Laser Trip Wire Hides What You’re (Not) Working On
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/laser-trip-wire-hides-what-youre-not-working-on/
We assume your office policy allows for reading Hackaday during work hours. But what about cruising reddit, or playing Universal Paperclips? There’s a special kind of stress experienced when attempting to keep one eye on your display and the other on the doorway; all the while convinced the boss is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/laser-trip-wire-hides-what-youre-not-working-on/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/laser-trip-wire-hides-what-youre-not-working-on/
We assume your office policy allows for reading Hackaday during work hours. But what about cruising reddit, or playing Universal Paperclips? There’s a special kind of stress experienced when attempting to keep one eye on your display and the other on the doorway; all the while convinced the boss is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/laser-trip-wire-hides-what-youre-not-working-on/)
Hackaday Podcast 030: Seven Years of RTL-SDR, 3D Printing Optimized For The Eye, Sega Audiophile, Swimming In Brighteners
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/hackaday-podcast-030-seven-years-of-rtl-sdr-3d-printing-optimized-for-the-eye-sega-audiophile-swimming-in-brighteners/
Hackaday Editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams curate the awesome hacks from the past week. On this episode, we marvel about the legacy RTL-SDR has had on the software-defined radio scene, turn a critical ear to 16-bit console audio hardware, watch generative algorithms make 3D prints beautiful, and discover why …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/hackaday-podcast-030-seven-years-of-rtl-sdr-3d-printing-optimized-for-the-eye-sega-audiophile-swimming-in-brighteners/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/hackaday-podcast-030-seven-years-of-rtl-sdr-3d-printing-optimized-for-the-eye-sega-audiophile-swimming-in-brighteners/
Hackaday Editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams curate the awesome hacks from the past week. On this episode, we marvel about the legacy RTL-SDR has had on the software-defined radio scene, turn a critical ear to 16-bit console audio hardware, watch generative algorithms make 3D prints beautiful, and discover why …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/hackaday-podcast-030-seven-years-of-rtl-sdr-3d-printing-optimized-for-the-eye-sega-audiophile-swimming-in-brighteners/)
Eric Weinhoffer Covers Enclosure Design And Manufacturing Tech During Hackaday Prize Mentor Session
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/eric-weinhoffer-covers-enclosure-design-and-manufacturing-tech-during-hackaday-prize-mentor-session/
Eric Weinhoffer has had plenty of experience in the product design arena, and this hard-earned knowledge is readily apparent in his mentor session for The Hackaday Prize. These serve to link up Prize entrants with industry experts in order to help them take their projects into production. You still have …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/eric-weinhoffer-covers-enclosure-design-and-manufacturing-tech-during-hackaday-prize-mentor-session/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/eric-weinhoffer-covers-enclosure-design-and-manufacturing-tech-during-hackaday-prize-mentor-session/
Eric Weinhoffer has had plenty of experience in the product design arena, and this hard-earned knowledge is readily apparent in his mentor session for The Hackaday Prize. These serve to link up Prize entrants with industry experts in order to help them take their projects into production. You still have …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/eric-weinhoffer-covers-enclosure-design-and-manufacturing-tech-during-hackaday-prize-mentor-session/)
A Macro Keyboard In A Micro Package
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-macro-keyboard-in-a-micro-package/
Remember back in the early-to-mid 2000s when pretty much every cheap USB keyboard you could find started including an abundance of media keys in its layout? Nowadays, especially if you have a customized or reduced-sized mechanical keyboard, those are nowhere to be seen. Whenever our modern selves need those extra …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-macro-keyboard-in-a-micro-package/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-macro-keyboard-in-a-micro-package/
Remember back in the early-to-mid 2000s when pretty much every cheap USB keyboard you could find started including an abundance of media keys in its layout? Nowadays, especially if you have a customized or reduced-sized mechanical keyboard, those are nowhere to be seen. Whenever our modern selves need those extra …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-macro-keyboard-in-a-micro-package/)
3D Printing Makes Modular Payload For Model Rocket
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/3d-printing-makes-modular-payload-for-model-rocket/
Putting payloads into model rockets can be more complex than simply shoving stuff into an open spot, so [concretedog] put some work into making a modular payload tube for his current rocket. The nose cone for his rocket is quite large, so he opted to give it a secure payload …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/3d-printing-makes-modular-payload-for-model-rocket/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/3d-printing-makes-modular-payload-for-model-rocket/
Putting payloads into model rockets can be more complex than simply shoving stuff into an open spot, so [concretedog] put some work into making a modular payload tube for his current rocket. The nose cone for his rocket is quite large, so he opted to give it a secure payload …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/3d-printing-makes-modular-payload-for-model-rocket/)
DEF CON 27: The Badge Talk; or That One Time Joe Grand Sourced 30,000 Gemstones
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/def-con-27-the-badge-talk-or-that-one-time-joe-grand-sourced-30000-gemstones/
