TechnologyIQ

There are an amazing number of accessories for Raspberry Pi computers that help you make them even more useful, and this case/touchscreen combination is just one of them. I could imagine using this for a wall-mounted device for a specific use or as a battery powered handheld device for network testing. Even as a simple Raspberry Pi test bed, this would be a cool way to try out the many features of the Pi/ — Douglas There are a ton of cases on the market for the Raspberry Pi, some even equipped with cooling fans, heatsinks, and even displays. While most of those can be had for reasonably cheap, those equipped with display or touchscreens can run on the expensive side- costing $20 and up depending on the model. Online retailer Banggood is currently selling a Raspberry Pi case that includes a 3.5-inch TFT LCD touchscreen (480 x 320) and a handy stylus for just $16 (plus shipping). Read $16 Raspberry Pi Case Features LCD Touchscreen and Stylus via Hackster Blog Get Raspberry Pi Boards...

Technology isn't just computers, networks and phones. Technology has always been part of the human experience. All of our ancestors have looked for ways to help the survive and do less work for more gain.  Archive.org has a host of old technology books (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. Many of the technologies discussed within these books are being put to use again these days in the back to the land" and homesteading movements. You might even find something that could address one of your own garden or farm issues, but has been lost to time and history. Enjoy! --Douglas Historical Technology Books: Design data for radio transmitters and receivers (1922) by Sleeper, M. B. (Milton Blake) - 11 in a series You never know what you are going to encounter in one of these historical books. IT can be quite illuminating to see the state of technology near its beginning. What challenges did they have to deal with? What new advanceme...

Speech technology continues on apace and it could help them integrate into our lives even more. While I can take listening to Alexa’s voice for quite a long time, my wife finds even a few minutes of it annoying. These new, inflected voices might help her to use Alexa more frequently, even for reading out large sections of news or other text. I think it is clear we can only expect text-to-speech to get better with each passing year. Listen to a sample of the new voice below or compare the old with the new by visiting the original article. — Douglas I listen to Alexa’s dulcet tones every morning as she reads the day’s headlines while I brew a cup of tea. She’s no Diane Sawyer, but she does the trick. It’s just too bad I no longer live in the US, where Amazon is rolling out a “newscaster” voice for when Alexa broadcasts news or recites Wikipedia entries. She’s still no Diane Sawyer. But her new speaking style is more attuned to someone you’d see on TV or hear on the radio. And she...

Kits are a great way to get started in any hobby and these robot kits can help both children and adults alike to jumpstart their robotic skills. Doing kits together is an even better idea. It allows you to guide children’s experimentation without trying to control it — which I think is an important part of any learning exercise It has never been easier to put a microcontroller and other electronics into a simple project, and that has tremendous learning potential. But when it comes to mechanical build elements like enclosures, frames, and connectors, things haven’t quite kept the same pace. It’s easier to source economical servos, motors, and microcontroller boards than it is to arrange for other robot parts that allow for cheap and accessible customization and experimentation. That’s where [Andy Forest] comes in with the Laser Cut Cardboard Robot Construction Kit, which started at STEAMLabs, a non-profit community makerspace in Toronto. The design makes modular frames, enclosures,...

While is is always great to use a project to learn something new, having a project that becomes a useful tool is even better! — Dougla s Electronic enthusiasts and makers may be interested in a new DIY stroboscope Arduino project which is being published by the official Arduino website this week. If you’re interested in making you very own the code is available complete with circuit diagrams from the Mediafire website. Watch the demonstration video below to learn more about the project. Project uses a PN2222A transistor to drive a 10W LED, which acts as the device’s light source and the revolutions per minute is set using a potentiometer, and a small OLED that provides feedback on the speeds. Read DIY Stroboscope Arduino Project via Geeky Gadgets Arduino Boards and Components via Amazon Arduino Boards and Components via eBay * A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs ** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out! † Av...

Technology isn't just computers, networks and phones. Technology has always been part of the human experience. All of our ancestors have looked for ways to help the survive and do less work for more gain.  Archive.org has a host of old technology books (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. Many of the technologies discussed within these books are being put to use again these days in the back to the land" and homesteading movements. You might even find something that could address one of your own garden or farm issues, but has been lost to time and history. Enjoy! --Douglas Historical Technology Books: Creative Computing v01n01 November/December 1974 - 10 in a series Another one of the original computer magazines I grew up with. Check out all the issues! — Douglas For the Computer Man illustration, thanks to Steve Rogowski, author of Problems for Computer Solution published by EduComp, W. Hartford, CT. Assorted facts th...

Savvy consumers who want to get the most out of their Amazon Echo devices know to take advantage of Alexa “skills, ” voice-enabled software functions created by third-party developers that can help you do anything from check the weather to play music, hands-free. Today, Amazon released its list of the top skills of 2018, many of which will make you smarter, healthier and more productive Read Amazon's top Alexa skills for 2018 will make you smarter, healthier and more productive via CNBC Looking for an Echo/Alexa Device? Check out these recent upgrades and additions to Amazon’s product line! * A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs An interesting link found among my daily reading

Google on Monday will begin rolling out automated closed captioning to Google Slides for US English, a feature that will make presentations more accessible to audiences that are deaf or hard of hearing. Also: G Suite admins get ability to remotely lock company-owned Android devices The feature uses the microphone on a presenter's computer to detect the spoken presentation and displays written captions on screen in real time. It works for a single user presenting in US English on a laptop or desktop computer, using the Chrome browser. Google plans to expand the feature to more countries and languages eventually. Read Google brings real-time closed captioning to Slides via ZDNet Learn more about Googie Apps with these books † * A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs ** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out! † Available from the LA Public Library An interesting link found among my daily reading

A great combination of high-tech and high-touch. — Douglas In an era where everything is controlled by touchscreens and oblique voice commands, there’s something incredibly satisfying about a gadget with simple, tactile controls. That’s probably why designer Chris Patty’s homemade jukebox looks so charming: it’s controlled by physical cards, each printed with an artist and album art on the front, that you swipe to play a song. Patty created the jukebox as a Christmas gift for his father, after his family decided to only swap handmade presents this year. He later posted a short video of the creation to Twitter, where he’s received enough positive responses that he’s working on an open source version of the software and instructions so that fans can make their own. Read This awesome homemade jukebox is controlled by swipeable song cards via The Verge Get Raspberry Pi Boards and Components from Amazon Get Raspberry Pi Boards and Components from eBay * A portion of each sale from ...

Technology isn't just computers, networks and phones. Technology has always been part of the human experience. All of our ancestors have looked for ways to help the survive and do less work for more gain.  Archive.org has a host of old technology books (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. Many of the technologies discussed within these books are being put to use again these days in the back to the land" and homesteading movements. You might even find something that could address one of your own garden or farm issues, but has been lost to time and history. Enjoy! --Douglas Historical Technology Books: Principles Of Wireless Technology (1910) - 9 in a series Available in PDF, Text, JPG formats, and more Topics  Other Collection   digitallibraryindia ;  texts Language   English     * Click these links for more books and magazine in that date or subject area Learn more about the history of technolo...