Hasta La Gadget!

One of last year’s most successful Kickstarter-funded projects was the MaKey MaKey, a device that allowed you to input keyboard commands to a computer using everyday objects. A new USB device called the Verve is similar to the MaKey MaKey, but it’s more versatile. Using a variety of sensors, the Verve lets you trigger mouse and keyboard input using real-world actions or events.

The Verve consists of a central console and seven types of sensors that plug into the console. It also has a companion program that has both Windows and OS X versions. The program is used to map the input from a sensor to a mouse or keyboard key, as well as to set the threshold – i.e. the intensity of the input – to which the mapped key will be triggered. For instance, you can use attach the motion sensor to a sword and make your videogame character attack when you swing the sword. Or you can leave the motion sensor by your cubicle and make your computer show your desktop when someone passes by. Because you’re not hiding anything there.

Pledge at least $99 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a Verve kit as a reward. The kit will come with one of each sensor along with all the cables you need. I’m a bit conflicted with the potential of the Verve. On one hand, the variety of sensors means it encourages a creative and diverse array of input options. On the other hand, the one-to-one correspondence of a sensor to a key makes it quite cumbersome to setup anything beyond a simple command.

The MaKey MaKey is so easy to use because it gave you several inputs just by plugging in one board. The Verve gives you seven sensors, but each sensor can only be mapped to one key. What modern software uses just one key? From what I understand it also does not support key combinations (e.g. ctrl+X). And what if you want to use more than one unit of a particular sensor? It’s amazing how cheap and user-friendly sensors have become, but I’m not sure if the Verve will be a legitimately useful product or a mere curio.

[via DVICE]

Over the years, I’ve seen some pretty impressive custom-built handhelds, and here’s another that’s definitely worth checking out. This Nintendo 64 portable system features a beautiful aluminum case, and even aluminum buttons.

It was built by Travis Breen and looks as good as any DIY handheld I’ve seen. He created this beautiful portable system from two big hunks of aluminum, then used a milling machine and lathe to cut out the pieces. He took some inspiration from the design and construction of the MacBook Pro, but says that the console has a “more inviting” textured finish. The finished handheld measures in a fairly hefty 5.65″ wide x 11″ wide x 1.225″ thick, and weighs 2.73 pounds.

I’m not sure on the screen size, but the LCD looks like it’s about a 7-incher. Those five black dots along the bottom of the screen aren’t just decorative either – they’re the power on/off, reset, start, and volume up/down buttons. Each of the buttons and D-Pad are constructed from aluminum and anodized in black.

Under the hood are components from an original N64, along with an EverDrive 64 so he can load up true Nintendo 64 ROM images from an SD card and play them all on the original N64 hardware – a much better solution than using an emulator. And yes, this thing is truly portable. It runs on a pair of 5000 mAH batteries, so it can play for up to 3 hours on a charge. Not bad for a console which you used to have to plug into a wall outlet.

Be sure to check out Travis’ beautiful N64 handheld in the video below:

While the system isn’t for sale, Travis does admit that he might part with it if someone throws enough money at him.

Like many of us, Terry Burton and Jinna Kim find themselves witnessing – and contributing to – the slow but inevitable death of paper books. The husband and wife team decided to make a functional artwork that bridges the gap between eBooks and their ancestors. Their eBookmark not only lets you save a book page, it also lets you specify the paragraph where you stopped. How does it work? With a minimalist touch interface, of course.

The eBookmark has a balsa wood body. Inside are LEDs, a touch-sensitive strip, a battery and an Atmel 8-bit processor. It also has a switch up top for pointing out either the left or right page and can be extended to accommodate larger books.

I know that Terry and Jinna made the eBookmark as an artistic statement, but it would’ve been nicer if it had a motion sensor that caused the LEDs to turn on only when the book is opened. If you’re actually looking for a more precise bookmark, check out this bookmark by Fred & Friends.

[via 7 Electrons via Hack A Day]

We’ve seen a full-sized arcade cabinet hacked to control a Nintendo DS. Redditor button-masher decided to cram the handheld into a tiny arcade cabinet instead. Then he went to great lengths to make it look like a real arcade cabinet, adding tiny joysticks and buttons, a marquee and even a couple of coin slots.

The joystick and buttons are wired to the DS’ circuit board. The upper screen of the DS serves as the cabinet’s monitor, while its lower half is crammed inside. Even though the cabinet’s banner bears Galaga’s logo, the cabinet can actually play any DS game. Or at least, any DS game that can be controlled with a joystick and two buttons. But I think button-masher’s good with his cartridges: Namco Museum and Konami Classics Arcade Hits.

There are probably cheaper or easier ways to make a tiny arcade cabinet, but if you have a spare or unused Nintendo DS this is a great way to repurpose the aging handheld. Head to Imgur to see more pictures of button-masher’s mod.

[via Reddit]

LEGO enthusiast Michael Thomas made this awesome LEGO replica of  Adventure Time’s BMO. But wait! BMO is computer! Michael also put a Raspberry Pi inside BMO, as well as a 2.5″ screen. That means he can actually use his BMO to play video games, just like Finn and Jake do with the cartoon BMO.

Michael’s BMO runs on Raspbian, a Debian-based operating system optimized for the Raspberry Pi.  It also has a USB port, a microSD card adapter and a microUSB cable for power.

Here’s a quick video of Michael’s BMO:

Head to Michael’s Flickr page to see the parts list of his mathematical MOC.

[via I Heart Chaos]