[Alan Amon] posted a cool vintage hack on Instructables, adding GPS-based clock funcionalities to a Bally Wizard pinball.
Pinball machine will automatically power up at the preset time each day and then resets to display the current time, the year, the time the alarm is set for and the date month/day. Then as long as the GPS has a signal the time will update once a minute for the rest of the day. At the time you would like to go to bed the Arduino will cut power to the game and it will remain off until the alarm time. Should you have a power failure in the night the machine will not lose it’s settings. If power is restored prior to the alarm time the machine will wake up as normal, otherwise the machine will wake up once power is restored.
If the game is powered on because it is not yet bed time and it is after the alarm time then at 12am, 1am or 1pm the game will do a full reset. This makes sure the clock hasn’t gotten off due to a stuck score reel, keeps the time in a 12 hour format and keeps the date display up to date.
Have a look at the “cool features” and “coolest features” in the instructables article
Kenbak computer (claimed to be one of the first personal computer – 1971) has come back from the shadows of the past.
I’d been thinking for a while that emulating an old-school switches-and-lamps computer would be a fun Arduino project, but had stalled looking at things like the Altair 8800 with its 30+ lights and 20+ switches. However, when I stumbled upon the Kenbak I thought it was something I could pull off as my first real Arduino project. Naturally I called it the KENBAK-uino. This is the end-product, it can be programmed via the buttons on the front panel and show outputs on the LEDs. It’s a faithful emulation of the original CPU but with a few enhancements thrown in like pre-loaded sample programs and access to a real time clock.
The video is stop motion, so every frame is an individually shot photograph. Each photograph is a long exposure photo, with exposures reaching up to 20 seconds in some cases.
To control the lights, I used an Arduino controlled via bluetooth to drive a stepper motor. The stepper motor controls the movements of the lights remotely from Processing.
If Kickstarter is nowadays best place to find new (or upcoming) toys to dream about, Gameduino is probably one of the most amazing pieces of hardware I’ve seen hosted there. The shield mounts its own FPGA able of 80ies style graphics and sounds for creating old-school, 8-bit video-games, pre-loaded with numerous sprites and set up for easy connection to a VGA display.
Gameduino is a game adapter for Arduino – or anything else with an SPI interface – built as a single shield that stacks up on top of the Arduino and has plugs for a VGA monitor and stereo speakers.
The sound and graphics are definitely old-school, but thanks to the latest FPGA technology, the sprite capabilities are a step above those in machines from the past.
video output is 400×300 pixels in 512 colors
all color processed internally at 15-bit precision
compatible with any standard VGA monitor (800×600 @ 72Hz)
background graphics
512×512 pixel character background
256 characters, each with independent 4 color palette
pixel-smooth X-Y wraparound scroll
foreground graphics
each sprite is 16×16 pixels with per-pixel transparency
each sprite can use 256, 16 or 4 colors
four-way rotate and flip
96 sprites per scan-line, 1536 texels per line
pixel-perfect sprite collision detection
audio output is a stereo 12-bit frequency synthesizer
Ideo worked on the changing relationship we have towards music, adding a new, dynamic yet vintage approach:
The concept behind the C60 Redux is this: We’ve gone from handling vinyl, tapes and CD’s to clicking on MP3′s, losing tactility in the process and making a casualty of the mix tape. Is it possible to bring that back in a digital way? Bone, Johnson, and a group of IDEO designers endeavored to do so by creating a music player built with RFID readers and some Arduino Mini Pros, all housed in a record player case
As I read in the Forum, the latest NootropicDesign Product has bees released:
Hackvision is a simple, retro gaming platform based on Arduino technology that you can assemble and connect to your TV. You can write you own games and make your own controllers!
The price goes from $37.95 (kit) to $47.95 (assembled).
Features
NO Arduino is required. Based on Arduino technology so you can write your own games and upload them using the Arduino IDE. All you need is a USB to TTL serial cable or adapter.
Connects directly to your TV with standard RCA connections. One for audio, one for video. Works with NTSC or PAL (Europe, Africa, Asia, South America) TVs.
Integrated button controller right on the PCB.
Preloaded with awesome Space Invaders and Pong games. More games coming. You can write them, too!
Other controllers supported: Wii nunchuk, SuperNES, or paddle controllers you can make from a potentiometer and button. Or invent your own.
Software libraries for game development and controller support.
High score files stored in EEPROM so they are retained even with power off.
All unused pins broken out to pads for your hacking pleasure.
Non-conductive adhesive foam pad protects the bottom of the board from your fingers.
All through-hole components. Kit can be assembled in 30-45 min. Fully assembled and tested units will also be available.
Additional accessories available in the nootropic design store including 9V adapters, RCA cables, Wii nunchuk breakout boards, paddle controller kits, USB-serial adapters, etc.
Makes a great gift!
Technical Specs
ATmega328 microcontroller with Arduino bootloader
Monochrome video
Resolution is 136×96 pixels (You can control this in your own games)
Requires 9V power supply with center-positive 2.1mm barrel plug
If you ever seen this sequence and always missed THAT something, then you are a true nerd AND now you can have those shoes, by supporting this project.
Every fan of Back to the Future remembers the shoes that Marty Mcfly donned in 2015 that autolaced on to his foot and his exclaimation: “Power Laces- alright!”
As part of an Art project for a contest, I created a version from spare parts which I demoed in a short video clip. Despite it’s laughable looks and simplistic function, it went on to get over 1 Million views and the story was picked up by various outlets around the World.
(…)
Unfortunately, I don’t have the resources to create it on my own, which is while I am turning to you guys!
If you contribute just $50 towards the project, besides the Power Laces shwag, you’ll also be the first group notified when the product is ready to ship and have the opportunity to purchase a pair before it goes on sale to the general public. You will also receive a coupon code for a percentage off, the exact amount to be determined after the retail price gets finalized.
mmm. Why NIKE isn’t interested in supporting the first-ever bottom-up produced shoes? There may be a patent problem, but the idea of realizing those shoes with our favourite microcontroller would have never been taken seriously by a major.
The SMSlingshot is an autonom working device, equipped with an ultra-high frequency radio, hacked arduino board, laser and batteries. Text messages can be typed on a phone-sized wooden keypad which is integrated in the also wooden slingshot. After the message is finished, the user can aim on a media facade and send/shoot the message straight to the targeted point. It will then appear as a colored splash with the message written within. The text message will also be real-time twittered – just in case.
have a look at the video on the official page of the project. Very interesting use of the sling in a digital way.
Amazing Daft Punk helmet replica from [Volpin Props]. It took a long time to came around a wonderful replica of the famous iconic helmet used by Daft Punk. The lighting is powered by Arduino.
Its been a long road. Seventeen months, countless hours, multiple dead ends, hundreds of lessons learned, and one helmet made. In the past two installments I’ve discussed sculpting, resin casting, chroming and vacuum forming. This is where the magic happens though… Illumination.
Many ipad sproofs in these days. This one Arduino based. The interesting thing is the merchandising of old typewriters. Vintage revenge.
The Typewriter Dock, seen in the video above, is an even better version. It holds an iPad in its carriage whilst simultaneously inputting typed letters. All it needs is a Bluetooth component to replace the cable, and a writing app that can use the accelerometer to detect a carriage return and move you to a new line. Ding!
Inside there is a sensor strip under the keyboard which detects the key-presses that hit it, and this pulse of electricity is then passed on to an Arduino circuit-board whereupon it is translated into a standard USB key-down event. All you need to do is plug it in and type.
