Quote:
Originally Posted by kacir
We are takling about optional accessory.
I do not fancy anything DANGLING from my reader either.
BUT!
I am thrilled at the prospect I could construct a tiny PageForward switch and stick it using a double sided adhesive tape anywhere on the reader.
It would also open possibilities for building weather proof or beach proof case. You just make a waterproof box out of clear acrylic and glue in (using generous amount of silicon) a strand of wire. You attach wire to a small switch and if your reader tumbles into a hot bath, you ruin a $2 microswitch instead of $300 device.
It would be a hackers dream to have a (STANDARD!!! TYPE) connector at the bottom of the device that would let you to implement any type of remote control.
When I was a kid (1982) I had a Soviet made calculator Elektronika MK54. A cutting-edge, State Of *The* Art thing at the time.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Elektronika-MK54...ayphotohosting
http://www.taswegian.com/MOSCOW/mk-54.html
http://rk86.com/frolov/mk-54.htm
It was programmable (we are talking about an era when there were NO home personal computers(at least not ones affordable by mere mortals in my country )). It had nixie tube type display ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixie_tube ) and was able to eat 3 AA batteries in a couple of days of sporadic use.
I loved that calculator, because it was programmable and it had Reverse Polish Logic (no = symbol on the keyboard) so I could become the first computer geek in the town ;-)
Here http://www.rskey.org/detail.asp?manu...ka&model=MK-54 is an example of the program. Oh ... Those sweet memories ...
One of things I really, really liked about soviet engineering was that when you opened a calculator you could find, at the edge of PCB, a series of perforated soldering contacts where you could attach wires and have this thing control something. I never mustered enough courage to take a soldering iron to my precious calculator, just like you would not dare to approach your new MacBook today with a soldering iron in your hand.
What I talk about here is, that you should construct your product in such a way that it is possible for other people enhance it. |
Dear Kacir:
ALL of us remember the days when things were readily changeable. I had a friend down the street whose entire bedroom was workbenches for electronics.
The problem is hand soldering costs a fortune now and everything is drag solder and wave solder and newer. What use to take an hour to solder takes about 4 seconds in a solder wave machine. This has allowed less cold solder joints, pinpoint soldering, small PCB, and smaller devices.
Also, if you decide to even try to resolder one loose wire on a new device it very well MAY void your warranty! Also, you open the door for sabatage, lawsuits, and a thousand other maladies of our electronic age.
While I do hear you and know your intent is good and fair... our electronic lifestyle is spinning us all along with it!
Robert B