element14 Presents

Have you ever wondered how digital synthesizers work? In today's video, Andy shows how to build one with just a handful of parts. He'll use a standard MIDI interface and line-level output for maximum compatibility, and an FPGA for maximum fun!

Tired of touchscreens? Touch tone phones a bit too modern for your tastes? Join DJ today as he builds a DIY cell phone that incorporates the mechanism of a rotary phone from 1957. Using a minimum of components and a maximum of grit, follow along as he builds a device from an alternate timeline.

The Xybernaut Mobile Assistant was one of the earliest attempts at wearable computers--way back in the 1990s! It was an interesting feat of engineering for the time, but technological limitations, a high price tag, and contemporary interface design conventions stood in the way of mainstream success. Matt ran across one of the later models--the MAIV--that was dead-on-arrival, but wanted to add it to his retro computer collection. So with very little documentation available (The Xybernaut corporation went bust in the early 2000s after several commercial flops and some financial chicanery), he tore it down to see what powered it and set about to rebuild it with modern components. Was the Xybernaut a viable platform in hindsight? Is Minesweeper playable on a 2" head-mounted display? Why didn't arm-mounted keyboards catch on? These and more questions will be answered in this week's element14 Presents!

The Xybernaut Mobile Assistant was one of the earliest attempts at wearable computers--way back in the 1990s! It was an interesting feat of engineering for the time, but technological limitations, a high price tag, and contemporary interface design conventions stood in the way of mainstream success. Matt ran across one of the later models--the MAIV--that was dead-on-arrival, but wanted to add it to his retro computer collection. So with very little documentation available (The Xybernaut corporation went bust in the early 2000s after several commercial flops and some financial chicanery), he tore it down to see what powered it and set about to rebuild it with modern components. Was the Xybernaut a viable platform in hindsight? Is Minesweeper playable on a 2" head-mounted display? Why didn't arm-mounted keyboards catch on? These and more questions will be answered in this week's element14 Presents!

Who let the smoke out? Clem had a custom PCB manufactured but tripped into a PCB design Pittfall that released the magic smoke on the first test run. Today he shares his # Tips and Tricks to avoid common PCB design Pitfalls, to get your Project on track as fast as possible! He uses KiCad to design his PCB but these tips also apply to Autodesk Eagle or any electronics design software. The beautiful PCBs were made by Aisler.net in Germany, but even the best manufacturer can‘t fix errors you made ,while designing the boards.

Who let the smoke out? Clem had a custom PCB manufactured but tripped into a PCB design Pittfall that released the magic smoke on the first test run. Today he shares his # Tips and Tricks to avoid common PCB design Pitfalls, to get your Project on track as fast as possible! He uses KiCad to design his PCB but these tips also apply to Autodesk Eagle or any electronics design software. The beautiful PCBs were made by Aisler.net in Germany, but even the best manufacturer can‘t fix errors you made ,while designing the boards.

Dave is a big fan of freeform soldering styles and made a tiny skeleton handheld. As the wise Ben Heckendorn said years before, Dave too tells everyone to collect spare LED legs. "Don't throw them away, as they might come in handy one day!" - or they get stuck in your maglock sockets. Here we need them to connect an Attiny85 with some buttons and an I2C display.

When the original Game Boy came out there were no smartphones and WiFi didn't exist, so wired multiplayer gaming was perfectly acceptable. But what if it were possible to add wireless capability to this classic handheld? Join us as we build what may be the world's first Game Boy wireless adapter. We'll also see how console games were programmed 30 years ago... in assembly language!

One man's trash is a maker's treasure! Clem found a super8 camera in the trash and soon realized that the original analog films and the processing is crazy expensive nowadays. So he creates a replacement for the film cartridge that turns the super8 camera into a digital one! But that is easier said than done!

Buttons, switches, and voice commands are overrated. What if we could control electronics by playing music? Would this be practical? No. Would this be fun? Oh yeah. Join DJ on his journey to build a reverse music box that will only open once it detects the right melody.

Matt used to hold the high score for every light gun game at the local arcade, but he's a little out of practice since the switch to modern, flat-screen, high-definition displays. Longing for a new challenge, he decides to build a gesture-controlled variation of the classic NES Zapper that will work on modern screens through emulators such as RetroPie and MAME. It's a new take on retro hardware based around an LSM9DS1 and ATmega32u4 that not only breathes life into otherwise forgotten games, but also provides an entirely new hand-eye coordination challenge! Connect with Matt and get the B.O.M. on element14: http://bit.ly/2HATyi5

It is hard to solder tiny components while filming it. To proved better footage for YOU the viewers, Clem builds a CNC controlled machine that allows him to solder without having to touch the workpiece or the soldering Iron himself. The Foundation for a fully automated soldering robot! Get the B.O.M on element14: http://bit.ly/2BdO2w0

Rejoice, you filthy Earth monkeys, because Invader Zim is back! ...soon. If you’re hyped for the new T.V. movie: Enter the Florpus, join DJ as he ventures forth to build an animatronic version of Zim’s robot G.I.R. Get the B.O.M. on element14: http://bit.ly/2FqbSZt

Rejoice, you filthy Earth monkeys, because Invader Zim is back! ...soon. If you’re hyped for the new T.V. movie: Enter the Florpus, join DJ as he ventures forth to build an animatronic version of Zim’s robot G.I.R. Get the B.O.M. on element14: http://bit.ly/2FqbSZt

Matt longs to relive the "glory days" of hobby computing, but he can't decide which direction he wants to go to fill the retrocomputer-shaped hole in his heart.