# Ep006: Reversing iPod Screens, Hot Isotopes, We <3 Parts, and Biometric Toiletseats

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2019-02-15
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-lt3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams review a week of hardware hacks, including Mike Harrison's reverse-engineering of iPod display signals, a DIY light-up parts sorter using OpenCV, and a biometric toilet seat for cardiovascular monitoring. They also discuss a 3D-printed Venturi pump for etching gas, a DIY nanodrop spectrometer, and a massive 90,000-pixel LED wall at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry driven by FPGAs. The episode concludes with a look at the deep space energy crisis involving Plutonium-238 and Josh Vasquez's article on the joys of mechanical fabrication.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=2) Intro and Space Mouse Hacks
- [8:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=529) Reversing iPod Screens with Mike Harrison
- [13:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=819) Light Up Parts Sorter and Biometric Toilet Seat
- [20:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=1202) Venturi Pumps and DIY Spectrometers
- [26:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=1590) Oregon Museum LED Wall and FPGA Drivers
- [30:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=1843) Quick Hacks: IDEs, Astrolabes, and Resin
- [36:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=2178) Deep Space Energy Crisis and Plutonium-238
- [42:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats#t=2527) Josh Vasquez's Love for Parts and Delrin

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- iPod (product)
- OpenCV (tool)
- APA102 (chip)
- Spartan 6 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Plutonium-238 (material)
- Delrin (material)
- Oakridge National Laboratory (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [065 - Multitalented Grinch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2023-07-30-065-multitalented-grinch) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [017 - Supercon 2018 Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-11-11-017-supercon-2018-part-2) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [101: Taking Apart the Toaster](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-20-101-taking-apart-the-toaster) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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