Bringing Science-Fiction to Life, One Project at a Time

Whether a decorative replica or an inspired functional gadget, hackers make their sci-fi dreams come true. [3602421454791242043.png] Wednesday, March 16, 2022 [Winner of the 2017 Sci-Fi Contest »]( The Sci-Fi Contest Returns, Just When We Need It Most It's no secret that the last two years have presented quite a challenge, and judging by how things are going at the moment, it doesn't look like 2022 is going to be letting us off the hook. When you're only a Horseman or two shy of the Apocalypse kicking off, it's only natural for folks to seek out a little escapism; and for many of us in the hacker community, that takes the form of science-fiction. Doesn't matter if it's a book, TV show, film, or video game. From Star Trek to Hitchhiker's Guide, Battlestar Galactica to Altered Carbon, they all provide rich worlds full of technobabble and (mostly) the best parts of humanity. No matter what's happening here and now, science-fiction offers us countless universes to explore, spread across infinite time and space. [Midwestern Weather]( But hackers and hardware hobbyists are a bit luckier than most. We have the skills and tools necessary to reach into these fictional realms and bring out our favorite bits. Whether these recreations are functional or purely for show, this community has a well known penchant for blurring the line between fiction and reality. So with many of us already spending our days and nights lost in these works, it seems like the [perfect time to bring back the Hackaday Sci-Fi Contest.]( The rules are pretty simple: if it looks like it could come from the world of science-fiction, it's fair game. Extra points if it does something useful, but even that's not strictly required. All we do ask however is that it includes some form of electronics...this is a hardware hacking community, after all. But don't worry, the three top projects will each be awarded a $150 USD shopping spree at Digi-Key, so those parts bins won't be empty for long. So dive deep into your favorite work of science-fiction, pick that gadget or device you always wished you could have in the real-world, and start making. You'll need to get your project built and documented on Hackaday.IO by April 25th for it to be considered, so don't spend too much time daydreaming. Need some inspiration? Check out some of these early submissions: Highlights from the IO POPULAR BITS [project thumbnail]( [3D Printable Exoskeleton]( We wouldn't suggest you fight any criminals or intergalactic invaders wearing this extruded PLA contraption, but we can't help but be impressed with the ambitious design. Creator Andrea says the goal is to prototype an exoskeleton that will not only enhance the user's physical capabilities, but can be used as assistive tech for those with limited mobility. [project thumbnail]( [Build a PCB Enterprise]( We're not sure the PCB construction of this little NCC-1701 would handle the stress of Captain Kirk slingshotting it around the sun, but we'd be happy to have it orbit our desk all the same. Equipped with 40 LEDs and an ATtiny85 to run the show, this piece of electronic art is ready to boldly go wherever your workday takes you. [project thumbnail]( [A Timepiece for Time Travelers]( This watch combines elements of steampunk with mysterious far-future tech to show the current time and temperature using Persistence of Vision (PoV). While gorgeous we wouldn't recommend pulling this one out on a plane, or else Morlocks will be the least of your worries. Hack Chat LIVE CHAT WITH LEADING EXPERTS EVERY WEDNESDAY [Today: Open Source ASICs Hack Chat]( Matt Venn will host [this week's Hack Chat](. Have you ever thought about designing your own integrated circuits? It's not a task for the faint of heart, but it's not a superhuman feat either. All you need is an idea, some open-source tools, and guidance from someone who's already been down the road before. That's what Matt Venn brings to the table with this Hack Chat, from his popular ["Zero to ASIC" course]( and his multiple Hackaday Remoticon appearances. Join us as we find out all about the process of designing your own application-specific integrated circuits, take a deep dive into Matt's course, and see how we can make our silicon dreams come true. Featured Projects POPULAR BITS [3D printed Digital Inspection Microscope]( [Designing a Custom Automotive HVAC System]( [Camera Stabilized Self Balancing Robot]( [Custom Built 8-Port RS232 to Ethernet Server]( Live Events MEETUPS, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS [Trenton Computer Festival - Mar. 19, 2022]( TCF is playing it safe and keeping it virtual for their 46th annual show. We'll [miss the traditional flea market]( but the always impressive slate of talks and presentations will be well worth tuning in for. [Open Hardware Summit - Apr. 22, 2022]( This virtual conference will focus on all issues surrounding open hardware, from building the hardware itself, through to understanding intellectual property intricacies, running a business while embracing open hardware, and topics like the right to repair. [VCF East 2022 - Apr. 22 - 24, 2022]( The [pandemic delayed last year's Festival]( but the schedule is back to normal for 2022 with a spring Vintage Computer Festival at InfoAge. The themes for this year are "Women In Computing" and "Computers For the Masses". If you're in the Northeast USA and have even a passing interest in vintage computers and electronics, this is the event you you. [A New HOPE - Jul. 22 - 24, 2022]( 2600's biennial hacker conference moved online during the pandemic, but dares to come back in person this summer at a new venue in Queens, NY. Although we'll surely miss the Hotel Pennsylvania, there's a lot more room to spread out around the mostly-deserted campus of St. John's University. [twitter]( [facebook]( [instagram]( [Terms of Use]( [Privacy Policy]( [Hackaday.io]( [Hackaday.com]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Hackaday · 61 South Fair Oaks Avenue · Suite 200 · Pasadena, CA 91105 · USA