Yesterday we published a first look at the hardware found on the DEF CON 27 badge. Sporting a magnetically coupled wireless communications scheme rather than an RF-based one, and an interesting way to attach the lanyard both caught my attention right away. But the gemstone faceplate and LED diffuser has …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/def-con-27-the-badge-talk-or-that-one-time-joe-grand-sourced-30000-gemstones/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/def-con-27-the-badge-talk-or-that-one-time-joe-grand-sourced-30000-gemstones/
Yesterday we published a first look at the hardware found on the DEF CON 27 badge. Sporting a magnetically coupled wireless communications scheme rather than an RF-based one, and an interesting way to attach the lanyard both caught my attention right away. But the gemstone faceplate and LED diffuser has …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/def-con-27-the-badge-talk-or-that-one-time-joe-grand-sourced-30000-gemstones/)
A New Way To Remote Terminal
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-new-way-to-remote-terminal/
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, collaborating with others across great distances has become pretty simple. It’s easy now to share computer desktops over a network connection, and even take control of another person’s computer if the need arises. But these graphical tools are often overkill, especially if all …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-new-way-to-remote-terminal/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-new-way-to-remote-terminal/
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, collaborating with others across great distances has become pretty simple. It’s easy now to share computer desktops over a network connection, and even take control of another person’s computer if the need arises. But these graphical tools are often overkill, especially if all …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/a-new-way-to-remote-terminal/)
Individual Neopixels Make Up This Lightsaber’s Blade
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/individual-neopixels-make-up-this-lightsabers-blade/
The lightsaber is an iconic weapon from the Star Wars franchise, designed in all sorts of shapes and colors. Several fan-made versions have been built as well, quite a few of which use the almost ubiquitous neopixel. [Tirenoth] decided to build his first lightsaber using a series of neopixels, but …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/individual-neopixels-make-up-this-lightsabers-blade/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/individual-neopixels-make-up-this-lightsabers-blade/
The lightsaber is an iconic weapon from the Star Wars franchise, designed in all sorts of shapes and colors. Several fan-made versions have been built as well, quite a few of which use the almost ubiquitous neopixel. [Tirenoth] decided to build his first lightsaber using a series of neopixels, but …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/individual-neopixels-make-up-this-lightsabers-blade/)
Acoustic Lenses Show Sound Can Be Focused Like Light
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/acoustic-lenses-show-sound-can-be-focused-like-light/
Acoustic lenses are remarkable devices that just got cooler. A recent presentation at SIGGRAPH 2019 showed that with the help of 3D printing, it is possible to build the acoustic equivalent of optical devices. That is to say, configurations that redirect or focus sound waves. One fascinating demonstration worked like …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/acoustic-lenses-show-sound-can-be-focused-like-light/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/acoustic-lenses-show-sound-can-be-focused-like-light/
Acoustic lenses are remarkable devices that just got cooler. A recent presentation at SIGGRAPH 2019 showed that with the help of 3D printing, it is possible to build the acoustic equivalent of optical devices. That is to say, configurations that redirect or focus sound waves. One fascinating demonstration worked like …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/acoustic-lenses-show-sound-can-be-focused-like-light/)
A Keyboard Interface For Your SInclair ZX
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/a-keyboard-interface-for-your-sinclair-zx/
The SInclair ZX 8-bit computers of the early 1980s were masterpieces of economy, getting the most out of minimal hardware. The cassette tape interface was a one-bit port, the video was (on the first two models anyway) created by the processor itself rather than a CRT controller, and the keyboard? …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/a-keyboard-interface-for-your-sinclair-zx/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/a-keyboard-interface-for-your-sinclair-zx/
The SInclair ZX 8-bit computers of the early 1980s were masterpieces of economy, getting the most out of minimal hardware. The cassette tape interface was a one-bit port, the video was (on the first two models anyway) created by the processor itself rather than a CRT controller, and the keyboard? …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/a-keyboard-interface-for-your-sinclair-zx/)
660 FPS Raspberry Pi Video Captures The Moment in Extreme Slo-Mo
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/660-fps-raspberry-pi-video-captures-the-moment-in-extreme-slo-mo/
Filming in slow-motion has long become a standard feature on the higher end of the smartphone spectrum, and can turn the most trivial physical activity into a majestic action shot to share on social media. It also unveils some little wonders of nature that are otherwise hidden to our eyes: …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/660-fps-raspberry-pi-video-captures-the-moment-in-extreme-slo-mo/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/660-fps-raspberry-pi-video-captures-the-moment-in-extreme-slo-mo/
Filming in slow-motion has long become a standard feature on the higher end of the smartphone spectrum, and can turn the most trivial physical activity into a majestic action shot to share on social media. It also unveils some little wonders of nature that are otherwise hidden to our eyes: …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/660-fps-raspberry-pi-video-captures-the-moment-in-extreme-slo-mo/)
