Microcontrollers
Field Programmable Gate Arrays May 18,2004
However, the learning curve, from what I've seen, is pretty steep, mainly because all of the examples presume electronic knowledge that starts in electrical engineering rather than hobbyist circles. Rich LeGrand of Charmed Labs, who make the Xport FPGA kit, assures me that it's easier to learn to program FPGAs than I think, and he's written a tutorial on how to do it.
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.
IR Remote control using a BX24 Aug 20,2003
Here's a decent example of how to replace a remote control using a microcontroller, with code written for the BX-24. This could easily be adapted for all kinds of short-range line-of-sight data transfer using IR.
Java for the PIC Nov 20,2003
Muvium is a java VM for the PIC. The only problem is, you can't just buy the software, you have to buy PICs from them with the VM already loaded on. When they release the VM as software only, I'll try it.
Make your own ECG Aug 25,2003
Here's a site detailing how to build a simple homemade one. I wouldn't use it to diagnose a heart murmur, but if you're interested in biometrics, it's a nice place to start.
Native PIC programming on OSX Feb 7,2005
You need to do it in C, and you need to use the Mac Developer Tools, and you need to find or build a programmer that can interface to the tools provided. But here's a few links (haven't tried this myself yet): GNU PIC utilities - GPUTILS is a collection of tools for the Microchip (TM) PIC microcontrollers.
Notes on AVR controllers Jan 28,2005
and whatever other operating system if you hate c, BASCOM AVR basic compiler is quite good and costs EUR 79 for windows AVR processors can be programmed by any PC using the parallel port and 3 resistors... no need to build a fancy programmer for more serious stuff you should buy the STK500 for about 120 Dollars that allows you to program all the parts between 8 to 40 pins The AVR ISP dongle costs 24 dollars at digikey...
Sketching 06 Jul 6,2006
Hosted by Mike Kuniavsky at the Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan in June 2006, it was a meeting of a handful of microcontroller module developers, teachers, and hardware designers. There was much conversation about what makes good microcontroller hardware, how best to teach it, and what we can do to make some of the various platforms out there more interoperable.
TCP/IP Chip Sep 13,2003
It's actually connecting via PPP, and could presumably be interfaced to any phone with a serial port, I think, GPRS or not.... The chip itself is cheap; around $20; and needs only a few parts to work.
USB, PICs, and Java Nov 3,2003
If someone had the time, I bet there'd be some interesting things that could come of combining the Java USB interface with USB-capable PIC chips.... Microengineering Labs makes it easy to use the latter with the USB commands for PicBasic Pro, and Josh Nimoy's notes on how to do it make it even easier.
YBox: Konfabulator for the TV Oct 16,2006
Tarikh Korula and Josh Rooke-Ley produced the Ybox, a device that produces TV overlays from the web, using a Lantronix Xport and a Parallax Propeller. Very nice project, very simple yet useful.