Analog Electronics
120 Years of Musical Instruments Feb 4,2004
A history of 120 years of electronic musical instruments...
Approaches to Piezoelectric Shoe Power Mar 13,2005
This article details two methods of harvesting power from movement in shoes. For more, see the work of the Responsive Environments Group at MIT.
Galvanic Skin Response Nov 20,2006
Björn Hartmann and colleagues made this galvanic skin response sensor based on Michael Sung and Vadim Gerasimov's circuit design.
Japanese researchers develop new type Nov 14,2004
Japanese researchers develop new type of solar cell "The photocapacitor is twice as efficient as traditional silicon-based solar cells in utilising weak light," Miyasaka told PhysicsWeb. "This means that it can utilise indirect sunlight, for example on cloudy or rainy days, and even indoor light.
Nixie Clocks Sep 11,2003
Here's a great page on all kinds of Display and Counting Tubes, including several sets of instructions on building your own displays using them. More clocks based on Nixie Tubes Clocks and wristwatches based on nixie tubes If you're in intro to physical computing, and looking for a tech research project (comes up in a few weeks), then this might be a good one.
Peltier Junctions Used for Cooling Aug 6,2004
Here's a nice physical computing project from Norway. I'm not sure if 7 degrees Celsius is the right temperature for Guinness, but this is a good illustration of how to use Peltier junctions for cooling.
Power from water? Oct 25,2003
From BetterHumans.com: "A new method of harnessing the power of pressurized liquids could lead to small electronic devices and even national power grids powered by ordinary tap water. "Researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton have revealed a nonpolluting method of generating electric power that utilizes the natural electrokinetic properties of liquids such as tap water pumped through tiny microchannels."
Powerfilm Jul 16,2005
POwerfilm is a thin, rollable solar cell.
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout software Nov 14,2004
ExpressPCB and their competitor, PCBExpress, don't generate industry-standard files, though, so if you design your boards using their software, you're stuck using only them to make your boards.... Once you're done,you run an error check which checks that you made all the connections in your schematic, and didn't cross any wires, and a Design Rule Check (DRC), which checks to see that you've left enough clearance between lines (called traces), vias (or pads), and so forth.
Wireless SpyGear! Sep 11,2003
These are kinda cute, for experimenting with RF. Perhaps they can be hacked: $30/pair!