Those Elevator Emergency Call Buttons Are Actually Pretty Janky
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/those-elevator-emergency-call-buttons-are-actually-pretty-janky/
We’ve all stared at that button in the elevator with the phone icon on it, supremely confident that if the cab came to a screeching halt while rocketing up to the 42nd floor, a simple button press would be your salvation. To be fair, that’s probably true. But the entire …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/those-elevator-emergency-call-buttons-are-actually-pretty-janky/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/those-elevator-emergency-call-buttons-are-actually-pretty-janky/
We’ve all stared at that button in the elevator with the phone icon on it, supremely confident that if the cab came to a screeching halt while rocketing up to the 42nd floor, a simple button press would be your salvation. To be fair, that’s probably true. But the entire …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/those-elevator-emergency-call-buttons-are-actually-pretty-janky/)
Stepper-Controlled Chop Saw Automates a Tedious Job
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/stepper-controlled-chop-saw-automates-a-tedious-job/
We’re not going to question why [Absorber Of Light] needs to cut a bazillion little fragments of aluminum stock. We assume his reasoning is sound, so all we’re interested in is the automated chop saw he built to make the job less tedious, and potentially less finger-choppy.
There are probably …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/stepper-controlled-chop-saw-automates-a-tedious-job/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/stepper-controlled-chop-saw-automates-a-tedious-job/
We’re not going to question why [Absorber Of Light] needs to cut a bazillion little fragments of aluminum stock. We assume his reasoning is sound, so all we’re interested in is the automated chop saw he built to make the job less tedious, and potentially less finger-choppy.
There are probably …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/stepper-controlled-chop-saw-automates-a-tedious-job/)
From An Eye to an eye: Human Muscles as a Joystick
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/from-an-eye-to-an-eye-human-muscles-as-a-joystick/
The interface between humans and machines has been a constantly evolving field. Sure the computer mouse was a game-changer, but time moves on. We are now looking at integrating machines via soft HMIs for personal applications. A research team led by the University of California, San Diego has presented a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/from-an-eye-to-an-eye-human-muscles-as-a-joystick/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/from-an-eye-to-an-eye-human-muscles-as-a-joystick/
The interface between humans and machines has been a constantly evolving field. Sure the computer mouse was a game-changer, but time moves on. We are now looking at integrating machines via soft HMIs for personal applications. A research team led by the University of California, San Diego has presented a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/from-an-eye-to-an-eye-human-muscles-as-a-joystick/)
Bots That Snag the Hottest Fashion While Breaking Social Trust in Commerce
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/bots-that-snag-the-hottest-fashion-while-breaking-social-trust-in-commerce/
Scarcity on the Internet is the siren song of bot writers. Maybe you’ve lost an eBay bid in the last milliseconds, or missed out on a hacker con when tickets sold out in under a minute — your corporeal self has been outperformed by a bot. But maybe you didn’t …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/bots-that-snag-the-hottest-fashion-while-breaking-social-trust-in-commerce/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/bots-that-snag-the-hottest-fashion-while-breaking-social-trust-in-commerce/
Scarcity on the Internet is the siren song of bot writers. Maybe you’ve lost an eBay bid in the last milliseconds, or missed out on a hacker con when tickets sold out in under a minute — your corporeal self has been outperformed by a bot. But maybe you didn’t …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/bots-that-snag-the-hottest-fashion-while-breaking-social-trust-in-commerce/)
New Bluetooth 5 Channel Hopping Reverse Engineered for Jamming and Hijacking
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/new-bluetooth-5-channel-hopping-reverse-engineered-for-jamming-and-hijacking/
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5 has been around since 2016 with the most recent version 5.2 published just this year. There’s not much hardware out there that’s using the new hotness. That didn’t stop [Damien Cauquil] from picking apart BLE 5’s new frequency hopping techniques and updating his BtleJack tool …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/new-bluetooth-5-channel-hopping-reverse-engineered-for-jamming-and-hijacking/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/new-bluetooth-5-channel-hopping-reverse-engineered-for-jamming-and-hijacking/
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5 has been around since 2016 with the most recent version 5.2 published just this year. There’s not much hardware out there that’s using the new hotness. That didn’t stop [Damien Cauquil] from picking apart BLE 5’s new frequency hopping techniques and updating his BtleJack tool …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/10/new-bluetooth-5-channel-hopping-reverse-engineered-for-jamming-and-hijacking/)
DIY Personal Assistant Robot Hears and Sees All
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/diy-personal-assistant-robot-hears-and-sees-all/
Who wouldn’t want a robot that can fetch them a glass of water? [Saral Tayal] didn’t just think that, he jumped right in and built his own personal assistant robot. This isn’t just some remote-controlled rover though. The robot actually listens to his voice and recognizes his face.
