Gizmodo: circuit boards

Shred Like a Geek: Recycled Circuit Board Guitar Picks

Jack Loftus — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

These recycled circuit board guitar picks aren't cheap, as far as picks go, but if you're serious about your alt-rock IT garage band's image they may be a necessity. Just don't go tossing them willy-nilly to your screaming fan.

Because at $7 to $8 per pick, that just wouldn't be wise. Unless your fan is a family member. Then you could probably just ask for it back. [Etsy via Technabob]

Robot Jordan's Air Junk Dunk Shoes

Sean Fallon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT

Air Jordan's for the year 2050. On pre-order now. Actually, these circuit board shoes are a piece of art created by Gabriel Dishaw.

This piece was a continuation of my previous piece JUNK DUNK. I wanted to attempt this approach again, with a more refined and detailed outcome. I used very little wire and more glue to keep the piece more clean, and less bulky. I also added new details, a hinged tongue and nike logo's on both the tongue and back of the shoe. On previous models I used a real nike sole to build of off. With this piece I started from scratch and build the sole from circuit boards.

Yeah, but does all of this circuitry actually make me jump like Jordan? I thought not. Besides, this doesn't look like it would offer any arch support. [Gabriel Dishaw via Likecool]

LittleBits Fit Together Like Geeky Magic

Matt Hickey — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:00:49 EDT

There was a game that used various tiles laid down in a certain order to control battling robots. It was a board game and it was a lot of fun. The idea was to make a path that would let your robot run a program, and that's the (very) basic idea behind littleBits: snap-together micro-circuit boards that allow you to use Lego-like pieces to make larger structures that can do a lot more than their individual pieces. In theory the potential is as limited as the pieces people can put together and the software it can run. We see this as more of a prototyping toy than a professional modeling tool, but either way it seems very, very fun. [Ayahbdeir via Engadget]

Junk Computers Could Fuel Cars One Day: Holding Breath...Now

Sean Fallon — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT

You know that crappy computer you have been meaning to toss out? Hold on there, my friend—the next breakthrough vehicle fuel source could be contained within its valuable circuit boards (although most likely not). Scientists in Romania and Turkey have employed a combination of catalysts, high temperatures and chemical filtration to remove toxic chemicals from old computers and other electronic devices, resulting in oils that could be used for fuel or raw materials in other consumer products.

Studies indicate that electronic scraps are the fastest growing component of our waste system, so it is imperative that we find ways to recycle these products and put them to good use. As you probably know, the recycling of scrap circuit boards is of particular interest because of the valuable metals they contain. However, I don't plan on holding my breath that old, crappy Dell desktops will be an alternative fuel gold mine. [Live Science]

Circuit Board Car: Rollin' With a Supergeek

Sean Fallon — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:05:39 EST

Recycling circuit boards for use as everyday, decorative objects is nothing new—but you have to hand it to a guy who takes the concept this far. Although, I doubt that you would be pulling in a lot of tail rollin' down the street in a circuit-board-covered beater with Thomas Dolby blaring on the radio. [Nerdcore via Dark Roasted Blend via Geek Alerts]

Japanese Researchers Recycle Old Cell Phone Parts into PCs

AddyDugdale — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:05:19 EST

Recycled cell phone parts are being used alongside circuit boards to make pocket-sized PCs. A team of engineers at Hokuto System is behind the idea, which will be available in Japan before the end of the year, and is known as DVIEW. It won't, however, be available to consumers. Instead, they will be used in shops as a self-contained point-of-sale display. Specs are below.

[DView via Tech Digest via Textually]

Circuits Made of Paper, Printed By You

Mark Wilson — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:38:57 EDT

There's very little that's practical about these paper circuits. Oh, except that they can be printed out as a template and glued directly to a cardboard base. From there, builders can trace markings with wire and the circuit practically builds itself (the link here has some cool music boards for the aspiring eletroneers among you to try out). But in terms of building a personal Batcomputer out of nothing more than processed trees...you might want to invest in technologies that won't go up in flames when the Penguin ashes his cigarette. [PCBs via MAKE]

Cheap, Recycled Geeky Gifts

Travis Hudson — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:01:38 EDT

Just in time for holiday season comes this line of very geeky gifts from acorn studios. Most of the gifts are made from circuit boards—including tree ornaments, earrings, keychain, clocks, etc. They also have some cute little gifts made from keyboard keys such as rings, necklaces and cufflinks. Most of the gifts are under $20, some even as low as a few bucks and could be the perfect small presents for that nerdy co-worker. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Acorn Studios]

Circuit Board Dress: Are You Wearing Any Underwear?

Charlie White — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:07:13 EDT

Here's a dress made out of 436 white circuit boards, all tied together with metal rings. Each one of the boards is addressable from a control unit hidden in the back. All of the circuits are powered with solar cells, and there's even an RF receiver that can download commands from afar.

Each one of the tiles can have a solar cell and an RGB LED embedded, so various lighting patterns can be displayed on the dress. You light up my life, baby—let me stand next to your fire. – Charlie White

Solar-powered dress [we make money not art]

Decorating with Circuit Boards

Charlie White — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:16:53 EDT

We've heard of wearable computers, but this is ridiculous. Now you can decorate yourself and your surroundings with total geektastic circuit boards in that oh-so-trendy color, boardset green. Just make sure it matches the carpet, perhaps in a nice AstroTurf.

Get that special someone a pair of RAM earrings ($8.99), and wear a chip on your shoulder with a RAM necklace ($14.99). Then, decorate your abode with circuit board lamps ($48). It's geek city, right there in your own home. – Charlie White

Recycled Circuit Board Lamp [Shiny Shiny]