookup(Cell# of ‘Origin’, “of the apple”)” and Google will automatically search for the context, and put the information in the cell. Don’t like the answer? You can also change it to other possible results that Google has. That is just one of the hundreds of powerful formulas that Google Spreadsheet lets you use.

Next time I need to make a chart for class, I know were I’ll be going, and so does Google considering I haven't logged off my Docs account in three weeks.

Prezi - A Better, Free Powerpoint

2010-11-04T21:53:00.009-04:00

Now I know this isn’t something as cool as holograms, or as scary as two legged walking robots; but I recently discovered an online program that is amazing enough to make me actually want to do school projects. That's right, actually WANT to do them. So you must be thinking “what is this new amazing cloud-based program?” Prezi that’s what.

Prezi is an online program that makes presentations like no other. It allows you to make presentations on one canvas. Imagine having all of your PowerPoint slides, on one big page. Instead of progressing from slide to slide, you progress thought to thought, with an easy going transition of the camera. The camera slides across the canvas, going to each point on the path that you marked. The camera can zoom into small font hidden inside words, and flip around; keeping the viewers attention. Now, I’ve only been using this program for a few days, and I’m confident I could write for hours about their features; like the ability to upload and view pdfs, videos and images, or even the ability to export it to an .exe so that any computer can view it offline. But I think the video posted below will speak for me.

Math is not linear on Prezi

Star Wars Thought It, Sony Made It

2010-11-01T23:51:00.002-04:00

“Help me Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope” has been a quote among geeks for years...in fact for over thirty years. Star Wars was such a successful movie because of the abundance of futuristic technology in it, able to excite all types of people. Flying cars, droids, and holograms, seemed so far off. But, in less than one lifetime; they exist. Sony released a new hologram machine (well...not technically, but still), that you could soon be seeing in your living room. They call it a “360-Degree Autostereoscopic Display”. This machine is able to take digital data, and convert it into a picture that can be seen from 360 degrees around.

The way that the Autostereoscopic Display is able to display these images, is through actually displaying 360 images, each with one degree of separation. The models appear to be 3D because your two eyes actually see two different images, giving the model the sense of depth. Sadly though, the machine is only able to display an image at an extremely low quality. But the technology is quickly growing. Sony names tons of uses for a device like this, ranging from gaming, to press conferences. I personally am only interested in the video game aspect of it; and am especially looking forwards to a Star-Wars remake, to hopefully, be released with the display. Because if it isn’t, then that day I'll be out to buy myself a Princess Leia costume...erm... maybe not.

Mech-Warfare: My New Hobby

2010-10-30T01:44:00.004-04:00

The RoboGames (formerly known as the Robo-Olympics) is held once a year in California. The nerd metropolis holds over 50 events, each with a special robotic niche. From climbing stairs, to kung-fu, the RoboGames has it all. But by far, the best competition at the RoboGames is Mech-Warfare. Ever watch one of those crazy cartoons as a kid, where a human would sit in a massive robot, and fight other robots around a city? Ever wish you could be that guy controlling the giant robot that’s destroying the city? Now you can. Mech-Warfare is a competition where the robot's controller can only view the competition field on a camera that is mounted on his robot. The robots fight in a miniature sized city, shooting airsoft based weaponry at each other; and in the upper classes, even miniature missiles. Now before you go buy your ticket to California (which I should be doing ASAP), you should know that the robots are limited to a few inches high, and the fighting isn’t quite as fast-paced as anticipated (yet). But regardless, I would recommend checking it out; definitely has potential for a future hobby...or profession.

Robotic Exoskeleton by Sarcos - Real Life Halo?

2010-10-28T11:38:00.002-04:00

Ever play a tad too much Halo, and step away from the Xbox wishing you were in one of those Super Suits? Well so has our military, and it’s already in construction. Sarcos, a military funded company, is building a robotic exoskeleton. With the current model, the user is able to do almost anything they can do normally, but with 10 times more strength. Ever wish you could lift 200lbs, for hours, without breaking a sweat? Well you can now (which might not impress the ladies as much, considering you’ll be in a massive metal suit). The suit also allows the user to run for miles, as well as allowing the user to have enough grace to play ball. Sarcos later plans to fully encase their exoskeleton in armor, to give the soldier better protection. But first-they have to find a way to un-teather it; and still allow it to have enough battery for more than a few hours. Once they figure that out they should probably send that info to my laptop manufacturer, because I’m lucky if I can get the battery to last 2 hours.

