Category: Uncategorized

Worked on a couple of my projects this weekend.
Found the Thing, and because I remembered I originally got it to build the Wif an activity monitor, started working on that. Well, first I had to find it. After the hours or so, I found the right box that also had the accelerometers and stuff. Soldered headers to the Thing, and ran through Sparkfun’s demo code. It’s all pretty straight forward. Next is adding on the accelerometer and maybe a temperature sensor or two.
I also cross-stitched. Or whatever it is I’ve been doing.

I wonder if I could make an LCD… I mean on the brute end it’s easy enough, but down to the fine pixels should probably be difficult. Maybe using a laser on an etch-a-sketch? I understand the technology from everything I’ve been reading up on, but I obviously don’t have access to that tiny of transistors. Maybe I should focus on replacing the back light. Then I’d just have to work up a lower power controller. The thing that kills me is that none of this should be hard, it’s just the datasheets and components are only available to the big boys.

This is getting to be my new obsession. I might just also a finished laptop together, just so o can jump on real work, like finding the perfect screen.
It’s not like I’m asking much.

Low cost
Reasonable resolution
Low power
Reasonable refresh

I know there’s the whole triangle of consumption and what not, but the numbers I’m looking at are horrendous. I ginseng even looks at repurposing an etch-a-sketch.
I might still do that one though.

In a bid to me the most anachronistic person I can, I’m reconsidering the interface for the laptop. Hand solder a keyboard, yes. But what about doing it all with a monochromatic LCD. I might even whip up an amber backlight to relive the good old days of the 8080 luggable. This would probably help get the power needs down, and might mage for an even more interesting piece. The only thing is, trying to find a large enough LCD at a competitive price.

Gah… More stuff to keep in my head. I’m really kinda tempted to get the cheap solar garden stakes and gut them for parts.

I didn’t finish the base hoop this weekend, bit I got done good work in on it. It turns out needle pulling thread through fabric is a little louder than we expected. Then I ran out of black. I think I did something wrong. Getting more thread tonight, and figure I have another two hours of stitching or so.

I mean that’s mind of a gimme. It should be solar; but do I want to deal with that headache. I would need a panel, easy, a battery, easy (I have a lipo that works be perfect), I should need a charging circuit, I’ve got a Thing, and well… shit. I need to get another Thing it looks like. Maybe I should do my embroidery hoop this weekend, start juicing it up, and build a booster. This sounds totes doable.
Now then, the Thing has Wifi. I should get the Wufi connecting and start thinking of what features to add off of that Wifi. Now that’d be dope, weather forecasts for the next day, and have a proximity based sounds effect (or mauve do it as a last call alarm torewind me to go to bed.

The other weekend, prior to the holiday, the Wif and I went to (Urban Craft Uprising? Something like that). Amongst our other treasures we got me a little embroidery hoop beginner project thing. It’s a girl with antlers washing hello (or goodbye) top a group of deer. So I was thinking I’d work on that while she studied this weekend, and I realized I want to go further. I’m putting on my boots imagining the same art but at night with tendrils of light falling down onto the herd. Maybe go full Lovecraft’s The Colours Out of Space. This makes me happy.

Now I know what the screen will be, now I have to get the Power, power, (power). I could get a USB battery pack that should be able to do it, from Adafruit, but then I’m looking at hack cords and shit. This isn’t a game killer, but it’s definitely not ideal. Option two would be heading a battery off of Sparkfun, which I might do, but I need to do the math on that. Last, and maybe the easy I’ll go, is buy one off of (the one place, mentioned by Afrotechmod), but dear Lord of Infernal Resistance, I hate searching that website.
More research is necessary.
I also should really get this going so I have some sense of accomplishment.

Started doing the math in my head. I’m looking at a affect ratio of 4:3 versus 8:5. I know, 8:5, really. Which poindexter figured that one sounds good. Not normal, not widescreen, all stupid.
Right, at that aspect ratio, assuming pixels of a square nature, rather than rectangular or worse, I’m looking at 5.5×4.25 versus 8×5. The 8×5 is still bookable, and quite a bit closer to the golden rectangle.
So I guess that answers that question. Of course, that today uses my HDMI port, so I’ll want to make sure I have an escape hatch for doing relatively easy switchovers.
This means though I need to look more deeply into power. Adafruit, who has the screen I’ll be using, has a USB battery pack they’re recommending for powering Raspberry Pi’s with. This puts out two chunks of 5 volts at 2 amps. That’s getting into spec sheets I don’t want to have to remember after the top of my head.