Category: Making things

I enjoy making things a lot. I don’t get enough time to do it though. When I do make stuff it takes all sorts of different forms, like electronics, fixing stuff (with Sugru etc), using conductive ink, conductive textiles, and the list goes on.

Arduino Mega ADK

Posted by on in Making things, Tech

I sat on the fence about getting one of these for a while, but I eventually decided that I’d love to play with Arduino and Android and Processing all together. So expect some more semi-mobile geekery in due course.

To MIDIfy a VL-1

Posted by on in Making things

So, having got my VL-1 and located my VL-1 MIDI kit, I suddenly realise that I don’t have any instructions to go with it!

I’ve asked highly-liquid for some help as they made the kit.

Processing day 4: A line with some weight to it

Posted by on in Making things

[processing width=”480″ height=”120″ file=”http://www.ashleyelsdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/A_line_with_weight.jar” method=”inline”]Load the applet[/processing]

Here we are again, another little bit of processing. This little sketch still draws a line again but adds some weight to it. Have a go, and here’s the code too.

void setup() {
size(480, 120);
smooth();
stroke(0, 120);
}

void draw() {
float weight = dist(mouseX, mouseY, pmouseX, pmouseY);
strokeWeight(weight);
line(mouseX, mouseY, pmouseX, pmouseY);
}

Processing day 3: Drawing a little line

Posted by on in Making things

[processing width=”480″ height=”120″ file=”http://www.ashleyelsdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sort_of_draw_a_line.jar” method=”inline”]Load the applet[/processing]

Another bit of processing, this time drawing a little line on the screen. If you’re interested, here’s the code for the sketch:

void setup() {
size(480, 120);
strokeWeight(4);
smooth();
stroke(0, 120);
}

void draw() {
line(mouseX, mouseY, pmouseX, pmouseY);
}

Solar Theremin

Posted by on in Making things

I decided to build this kit after having it for ages and ages. So I made the whole thing and put it all together and it doesn’t work. I’ve checked every connection, and I can’t find anything wrong with it at all. Except that it doesn’t work. Which is a real shame.

I actually thought I did a really good job of soldering it, which makes it a little worse in a way. Anyway, I think I’ll leave it for a while and go back to it to see if I can work out what’s wrong with it.

Playing with Android Inventor: A very simple drum pad

Posted by on in Making things

I mentioned before that I’ve been playing with Android inventor now that it’s on MIT’s servers. The first thing I tried to do with it was to make something vaguely musical. Well, ok, not that musical to be honest. I thought I’d try and do something like a little drum pad to start with.

It works, sort of, but it really isn’t too useful sadly, as the drum sound only triggers when you take your finger off the button and not when you press it. So I really need a new way of getting that to work.

Processing day 2: A little dot is going to follow you around the screen

Posted by on in Making things

[processing width=”480″ height=”120″ file=”http://www.ashleyelsdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/spot_follows_mouse_movement.jar” method=”inline”]Load the applet[/processing]

All this applet does is follow the mouse around with a tiny spot. That’s all, but it’s day 2 of my look at processing and tracking the mouse. Here’s the code for it.

void setup() {
size(480, 120);
fill(0, 102);
smooth();
noStroke();
}

void draw() {
background(204);
ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, 9, 9);
}