Hacks
Hardware Hacking is really fun and a very good way to loearn through desrcution. There is a massiver online community of Hardware Hackers out there and you can find out how to hack things from your Ipod to your kitchen sink.
Here is some simple examples
RePurposing a Keyboard.
This is a really simple hack and provides a functional digital 'in' interface to your computer. It involved taking apart a normal computer keyboard - PS2 / USB, and wiring in switches of your own making into the keys. These key presses can then be recived and interpreted in various programs including my favorites : Max/MSP and Macromedia Flash.
Process >
Get a keyboard - dump / eBay / little brother, if you buy one don't pay more than £2.
Take off the shell - inside there will be a plastic cicuit matrix connecting the keys to a circuit board.
Remove the circuit board - all your after is the circuit board with the cable on it.
Connect the buses - there are two connectors of pins on the cicurit board, connect a wire from one pin of one connector to one pin of the other connector.
Read the results - open a text program and note down which connections make which keys, including arrows.
<Circuit board and cable>
<Close up of Board with wire>
By stroking the wire along the connector of pins on the right the computer prints a series of characters.
In Max/MSP and PD use the 'key' object to receive key press information and turn it into a 'bang' to do what ever you like'
<'key' object in PD>
<Flash example can be download HERE - click on picture below then press key>
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