Messaging about AI is hyperbolic: “AI will save us!” or, “AI will doom us all.” Neither is accurate, or helpful. This is because AI is a tool. Like any tool, it is good at solving certain types of problems. And, again all tools, it can be misused, or used irresponsibly, in ways that cause harm….
Category: Coding
Spec-Driven Development (SDD): Using AI to write functional code
What is SDD? Spec-Driven Development (SDD) is a form of AI prompting for software development. Instead of starting with code and documenting later, SDD starts with documentation and then generates code. In this technique, the documentation uses one or more files called specifications (“specs”) that define basic criteria for a desired outcome, such as: What…
micro:bit magic wand (Beginner)
While it is a bit tricky for us non-magical humans to levitate objects with our minds, words, or wands, we can use technology to do (basically) the same things! This project uses two micro:bits, a few small electronic parts, and some everyday objects from around the house to create our very own magical wand….
DIY Custom Light Performance
The motivation for this project was to create a controller that allows users to “play” light like it is an instrument with gesture control, custom visuals, and brightness/speed dials. Considering how pricey consumer light controllers can be (often $100 bucks or more- not including the lights!) we decided to make a cheaper, more customizable solution!…
Using Arduino for Citizen Science!
Science allows us to ask our most pressing questions and explore all sorts of curiosities. With some thought, hard work, and patience, we can use our explorations to build a better understanding and appreciation of the complex and beautiful world around us. This tutorial will teach you how to use an Arduino (uno) microcontroller, how…
Raspberry Pi Impact Force Monitor
How much impact can the human body handle? Whether it’s football, rock climbing, or a bicycle accident, knowing when to seek immediate medical attention after a collision is incredibly important, especially if there are no obvious signs of trauma. This tutorial will teach you how to build your very own impact force monitor! Read…
Make a Minecraft Gesture Controller!
Move your body to play Minecraft! What!! Yes. Check the video for a demo 🙂 This tutorial will show you how to make your very own gesture game controller for Minecraft (or your other fav. computer game). Move your hand(s) to walk/run/jump, look around, and attack* all the things! Let’s get started! Grab yourself a Circuit…
Turn your Pi into a (local) Cloud Server!
Save and access docs and photos and music on your own local Pi Cloud* server! The best part: you can use it if, or when, the Internet goes down (or if you’re in a remote spot & want access to Wikipedia). Oh hey, and if your friend gets one and they live close (*ahem*80ft*ahem*), you can…
Intro to the (Headless) Raspberry Pi!
Finally! Use your Raspberry Pi without spending what feels like forever connecting external peripherals and dealing w/ a cable monstrosity: Configure your Pi to be headless! (not the scary kind tho) This is particularly helpful for folks teaching workshops with the Raspberry Pi, since it can be cumbersome (and expensive) to provide monitors, keyboards, and…
Micro:Bit Puppet “Text Message” System
Intro Nearly all of our wireless communication is done using radio waves*, including phone calls, text messages, and WiFi. With its built-in radio transmitters and receivers, the Micro:Bit microcontroller makes it super easy to build all sorts of projects with radio communication. This particular project is a simple & quick way to send text messages…