~e; recent explorations

[brian carroll <human@electronetwork.org>]

have been exploring several areas related
to electromagnetism, and thought it would
be a good time to compile a few thoughts:

1) 16 segment display movies
2) deconstructing a transistor
3) jewelry - magnetite beads
---

1) thanks to MacBS2 software so one can
use a macintosh with the BASIC STAMP
http://www.muratnkonar.com/MacBS2/ it has
been possible to experiment with an idea
discussed here previously about the 16-
segment LED as an alphanumeric symbol.
Finally after ordering a grab bag and getting
two unusable dual-displays (which seem to
have some mirroring function, which may be
related to needing to be driven by a custom
16 segment IC) -- decided to work a single
  display on the Parallax Homeworkboard.
  for some reason everything is backwards
  as I have it set up, as 'on' becomes 'off' for
  some reason, yet was able to get the basic
  cycling of the alphabet going, which was
  recorded in movie format by digital camera
  at various speeds (though not fast enough
  to blur into the symbol, for this round.) it is
  a basic demonstration of this display, not
  a lot more. there is one small animation of
  the letters M and W yet an approach needs
  to be considered as I would like to make a
  logic-experiment adding a button, then, to
  also consider the dual displays and also
  some LCDs have a line of 16 segments,
  so some animation may be capable there.
  The idea of programmed jewelry is of great
  interest, to learn to program by making a
  piece of jewelry and then programming it.

-- the movies are from the HIOX section:

letters A-Z @ 1/10th second
6 seconds, 1.1 MB, az100.mov
http://www.electronetwork.org/exhibits/hiox/100.htm

letters A-Z @ 2/10th second
6 seconds, 1 MB, az200.mov
http://www.electronetwork.org/exhibits/hiox/200.htm

letters A-Z @ 4/10th second
11 seconds, 2.1 MB, az400.mov
http://www.electronetwork.org/exhibits/hiox/400.htm

letters M/W @ uknown speed
7 seconds, 1 MB, mw.mov
http://www.electronetwork.org/exhibits/hiox/mw.htm

2) once saw a 'section' of a transistor, and
thinking the type that has 3 metal legs and
a black curved top was hollow, proceeded
to try to crack it open to see what was inside.
to my surprise it was not hollow but very solid
and not-likely plastic, possibly silicon as said
on an electronics list. This is for the T0-92 type
case. It took a pliers to crack one open after
chipping it away bit by bit, and a leg fell off/out.
So decided to try for a section by using a rotary
tool/dremel, with a cut-off wheel. Was able to
shave down the outside of this hardened solid,
to reveal the three legs inside, in their context:

http://www.electronetwork.org/imgs/transistor.jpg
http://www.electronetwork.org/imgs/transistors.jpg

leds // anvil-leg shown in first photo on left...
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/1960-2.htm
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/1960.htm

What was interesting was to realize how simple
the transistor was/is, and it has been written that
a device with three-legs is considered a transistor
and there are many types of transistors and also
other types of devices inside the T0-92 casing,
such as an AM-radio or thermometer sensor. Yet,
in section, the upper-anvil is very much like that
of an LED, which can be see through transparent
cases, one of the two legs of the diode is an anvil,
of sorts, where the current (or light, in that case)
transfers to. The basic 'swiching' transistor uses
one of the three legs to control the switching of
electrical power in one leg to power of another.

3) saw an exhibit on robots, one seemed to be
inhabited (sensors gone wild), acting irrationally.
at the science museum they had these 'magnetite'
beads which were polished and had holes in them,
which is also known as lodestone or magnetic ore.
Some of which is acts as a magnet, other types of
which are able to be picked up by magnets. In any
case, a piece of jewelry that has been in mind had
me wondering what would happen as a result of
placing such beads with those of amber, side by
side, along some conductive string, if the magnetic
bead would interact with the common metal-string/
conductor/wire that would compose a necklace, or
if the amber might alter any of it by being in small
movements in relation. Unknown is how changes
might be measured, without a significant increase
in knowledge- yet this is what I would propose is
an 'electromagnetic' necklace, in composition. And,
these magnetite beads with amber ones would be
quite stunning to see together. Versus a symbolic
gold/silver combination which could be said to also
represent a similar idea, the former would function
as an EM experiment, with a dual-use for demos.
Now it is curious if someday 'sensors' will be in
jewelry or bodywear/accessories (not sure what
that means, watches, jewelry, stuff). So too if the
movement may have some ability for small scale
piezo-electric power and signals, such as with
the above necklace, if it were to be designed to
create piezo stresses through movement (which
could, possibly, power a tiny light or even buzzer).
So, sharing some ideas after exploring for a bit.

(also have been wondering if the political use of
  the term 'flip-flop' used in rhetorical situations for
  people who change their positions (like circuits
  that do this) that possibly it could be substituted
  for something like 'he certainly did 'flip a bit' there!'
  though then it is wondered what reference this may
  or may not have to flip-your-wig from the album of
  that name, or previous instances of the flipped bit.)

  the electromagnetic internetwork-list
  electromagnetism / infrastructure / civilization
  archives.openflows.org/electronetwork-l
  http://www.electronetwork.org/list/