Category: Hardware

A peek inside the Google datacenters

Topix.net Weblog: The Secret Source of Google’s Power
From the entry:
Google has taken the last 10 years of systems software research out of university labs, and built their own proprietary, production quality system. What is this platform that Google is building? It’s a distributed computing platform that can manage web-scale datasets on 100,000 node server clusters. It includes a petabyte, distributed, fault tolerant filesystem, distributed RPC code, probably network shared memory and process migration. And a datacenter management system which lets a handful of ops engineers effectively run 100,000 servers. Any of these projects could be the sole focus of a startup.

FM Broadcasting from your computer

All about FM radio – Schematics, KITs, FM transmitters, digital transmitters and RDS encoders from PCS Electronics
From the site:
PCI MAX 2004 is a computer card that will change the way you listen to your MP3’s or other audio via PC. It will effectively change your PC into a FM radio station. You will be able to play your audio files (CD, wav, MP3, real audio etc.) from your PC through radio waves directly to your household radio receiver in the next room, in the living room, across your yard, in whole block of flats….or for the entire village/small city. I repeat, you need just an ordinary radio receiver to receive your signal. The included software (also available at the link below for a quick DL) lets you set the frequency and the output power. You can either service your living room, garden or an entire community. Get rid of these pesky cables!

DIY Steadycam

$14 Steadycam
From the site:
Why build a cheap steadycam?
Steadycams (or camera stabilizers) are attachtments used to capture smooth looking video even when the camera and camera operator are in motion. The camera operator may walk (or even jog), move through tight hallways and doorways, and even climb up and down stairs without shaking the camera. Unfortunately, professional steadycams cost around $1500. Even the cheap 3rd party ones cost $600 . Not exactly a bargain considering many of us use cameras in that price range. So, I decided to make my own version. It turns out, it only costs $14. Not too bad. And I’ll show you how to build your own right here (or you may simply buy one from me). Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, a videographer, the family documentarian, or just want more utility out of your video camera, you’ll appreciate a steadycam.

Save your fingers

How SawStop Works
Thanks to Alex for the link:
The SawStop system works by recognizing the difference in the electrical properties of wood and a user. The system induces a high-frequency electrical signal on the blade of a table saw and monitors this signal for changes caused by contact between the blade and a user’s body. The signal remains unchanged when the blade cuts wood because of the relatively small inherent electrical capacitance and conductivity of wood. However, when a user contacts the blade while the saw is operating, the electrical signal changes because of the relatively large inherent capacitance of the user’s body.

Crazy robot kinetic sculptures right here in Brooklyn

Amorphic Robot Works Info
From the site:
The Amorphic Society includes more than 100 interactive and computer-controlled human and abstract machines ranging from 12 inches height to 30 feet long. If you are visiting San Francisco, you will have an opportunity to visit “URGE” the only permanent interactive kinetic sculpture in the Yerba Buena Gardens, located on the corner of 4th Street and Howard Street.