<div dir="ltr">Ya, that could work. Otherwise that would become a headache very quickly. <div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Feel free to ignore the following, this is just a mental rambling that might be totally incorrect due to lack of caffeine. </div>
<div><br></div><div>So, if we run with a Game of Life example, how would that work?</div><div><br></div><div>Lets say a 5x5 grid of 5mm LEDs on each board with 1" spacing, charlieplexed on an I2C expanded chip such as the PCA9531. Add a dip switch to set the address on the PCA9531. The board would be about 5.4" on a side to allow for a connector to the next board while maintaining the 1" spacing across the gap. The I2C lines would run either vertically or horizontally through the array, with a uC board be present at the end of each string. Since I2C only has 112 available addresses, depending on how large the display needs to be, some other communication protocol between the uCs would likely be needed. Then there would need to be one 'main' computation core that actually ran the game and distributed the updates for the display. There would also need to be a way for the display to adapt to changes in size, not quite sure how to handle that yet. </div>
<div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 12:18 PM, James Fluhler <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:j.fluhler@gmail.com" target="_blank">j.fluhler@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"><div>Yah probably smarter to do it that way.<br><br>James F.</div><div><div class="h5"><div><br>On Apr 27, 2014, at 8:14 AM, Matt Barron <<a href="mailto:mbarronj@gmail.com" target="_blank">mbarronj@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div>I don't think we would need to program 2000 of anything. The backbone here is basically an analog thing. To add networking and other complicated elements, I would think only a handful of board need microprocessors. They would act as a glue layer.<br>
<br>Matt</div><div><br>On Apr 26, 2014, at 8:01 PM, Stephan Henning <<a href="mailto:shenning@gmail.com" target="_blank">shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div>That's true, not sure what the minimums are on that service, I've never ordered enough parts to bother looking into it. <br>
<br><div>-stephan</div><div><br></div><div>---———---•---———---•---———---</div>Sent from a mobile device, please excuse the spelling and brevity. </div><div><br>On Apr 26, 2014, at 4:49 PM, James Fluhler <<a href="mailto:j.fluhler@gmail.com" target="_blank">j.fluhler@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div>Well if you are talking about actually buying something like 2000 chips depending on who you but from you can get the manufacturer (microchip, atmel, etc) to preprogram them before shipping them to you. <br>
<br>James F.</div><div><br>On Apr 26, 2014, at 3:53 PM, Stephan Henning <<a href="mailto:shenning@gmail.com" target="_blank">shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div>Hmmmm, ya, that would work. Would not be fun programming all the chips though. <br>
<br><div>-stephan</div><div><br></div><div>---———---•---———---•---———---</div>Sent from a mobile device, please excuse the spelling and brevity. </div><div><br>On Apr 26, 2014, at 3:42 PM, Hunter Fuller <<a href="mailto:hfuller@pixilic.com" target="_blank">hfuller@pixilic.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><p dir="ltr">Could maybe provide a pre burnt uC with basic functionality, and Allow the students to code an "upgrade" once the chip is built...? Socketed uC would make this pretty easy.</p>
<p dir="ltr"> -- Hunter Fuller</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Apr 26, 2014 1:15 PM, "Stephan Henning" <<a href="mailto:shenning@gmail.com" target="_blank">shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">My only caution would be against making it too 'awesome'. While it would be cool to have something that complex, it drives up complexity and cost. <div><br></div><div>Also, I would think something that involves minimal code would be preferred. You can give kids a soldering lesson with a good kit, but if we have to add in code I don't think it will go as smoothly, unless it becomes something more akin to a full school year tech project in which they start from building an assembling and move to coding. </div>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 8:34 AM, Joshua Pritt <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ramgarden@gmail.com" target="_blank">ramgarden@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">STEAMfest sounds something like the STEAM Carnival: <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twobitcircus/steam-carnival-0" target="_blank">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twobitcircus/steam-carnival-0</a></div>
<div><div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 2:37 AM, Matt Barron <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mbarronj@gmail.com" target="_blank">mbarronj@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto"><div>I like the game of life idea. At large enough scale, all of these sorts of things could be incorporated. GoL makes a great audio/light data-transducing algorithm</div><div><div><div><br></div>
<div><br>Matt</div><div><br>On Apr 25, 2014, at 4:50 PM, Stephan Henning <<a href="mailto:shenning@gmail.com" target="_blank">shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">
<div>
Actually, I really like the idea of having something that behaves differently depending on how many of them are present/connected. I'll have to think on that a bit, see if I have an idea on something that would work.<br>
<br></div>I've never looked into the programming, but maybe something like a game of life display, or a game of snake that grows across newly connected panels?<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 3:17 PM, James Fluhler <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:j.fluhler@gmail.com" target="_blank">j.fluhler@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto"><div>Could be interesting if there were say five kits that alone do something but when put together do something more? Not sure exactly how this could be accomplished just thinking like if a kid spends 30min to build something he can use that's cool, but if it also connects to something else to do more that could have new meaning. </div>
