Very Low-Cost Sensing and Communication Using Bidirectional LEDs

Very Low-Cost Sensing and Communication Using Bidirectional LEDs
Citation:	Dietz, P.H.; Yerazunis, W.S.; Leigh, D.L., "Very Low Cost Sensing and Communication Using Bidirectional LEDS", International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp), October 2003 (UbiComp 2003)
Date:	July 2003
MERL Contacts:	Paul Dietz, Darren Leigh, William Yerazunis
A novel microprocessor interface circuit is described which can alternately emit and detect light using only an LED, two digital I/O pins and a single current limiting resistor. This technique is first applied to create a smart illumination system that uses a single LED as both light source and sensor. We then present several devices that use an LED as a generic wireless serial data port. An important implication of this work is that every LED connected to a microprocessor can be thought of as a wireless two-way communication port. We present this technology as a solution to the ``last centimeter problem'', because it permits disparate devices to communicate with each other simply and cheaply with minimal design modification. video: http://mrl.nyu.edu/~jhan/ledtouch/ledtouch.mpg

Invention may bring power and clean water to the world's poor...

This guy is a real hero. Read the interview

Invention may bring power and clean water to the world's poor...: "

Business 2.0 has an article about Dean Kamen's latest inventions - "Eighty percent of all the diseases you could name would be wiped out if you just gave people clean water," says Kamen. "The water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns." Link. See our Maker profile of Dean Kamen in MAKE volume 04. [Read More]

Multitouch Interaction Experiments. Must see TV

Multitouch Interaction Experiments. Must see TV


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVI6xw9Zph8

Google map hack + cell phone photos + dumpster diving = awesome

from the Make Blog
Google map hack + cell phone photos + dumpster diving = awesome: "This is a great Google map project - when you're out and about in New York City and spot something cool destined for the dump, take a photo with your phone, send a description and an address! The photo and location will show up on Garbagescout.com, there's also a RSS feed! Dumpster diving just went Web 2.0 ."

ReadyMade Blog!

ReadyMade Blog!: "'ReadyMade is a bimonthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff, who see the flicker of invention in everyday objects -- the perfectly round yolk in the mundane egg'... and now they have a blog! Looks like it's off to a great start! Go check it out - Link."

Interview with Mark Tilden, Robosapien Inventor

Interview with Mark Tilden, Robosapien Inventor: "Great interview on You-review.net...'The only difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys said a wise person many decades ago – and little did they know about the 21st century addiction with gadgets and toys. One man who has fueled this addiction, and at the same time helped bring uber-expensive technology to consumers has been the robotics rock star Mark Tilden. Mr Tilden, a real life rocket scientist, is the creator of hundreds (if not thousands) of robots, based on the simple principles of BEAM ( Biology, Eletronics, Aesthetics and Mechanics).' [http://www.you-review.net/features/interviews/mark-tilden/] ."
[from the Make Blog]

DIY Projection clock

DIY Projection clock: "Raph writes 'Since the first time I saw a projection clock, I knew one day I would build my own by converting a watch with an LCD display. Last week, I bought a watch in a dollar store and managed to convert it to a projection clock. I can finally project the time on my bedroom ceiling.'"

Sewing machine as output device.

New Brother Innovis Sewing Machine in Japan: "
How fitting that the first personal fabricator deal with fabric!

Pre-order Kyocera's KR1 EV-DO router

Kyocera's KR1 EV-DO router:

(or turn your attention to a Junxion Box or some such other EV-DO router).