The body …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/diy-personal-assistant-robot-hears-and-sees-all/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/diy-personal-assistant-robot-hears-and-sees-all/
Who wouldn’t want a robot that can fetch them a glass of water? [Saral Tayal] didn’t just think that, he jumped right in and built his own personal assistant robot. This isn’t just some remote-controlled rover though. The robot actually listens to his voice and recognizes his face.
The body …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/diy-personal-assistant-robot-hears-and-sees-all/)
In The Fast Moving World Of CNC, This Restored Router Is An Antique
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/in-the-fast-moving-world-of-cnc-this-restored-router-is-an-antique/
Large machine tools are often built to last a very long time, so it is not uncommon to find a lathe made in the 19th century still providing faithful service. The fundamental job of a lathe has not changed significantly in the intervening years, even though a modern lathe will …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/in-the-fast-moving-world-of-cnc-this-restored-router-is-an-antique/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/in-the-fast-moving-world-of-cnc-this-restored-router-is-an-antique/
Large machine tools are often built to last a very long time, so it is not uncommon to find a lathe made in the 19th century still providing faithful service. The fundamental job of a lathe has not changed significantly in the intervening years, even though a modern lathe will …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/in-the-fast-moving-world-of-cnc-this-restored-router-is-an-antique/)
Switching over to SMPS for Efficiency
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/switching-over-to-smps-for-efficiency/
[Hesam Moshiri] has built a variable switch-mode power supply over on hackaday.io. When prototyping a new circuit, often the goal is to get a proof-of-concept working as soon as possible to iron out all of the bugs it might have. The power supply can easily be an afterthought, and for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/switching-over-to-smps-for-efficiency/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/switching-over-to-smps-for-efficiency/
[Hesam Moshiri] has built a variable switch-mode power supply over on hackaday.io. When prototyping a new circuit, often the goal is to get a proof-of-concept working as soon as possible to iron out all of the bugs it might have. The power supply can easily be an afterthought, and for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/switching-over-to-smps-for-efficiency/)
NanoVNA is a $50 Vector Network Analyzer
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/
There was a time when oscilloscopes were big and expensive. Now you can get scopes of various sizes and capabilities on nearly any budget. Vector network analyzers — VNAs — haven’t had quite the same proliferation, but NanoVNA may change that. [IMSAI Guy] bought one for about $50 and made …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/
There was a time when oscilloscopes were big and expensive. Now you can get scopes of various sizes and capabilities on nearly any budget. Vector network analyzers — VNAs — haven’t had quite the same proliferation, but NanoVNA may change that. [IMSAI Guy] bought one for about $50 and made …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/)
ESP8266 Controls TiVo Over the Network
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/esp8266-controls-tivo-over-the-network/
Remember the TiVo? The set-top DVR that was once so popular of a hacking target that Hackaday had a dedicated subdomain for it has today largely faded into obscurity as time-shifted viewing has given way to Internet streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. But make no mistake, while the TiVo …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/esp8266-controls-tivo-over-the-network/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/esp8266-controls-tivo-over-the-network/
Remember the TiVo? The set-top DVR that was once so popular of a hacking target that Hackaday had a dedicated subdomain for it has today largely faded into obscurity as time-shifted viewing has given way to Internet streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. But make no mistake, while the TiVo …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/esp8266-controls-tivo-over-the-network/)