Having moved to Octopus Energy on the Agile tariff we are already saving money. However there is definitely more we can do. Agile has a low rate throughout the day, but peaks between typically 4pm and 7pm. The trick is remembering that the rate is high, or will be high, and not using electricity at …
I’ve been playing with Raspberry Pi’s, Arduinos, electronics and mechanics for years, building fun projects, daft projects or just learning new things. Time to bring it all together and actually do something useful for myself, and maybe save some money at the same time. So, I’ve started to look at home automation and our energy …
(Initially published June 2018, on my original blog) Since way back in the 90s when a friend showed me details of a ‘wearable’ computer, as a programmer and electronics graduate, I was intrigued that a computer could be small enough to be carried around on your belt, that the screen could be tiny and attached …
(Initially published April 2017, on my original blog) Ever since starting at Makespace in Cambridge I’ve loved the fact that the tools available today mean that you can design and build almost anything you want. Makespace has some great equipment but for me it’s a trip in and too far away when the job that …
(Initially published March 2016, on my original blog) Having given out my details and promising I’d blog at the Pi Birthday bash this weekend, I’d better crack on! Given the previous issues I needed a rethink on the design, key points: Build wall mounted from the start, to avoid issues when I finally came to …
(Initially published Oct 2015, on my original blog) It’s taken a while (the original post was Feb!) but it’s time to tell the story of the full size screen, which I’ve named ‘The Wall of Enlightenment’. As a reminder the aim was to build a 2 metre wide, 1 metre high screen which could be …
(Initially published Feb 2014, on my original blog) Following an open evening at Makespace last year I’ve been working with Cambridge University to build a light display to be exhibited in the City in March. The aim is to build a ‘low res’ video wall using multi colour LEDs which will then be hung outside …
(This was originally posted May 12th, 2013 on my original blog.) Six months ago I joined Makespace in Cambridge, the community’s inventing shed. Started by Jonny Austin, Laura James and Simon Ford the aim is to build a community and an environment where we can build pretty much anything. We’re based in the old Robotics …
For some time now, yes years, I’ve procrastinated about blogging details of the projects that I do. In the past I’ve typically only blogged when hassled repeatedly to put things online. Well, no more. I’ve used my former outdated hosting platform as an excuse, lack of time, no one being interested, lack of knowledge, lack …