Hasta La Gadget!

There are plenty of kits out there designed to help kids learn the ins and outs of electronics, but LightUp hopes to stand out from the crowd with not just easy-to-use building blocks but an accompanying augmented reality app as well. From resistors and LED modules to light sensors, each block represents a real component that can be attached to each other via magnetic connectors, hopefully creating a circuit in the process. LightUp even offers an Arduino-compatible microcontroller block to help kids start coding — clip the programming wand to the block, hook it up to your computer, and away you go.

What really sets LightUp apart is the aforementioned AR app. Simply snap a picture of your circuit, and the software will let you know what’s wrong with it if there’s a mistake. If everything’s working, it’ll display an electrical flow animation atop the picture, showing kids the magic of electricity. We had a go at creating a circuit ourselves, and were delighted at how easy it was. The connectors fit in either direction, and can be attached and reattached with ease. We also saw a brief demo of the prototype application, and sure enough, it showed us when an LED block was placed backwards with an error message — you can see it in action in the video below.

Filed under: Science

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Source: LightUp, Kickstarter

One of the things that will never fail to make me happy: seeing people stuck in time explain what modern day technology is. Kim Komando hosted an educational series about computer and explains the basics of its hardware, DOS, Microsoft Windows, Writeand more. More »

Programs have a certain magic power over littluns, sending them into a trance-like state and then having them beg for merchandise afterwards. The perpetual tinkerers over at Adafruit don’t expect you to catch ’em all, though, and have debuted their own show called Circuit Playground — an educational YouTube series teaching kids about electronics. In the first episode, we learn all about Amperes and are introduced to our hosts: a free-willed human and ADABOT, a charming puppet presenter (just don’t tell them that). Following the letters of the alphabet, expect 25 more installments and, if the intro sequence is any indication, a bunch of component-based characters to keep the sprogs interested. If you need 3 minutes and 50 seconds of peace and quiet, or just want to brush up on the basics yourself, head past the break for the first episode. Next time on Circuit Playground: “B is for Battery.”

Filed under: Misc, Alt

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Source: Adafruit

It’s undeniable Google has been making an absolute killing with its suite of iOS apps. Google’s Maps, Search, Gmail and YouTube apps are probably all considered must-have applications if you’re an iOS user and it looks like their once Android-exclusive Field Trip may just be another hit for the iOS community.

Google describes Field Trip as a “guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you” that has a number of big name partners supporting the service like Zagat, the Public Art Archive and Dezeen. Field Trip is able to provide relevant information and points of interests based on your current location. And this goes beyond simply providing information on the tastiest cupcake shop in your town, instead, you’ll be able to learn about the world around you like the history of a particular street or venue. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: AT&T Reminds Its Customers They Can Unlock Devices For You, Google Cutting 1,200 Motorola Mobility Jobs,

It doesn’t matter what unspeakable acts or atrocities they grew up to commit, at one point all mad scientists—from Dr. Frankenstein to Dr. No—started life as adorable infants. But what turns an innocent toddler into an adult with a penchant for world domination? This set of mad scientist-themed alphabet blocks might be one cause. More »