Summary of 99% PARTSPIRATION
The author orders round smartwatch displays for a secret project, discovering their ease of use and aesthetic appeal. This sparks "partspiration," leading to new ideas like chameleon eyes for his son and other gizmos. The article also promotes the Hackaday Prize: Gearing Up, encouraging submissions of DIY tools and workflow accelerators before the August 8 deadline.
Parts used in the Secret Project:
- Round smartwatch displays
Thomas Edison once said that genius was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. That doesn’t leave much room for partspiration.
I’m working on a top-secret project, and had to place a parts order on AliExpress with a minimum order quantity of five in order to get decent shipping times. No big deal, financially, and it’s always great to have spares as backup for the ones you fry.
But as I started lighting up the little round smartwatch displays to put them through their paces, I started thinking of all sorts of ways that I could use something like this. I had no idea how easy to drive they were, or frankly, how good they looked in person. When you get a round display in your hands, you find that you need dial indicators everywhere.
And then my son came by and said “Oh neat. I want one!” and started thinking up all sorts of gizmos that I could put them in. Two of them would make awesome eyes, and he’s been on a chameleon kick – the animal, you know. So we’re looking for chameleon eye animations online.
And all of a sudden, I have more projects lined up than I have remaining screens. I’m calling this phenomenon “partspiration”. You know, when you figure out how to use something and then you see uses for it everywhere? Time to place another Ali order.
GEARING UP FOR THE HACKADAY PRIZE
And don’t forget, we just started the next round of the Hackaday Prize: Gearing Up. In this challenge round we want to see your best DIY tools, jigs, and workflow accelerators. Custom reflow plates, home-built power supplies, or even software tools – as long as it helps you get the job done, it has a place here. You’ve got until Aug. 8 to get your entry finished, but head on over to Hackaday.io and get started now.
Source: 99% PARTSPIRATION
- Why did the author place an order on AliExpress?
To get decent shipping times with a minimum order quantity of five. - What is partspiration?
A phenomenon where figuring out how to use something leads to seeing uses for it everywhere. - What idea did the author's son suggest for the displays?
Using two displays as awesome eyes for a chameleon animation. - How easy were the round displays to drive?
The author found them surprisingly easy to drive and good looking. - What is the deadline for the Hackaday Prize entry?
Entries must be finished by Aug. 8. - What types of projects are accepted in the Gearing Up challenge?
DIY tools, jigs, workflow accelerators, custom reflow plates, power supplies, or software tools. - Where should users go to submit their Hackaday Prize entries?
Users should head over to Hackaday.io. - Why does the author recommend having spare parts?
Spares serve as backup for components that might get fried.
