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This is actually a section of a blog by Kevin Kelly, one of the founders of WIRED magazine. "A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. I am chiefly interested in stuff that is extraordinary, better than similar products, little-known, and reliably useful for an individual or small group." There are links, but as far as I can tell they're just informational -- there isn't a "store" on the web site to buy it all, so rather than pushing stuff he can make money on, it's all simply cool stuff that he simply likes. It's all well-categorized so you can find a huge variety of "tools" that are actually useful. Cool! From This is True for 13 November 2005 Suggestions for further reading:
 By: Tom Igoe List Price: $29.99 Amazon Price: $19.79 Editorial Review: Building electronic projects that interact with the physical world is good fun. But when devices that you've built start to talk to each other, things really start to get interesting. Through a series of simple projects, you'll learn how to get your creations to communicate with one another by forming networks of smart devices that carry on conversations with you and your environment. Whether you need to plug some sensors in your home to the Internet or create a device that can interact wirelessly with other creations, Making Things Talk explains exactly what you need. This book is perfect for people with little technical training but a lot of interest. Maybe you're a science teacher who wants to show students how to monitor weather conditions at several locations at once, or a sculptor who wants to stage a room of choreographed mechanical sculptures. Making Things Talk demonstrates that once you figure out how objects communicate -- whether they're microcontroller-powered devices, email programs, or networked databases -- you can get them to interact. Each chapter in contains instructions on how to build working projects that help you do just that. You will: Make your pet's bed send you email Make your own seesaw game controller that communicates over the Internet Learn how to use ZigBee and Bluetooth radios to transmit sensor data wirelessly Set up communication between microcontrollers, personal computers, and web servers using three easy-to-program, open source environments: Arduino/Wiring, Processing, and PHP. Write programs to send data across the Internet based on physical activity in your home, office, or backyard And much more With a little electronics know-how, basic (not necessarily in BASIC) programming skills, a couple of inexpensive microcontroller kits and some network modules to make them communicate using Ethernet, ZigBee, and Bluetooth, you can get started on these projects right away. With Making Things Talk, the possibilities are practically endless.  List Price: $59.95 Amazon Price: $49.95 Editorial Review: Bring a young explorer into the world of metal detecting with this Bounty Hunter Jr. Metal Detector. The junior-size device identifies coin-size objects up to 5" underground and senses larger items up to 3' deep. Features sensitivity control and maximum depth detection to hone in on precious metals. A discrimination control prevents the machine from detecting undesirable items like nails or cans. Includes speaker, low-battery indicator, 6" weather-resistant coil and a lightweight, ergonomic design for easy handling. Made in USA. 21 32" adjustable lengths.  By: Brad GrahamKathy McGowan List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $16.47 Editorial Review: 101 projects that appeal to the spy in you Utilizing inexpensive, easily obtainable components, you can build the same information gathering, covert sleuthing devices used by your favorite film secret agent. Projects range from simple to sophisticated and come complete with a list of required parts and tools, numerous illustrations, and step-by-step assembly instructions. Projects include: scanners and radios, night vision devices, telephone devices, computer monitoring, audio eavesdropping, hidden cameras, video transmitters, and more  By: Cy Tymony List Price: $10.99 Amazon Price: $8.79 Editorial Review: Do you know how to make something that can tell whether the $20 bill in your wallet is a fake? Or how to generate battery power with simple household items? Or how to create your own home security system?Science-savvy author Cy Tymony does. And now you can learn how to create these things¿and more than 40 other handy gadgets and gizmos¿in Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things. More than a simple do-it-yourself guide, this quirky collection is a valuable resource for transforming ordinary objects into the extraordinary. With over 80 solutions and bonus applications at your disposal, you will be ready for almost any situation. Included are survival, security, self-defense, and silly applications that are just plain fun.You¿ll be seen as a superhero as you amaze your friends by:¿ Transforming a simple FM radio into a device that enables you to eavesdrop on tower-to-air conversations.¿ Creating your own personalized electronic greeting cards.¿ Making a compact fire extinguisher from items typically found in a kitchen pantry.¿ Thwarting intruders with a single rubber band.By using run-of-the-mill household items and the easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams within, you¿ll be able to complete most projects in just a few minutes. Whether you use Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things as a practical tool to build useful devices, a fun little fantasy escape, or as a trivia guide to impress friends and family, this book is sure to be a reference favorite for years to come.  By: Robert E. IanniniRobert Iannini List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $16.47 Editorial Review: The do-it-yourself hobbyist market, particularly in the area of electronics, is hotter than ever. This books gives the “evil genius” loads of projects to delve into, from an ultrasonic microphone, to a body heat detector, and all the way to a Star Wars Light Saber. This book makes creating these devices fun, inexpensive, and easy. |
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