The Amp Hour · 28 Apr 2020 · 1h 23m · Episode 490
Ben Heckendorn, host of The Ben Heck Show, discusses his transition from a high-volume YouTube series to contract prototyping, specifically designing accessibility controllers for disabled gamers and latency testing equipment for developers like Infinity Ward. He details the technical challenges of hacking PlayStation controllers compared to Xbox, the business of selling testing gear to major studios, and the current state of the pinball industry with manufacturers like Stern and Spooky. Heckendorn also reflects on the decline of Maker Faire, the evolution of 3D printing from hobbyist novelty to essential tool, and the technical history of microcontrollers from PIC assembly to modern ARM-based platforms.
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Hosts Chris White and Elecia White discuss recent projects and gift ideas, including Elecia's work on the Fitbit Surge and Chris's 'Wordy' wearable ring. They also cover Chris's custom hardware controller for the game Kerbal Space Program, the Chiptronics educational kit, and the broader maker movement, addressing misconceptions about its impact on professional engineering.
Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the Hackaday Prize structure, the launch of the NPR podcast 'Embedded', and Christopher's recent success in obtaining his General amateur radio license. They compare the development experience of taking a Unity game engine course to embedded systems work, highlighting the superior tooling and rapid iteration times in game development versus the friction of bare-metal embedded toolchains like IAR. The episode also touches on the sale of Boston Dynamics by Google and offers a large batch of Atmel AT32UC3 microcontrollers to listeners.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's complex fish festival display built with CNC and aluminum, Clagett's solo pool house roof framing, and Picciuto's Casio keyboard mod and new Airbnb venture. The hosts also analyze YouTube performance metrics, with Diresta reflecting on the emotional impact of a '10 of 10' ranking and Clagett detailing his work with a new dual-sided Arduino board. They conclude by sharing recommendations for other makers, including Whistlin' Diesel and Jake Wexler.
Hosts Bob Clagett, Jimmy Diresta, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Bob's CNC-cut arcade machine and Jimmy's Hackintosh build, while addressing the issue of 'freebooting' on Facebook. They reflect on historical makers like George Barris and Nikola Tesla, and detail their use of Trello for project management. The conversation concludes with reflections on aging, creativity, and upcoming appearances at a Maker Fair.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the dynamics of the maker community, contrasting the conformity of high school with the diverse, inclusive nature of online making. They share personal anecdotes about bullying, the transition from hobbyist to professional, and specific technical challenges with tools like the SawStop and CNC machines. The hosts also review current projects, including Bob's leather bag and barn doors, and answer viewer questions regarding tool investment, research habits, and the future of content creation.
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