Petman - A Less-Creepy BigDog

2010-10-27T13:29:00.001-04:00

Have you ever stumbled upon this scary looking guy while surfing on Youtube? With over 4 million views, just from Boston Dynamics (the robotics company who made it), and many more from other users, BigDog has gone viral. But since then what has Boston Dynamics been up to? Well “BigDog got a Big Brother”, and luckily this time its legs don’t scare me (as much). Petman is a walking biped robot, with the stability of BigDog. It’s currently being constructed for the US Army; so what sweet thing could they be using this technology for? Maybe some cool autonomous drones or an awesome video-game looking fighter suit!? Nope - Petman is currently being used to test chemical agents. By wearing Army issued clothing, and moving realistically, it can test the clothing under all conditions. It’s not as amazing as I thought, but it defiantly has a purpose. At least its massive funding and technology is used to save our troops. Although, I still think they should attach some type of weapon to the thing and see what it can do.

Boston Dynamic's Website

Google Chrome OS

2010-10-26T21:16:00.001-04:00

Haven’t heard of it yet? Well, you will. Google Chrome OS (Google’s using Chromium as a working title) will soon become a well known operating system. Google released the opened-source beta over a year ago, with the genius idea of letting the online community develop it. Not only does this idea provide free cheap labor (not like Google needs it), it also allows them to get ideas from thousands of brilliant computer programmers. But what is Chrome OS, and why is it so great? Simply put, it’s our first step into the cloud.

Chrome OS is only a web browser, with all of the functionality of a high powered PC. With a crazy fast 4 second boot up time, it allows any person to log in to their Google account, and have access to all of their files; anywhere. This may not seem too appealing now, with desktops already able to do that-but it will be a powerful addition to netbooks. And with wifi available almost anywhere, the cloud is starting to look a lot closer.

Check Out the Chromium Blog!

Vex Robotics

2010-09-22T23:15:00.001-04:00

Vex Robotics is a cost-efficient way for any school to experience the excitement of a large robotics competition. Each competition requires teams to use prefabricated “Vex Official” parts, which levels the field for schools with all budgets. Each competition allows an unlimited number of teams; with a pre-made format, making each competition the same and understandable to new-comers. Above all, Vex is easy to learn, but doesn’t have any limitations. It will challenge an experienced student, and allows less experienced students to develop essential problem solving skills. Vex offers a variety of different parts, they especially allow a lot of freedom with equipment like sensors; ranging from digital push sensors, to analog accelerometers. The metals provided are steel and aluminum allowing for many types of design styles, combining strength and flexibility. The programming can be both block based, and written in C-Script, and gives multiple tutorials on how they can be written. Teams can be formed through Robot Events and all competition rules are posted on the Vex Robotics website.

HRP-4 Robotic Servant

2010-09-17T21:20:00.000-04:00

"Graceful, Slim HRP-4 Humanoid Robot Unveiled; Destined for Menial Labor"

A Japanese company recently unveiled their HRP-4 Robotic Servant model. This robot can help you with many tasks around the house from doing dishes, pouring drinks,and doing other jobs around the house. The HRP-4 has 34 degrees of freedom allowing it to mimic human movement very easily. It is also a lot lighter and smaller compared to its older HRP-2 version, and also has the ability to have a laptop mounted on its back for additional computing power. Overall the HRP-4 robot should be available next year for just over $300,00 USD.

PopSci-Robotic Servant

Hello World!

2010-09-12T21:02:00.000-04:00

My name is Taylor Niver, and have always had a strong interest in Robotics. I have been the captain of multiple robotic teams, as well as participated in many competitions. Robotic Engineering is my Major, and I hope to later in life work on the development of accurate Robotic Artificial Intelligence.