1 image, 2 parts

30 FPS Hack

The 30 FPS Hack is a low-level graphics driver hack. It optimizes the TouchShield’s painting function to allow faster drawing routines.

Parts for 30 FPS Hack:

8 images, 3 parts

Burning Man Countdown

Every year, a bunch of crazy, wacky artists travel from all over the US (but mostly from California) to travel to Burning Man. And each year, the internet gets flooded with fun pictures of all the great art shows, and I think, gee I wish I had remembered…

So I’ve built a handy little desktop Burning Man reminder for myself with a TouchShield and an Arduino, so I don’t miss it again next year. Here’s a little tutorial on how I built it. If you want one pre-programmed, just email me, and I’ll program your TouchShield with it before I send it…

Parts for Burning Man Countdown:

3 images, 2 parts

Reaction Time Game

This simple program tests your reaction time- As soon as the circle comes up, touch the screen and your speed in milliseconds will be displayed.

Parts for Reaction Time Game:

4 images, 1 part, 2 comments

TouchShield Tetris

A first attempt at the popular Tetris game on the TouchShield GamePack!

Parts for TouchShield Tetris:

GamePack

10 images, 2 files, 2 parts, 2 comments

Basic TouchShield Programming

This code package contains three examples of basic TouchShield programming: A classic hello world script demonstrates text rendering, another renders circles on the shield, and a third displays a square. The text renderer also demonstrates TouchShield polling and rendering based on those coordinates. A great batch of introductory code for the TouchShield user.

Parts for Basic TouchShield Programming:

Tarball download for Basic TouchShield Programming:

Touching_In_5_Minutes.tar.gz

15 images, 4 parts

Getting started with the RelaySquid

I built this little project to show the basics of how to use the RelaySquid. This is a really small project that shows how to connect some lights up to the RelaySquid, and then control them with a few digital switches that I picked up from RadioShack.

Parts for Getting started with the RelaySquid:

Arduino_touchshield_keyboard_setup_small

14 images, 4 parts, 6 comments

Mini Portable Arduino Laptop

I finally figured out how to decode PS/2 keyboard signals through the Arduino, and so I made a little device that read the values of a keyboard, and then piped them back up through the TouchShield, to display text. It’s kind of like having a small little Arduino-powered palm top or laptop :)

Parts for Mini Portable Arduino Laptop:

2 images, 1 part

Random Rectangles

Here is a quick demo of the random function added to the TouchShield core.

Parts for Random Rectangles:

TouchShield Stealth

7 images, 2 parts

Growing plants with the RelaySquid

Here’s another project I’ve always wanted to do … it’s a self-contained, automated plant growing terrarium. There are 2 plant growing lights, 1 bug deterrent light, and a heat lamp, all controlled with the RelaySquid.

Parts for Growing plants with the RelaySquid:

1 image, 2 files, 4 parts, 1 comment

Physical computing with BitDJ

Fire Arduino pins as you tap the screen. BitDJ allows for looping of a tap sequence and playback- attach it to a PowerSquid for a custom light show or use it to fire pins and test any other shield.

Parts for Physical computing with BitDJ:

Files for Physical computing with BitDJ.

1 image, 2 files, 2 parts, 1 comment

Pin Visualizer

Debug your code with ease! The pin visualizer is a simple block of code that tells you what pins fire when. Check your programming work or reverse engineer a shield! Voltage on analog pins and logic state on digital pins are displayed. The TouchShield only uses pins 2 & 3 (with power) which leaves 6 analog pins and 12 digital pins free for use. Signals are followed in real-time.

Parts for Pin Visualizer:

Files for Pin Visualizer.

8 images, 4 parts

RelaySquid and TouchShield make breakfast

I got really lazy, and decided to make a project that would fix breakfast for me. I’m usually running out the door in the morning, and I don’t have time to sit at the stove cooking a real meal and making watching the coffee maker for 15 minutes (that’s about how long it usually takes me). I hooked up a coffee maker, and two electric stove surfaces to the RelaySquid. Then I run the RelaySquid with a slightly modified version of the BitDJ code, which I edited to make it time the signals to the RelaySquid to turn on the bacon hotplate for 7 minutes, followed by coffee for 2 minutes, and then the egg for 7 minutes (the coffee and egg run in parallel to start). The end result is crispy bacon that’s had a chance to dry out a little, coffee that’s not too hot, and a fresh hot egg!

Parts for RelaySquid and TouchShield make breakfast:

10 images, 3 parts

RelaySquid light show

I’ve always wanted to make this project, and I finally got to with the RelaySquid (I’m kinda excited about it)... ha. Anyway, this project uses the Parallax sonar Ping sensor (which is a distance sensor), an Arduino, a RelaySquid, and four halogen spotlights. As I move my hand in front of the lights, the sonar sensor detects how far away my hand is, and turns on the light directly underneath my hand. It makes me feel like I’m controlling the lights with just my thoughts! I’m going to try to extend this project to make a virtual, interactive visualizer or equalizer at some point :)

Parts for RelaySquid light show:

2 images, 2 files, 2 parts, 1 comment

Arduino Power Tester

This code displays the power of the Arduino’s on-board 3.3v power supply. It’s a good example of Arduino to TouchShield communication and TouchShield graphics. Two files are part of this project, one to compile and upload to the Arduino, one to compile and upload to the TouchShield.

Parts for Arduino Power Tester:

Files for Arduino Power Tester.