# 119: Do Your Neighbors Have Any Idea?

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-09-24
- Length: 1h 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep119mp3

## Summary

Ben Krasnow, a hardware engineer at Google Life Sciences and creator of the Applied Science YouTube channel, discusses his diverse projects ranging from scanning electron microscopes to liquid nitrogen generation. He details his time at Valve, including the development of the Lighthouse tracking system and unconventional input devices like tongue and butt controllers. Krasnow also shares insights on his cookie-making robot, the technical challenges of SEM imaging, and his approach to building educational content.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=6) Introduction and Background
- [2:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=127) Applied Science YouTube Channel
- [4:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=243) Scanning Electron Microscopes
- [19:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=1198) Valve and VR/AR Development
- [28:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=1739) Unconventional Controllers and X-Rays
- [37:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=2229) Cookie Robot and Liquid Nitrogen
- [58:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea#t=3489) Hackaday Prize and Tools

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Google Life Sciences (company)
- Applied Science (product)
- Valve (company)
- Lighthouse (product)
- Teensy (chip)
- Amscope (product)
- Processing.org (tool)
- Hackaday (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Ben Krasnow, 8 years on](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ben Krasnow - Sprauncy Saccadic Spintherism](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-12-27-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-sprauncy-saccadic-spintherism) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ben Eater](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K'nex Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-25-ep-330-hover-turtles-dull-designs-and-knex-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 204: Cesium, Colorful Cast Buttons, and CNC Pizza](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-02-03-ep-204-cesium-colorful-cast-buttons-and-cnc-pizza) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.