Wednesday Cool Links, and Thanks for the...

Solar botics
February 27, 2013

Hello!  Today I actually have stuff to say, and this time these are the news on the Useless Box. Looks like it's time to receive thanks! Remember back in November 2012 when we decided to donate $1100 to Plan Canada from a percentage of past sales of Useless Boxes? They sent us a nice thank you card for that, and now we are onto our second donation (this time of ~$1,500), and this time it is going towards:

  • Beekeeping kit;
  • Library in a box for Haiti;
  • Ten mango trees;
  • Rainwater harvesting tanks;
  • Herd of goats.

This card is from "Desert Bus for Hope", an annual gaming telethon that raises thousands of dollars for the children's game charity Child's Play. We have sent them custom Useless Boxes which were a huge hit and brought nearly $2,000 in donations.

Thank you to everyone who noted our efforts in making the Useless - Useful, and now onto with the regular:

Cardboard Computers and Plotter by Niklas Roy
Electronics rendered mechanically - that's our kind of reverse engineering! Built out of cardboard, this plotter shows how computers work on a fundamental level: using rope, rubber bands and cardboard, this plotter renders simple vector graphics. And it looks cool too.
Raspberry Pis are now available from the NYCR vending machine
The title says it all. I can definitely see the potential in this fusion of vending machines and electronic components!
Chuck: A Flexible Wooden Bookshelf
You would think this is some sort of fancy design shenanigan that doesn't stand up to the challenge of everyday life, but check out the video, it actually can hold quite a bit of printed matter!
Hacking a Radio Controlled Spy Device for Overly Attached Girlfriend
The goal was to have a radio controlled device that would send live video and audio to someone and had the ability to plant a small GPS tracker on the undercarriage of a car. The video is a masterpiece. I want that device!
A Billboard in Peru Creates Clean Drinking Water From Air Humidity
Great idea, not sure how financially viable that is, but definitely sounds interesting, especially for a region with 98% humidity and only 0.5" of rainfall.

Aaaaand this is it for today, see you next time.

MORE POSTS

November 25, 2011
Not Your Average Door Bell

Wireless doorbells have a tendency to... suck. I speak from personal experience on such matters. When they fail to get my attention while at home, apathy generally wins out and inevitably forces me to head down to the FedEx/UPS depot to pick up my missed package. David Watson, a man of action, took matters into […]

November 30, 2006
We've been BoingBoing'd!

Thanks to Gareth Branwyn and his 2006 Holiday Gift Guide on Street Tech our new "Herbie the Mousebot" is featured on BoingBoing. For those who don't know BoingBoing is "A Directory of Wonderful Things."

February 26, 2002
Vancouver BEAM Workshop

Here's a few links to a workshop spear-headed by ScottyDogma in Vancouver, B.C. Some impressive work done using servos, BIOBug motors, some wooden spacer blocks and lots of soldering! Nice job, guys. Pics and movies: http://www3.telus.net/dogmabots Full Size (1344 x 1008, 500-700K) http://www.davehylands.com/VRC-BEAM-Workshop/index.html Half-Size (672 x 504, 100-150K) http://www.davehylands.com/VRC-BEAM-Workshop/Thumb-B/index.html

November 17, 2016
Starry Night Pendant Assembly Guide

We've already blogged about the Technology Grad Dresses, which are accompanied by the Starry Night Pendant as a perfect finishing touch to complete the outfit. Since then, we've upgraded and improved the Pendant design to make it a fully documented kit, rather than just a bundle: The 2xAAA battery holder offers longer life, less cost […]

Solarbotics Ltd Logo
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!

Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.

Copyright © 2024 Solarbotics Ltd. All Rights Reserved
cart