Fake snow from an Arduino

The team at [Sosolimited] was contracted to create an interesting holiday window dispay for the HBO retail store in NYC. The Times Square display encorporates a board of LEDs and a machine for blowing the artificial snow particles around the enclosure.

The code for controlling the LED array was written on top of the open source C++ toolkit, openFrameworks and the entire setup is interfaced through an Arduino Duelmilanove. Multiple Sharp IR sensors were hooked up to the Arduino in order to detect the movement of observers, which in turn triggers fans to blow the ’snow’ around. A National Control Devices relay board connects the heavy duty fans to the Arduino. This video demo shows just how attractive the project is in motion.

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Advent wreath from parts you have on hand

Here’s an advent wreath made from six parts and a paper clip. Powered by a CR2032 3v button cell, the circuit has been free-formed using a paper clip as the conductor. We love the “dead bug” style of construction used with the ATtiny13 microcontroller because it adds an extra level of intrigue for the uninitiated. This project build on the flickering circuit we saw last year and uses the LEDs as light sensors, only turning on when a certain darkness level has been reached.

We used a tiny13 with our Menorah project last year and still have some lying around that we can use for this. We’re sure you’ve got at least a couple of low-pin-count micros on hand. If you don’t, you should!

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Sarrus linkage 3d printer

[fdavies] has been working on his own 3d printer. He is using printed parts, but unlike the RepRap he’s purposed Sarrus linkages in his design. If it works, this should remove the need for precision rods in building these types of CNC based machines. He’s also recovered DC motors and optical encoders from some inkjek printers. Given that many retailers require you to take junky inkjets home when you purchase a computer we’re betting you’ll find friends happy to part with their unused hardware. We’re impressed with the motion of the prototype seen after the break. Let’s hope this leads to the next generation of affordable 3d printers.

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Don’t point that at me

Some things are made to look steam punk but others are steam punk. This example of the later is a camera made mostly of brass. The body has been soldered together with only a shutter and lens being purchased for the project. There is a viewfinder and separate range finder to determine the proper focus for pictures as this is not a single lens reflex.

It should be obvious by now that this is a film camera. It relies on the photographer to turn the winder until an arrow on the knob lines up with a mark on the body for proper alignment. If you set out to make one of these, perhaps you should also manufacture your own film for it.

[via Dvice]

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Ads with $20+ price per click

If you're using Adsense in your blogs, aim to write on high-paying keywords to earn more on your blog. Most ads are valued at less than $0.50 per click. But some, in the list below, cost more than $20 per click.

Blogs about auto insurance have high paying keywords. Data taken in December 2009 from Google Adwords. Note that even within the "auto insurance" keywords, CPC values differ by a huge amount.

$20.87 Auto insurance quotes
$20.37 Get auto insurance quotes
$20.19 Compare auto insurance

Compare with low CPC keywords:
$1.26 Blogs
$0.95 Blogging for money
$0.82 Blog tips

$19.38 Auto insurance comparisons
$19.02 Auto insurance quote
$16.28 Instant auto insurance
$14.67 Affordable auto insurance
$13.87 Auto insurance companies
$13.52 Auto insurance rates
$12.49 Auto insurance discounts
$12.19 Auto car insurance
$10.50 Student auto insurance
$9.72 Auto insurance brokers
$9.51 General auto insurance
$7.92 American auto insurance
$5.14 Auto insurance UK
$4.77 Auto insurance claims
$2.28 Fake auto insurance
$4.56 Auto insurance complaints

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