<div><br></div><div>I don't know the goal you have in mind but when I think about teaching kids about electronics I feel also teaching how electronics can integrate and how a team can make something together as a whole greater than the individual parts, and also that each part does matter. Kinda a life lesson taught through electronics. Haha maybe too much. Electronic exposure is equally good if that's the goal.<br>
<br>James F.</div><div><div><div><br>On Apr 25, 2014, at 12:47 AM, Matt Barron <<a href="mailto:mbarronj@gmail.com" target="_blank">mbarronj@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<div>Yeah these are the sorts of comments I was looking for. I think the plan will be a mix of educational, production, and artistic collaboration.</div><div><br></div><div>I.e. Some things will be done through the school board, some through sheer volume, and maybe a call-for-proposals to local groups. The end result would be a big installation and/or a series of installations that are interactive, taking input from various transducers and data sources, and outputting either sound, light, or motion. Perhaps networked with sister installations in town or elswhere.</div>
<div><br></div><div>2000 units is pulled from thin air. That would be one input for everyone that showed up at STEAMfest- a little ambitious. But I think yall see the idea and hopefully the potential.</div><div><br></div>
<div>Definitely interested in the Meatstand stuff. We'll talk, Tim...<br><br>Thanks for letting me ramble a bit, maybe its just crazytalk and nothing will happen...<br><br>Matt</div><div><br>On Apr 25, 2014, at 1:05 AM, Tim H <<a href="mailto:crashcartpro@gmail.com" target="_blank">crashcartpro@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><p dir="ltr">The Meatstand learn to solder kit uses a 555 timer to clock a counter and then uses the counter to display a dice pattern. My drive to build the kit was wanting students to do more "work" than a battery and a couple leds... the things I feel I learned though: being cheap enough to meet peoples expectations is kinda hard. I missed that mark with that project. Also, it can take a brand new solderer over an hour to fully assemble and solder over 30 components. (Depending, of course) We should talk about it some more.</p>
<p dir="ltr">-Tim</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Apr 24, 2014 8:37 PM, "Stephan Henning" <<a href="mailto:shenning@gmail.com" target="_blank">shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Well, putting together 2000 of these kits is entirely different from using them to teach kids to solder. <div><br></div><div>Best way to get 2000 of the kits together is to pull the design, determine what parts are necessary, price the BOM and then price the board utilizing the parts chosen. </div>
<div><br></div><div>How ever you do it, I would build at least a half dozen prototypes first and put them in the hands of kids and make sure it can survive a little bit of abuse before making purchases in any large quantities. </div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:30 PM, Matthew H <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hendrix04@gmail.com" target="_blank">hendrix04@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I was more thinking getting boards made, ordering parts and put kits together yourself.<div><div>
<span></span><br><br>On Thursday, April 24, 2014, Matt Barron <<a href="mailto:mbarronj@gmail.com" target="_blank">mbarronj@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"><div>The design is known, open source, commodity, as are all the parts. If needed, it could be put out to a board house and reels of parts bought and sent to a pcb fab house for smt pick-n-place and reflow. I could handle doing it industrially.</div>
<div><br></div><div>But I don't feel like that's the Hacker/Maker/Artist/Engineer style I'm going for. Howabout teaching kids to solder? Teaching classes on music synthesis and circuitmaking art? I am looking for the best thing to provide for the Huntsville community, and I would like creative feedback and Ideas from MakersLocal 256. </div>
<div><br></div><div>If you were going to change the world with a 555 timer, how would you do it?<br><br>Matt</div><div><br>On Apr 24, 2014, at 8:43 PM, Stephan Henning <<a>shenning@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">Should be easy enough to source the parts, would need to buy a copy to replicate the board, unless you know the schematic for the circuit being used. <div><br></div><div>Makershed version is much smaller and appears to have a lot lower part count. I'd be interested to see the BOM cost comparisons between the two. </div>
</div><div><br><br><div>On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 7:31 PM, Matthew H <span dir="ltr"><<a>hendrix04@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">You could also see if makershed has the ability to handle that quantity<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
<a href="http://www.makershed.com/product_p/mkjr2.htm" target="_blank">http://www.makershed.com/product_p/mkjr2.htm</a><br>
</div></div><div><div><div><br><br><div>On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:28 PM, Matthew H <span dir="ltr"><<a>hendrix04@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">I would see if you could get the design for that board and source all the parts yourself.</div><div>
<div><div><br><br><div>On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:25 PM, Stephan Henning <span dir="ltr"><<a>shenning@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Clarify your question please.<div><br></div><div>You wish to order 2000 of those kits?</div><span><font color="#888888"><div>
<br></div><div>-Stephan</div></font></span></div><div><div><div><br><br><div>On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 7:01 PM, Matt Barron <span dir="ltr"><<a>mbarronj@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hey makers!<br>
<br>
What do you guys think is the best way to get about 2000 of something like this:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/123476855/atari-punk-console-diy-kit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=music_low&gclid=CKzBipaq-r0CFY3m7AodNQcApw" target="_blank">http://www.etsy.com/listing/123476855/atari-punk-console-diy-kit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=music_low&gclid=CKzBipaq-r0CFY3m7AodNQcApw</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Matt<br>
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