All things IP and EDA fall under the jurisdiction of the EDA Designline site editor, Brian Bailey ()

What’s your power priority? 01.03.2010 Everyone is in favor of “low power”, but their reasons may differ; what are yours?Read More…

Three inches of wit … 06.17.2005 One of my favorite sources for quotes happens to be The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, so I thought it appropriate to head for the bookshelf and dust off the volume for the auspicious occasion of the launch of PLDesignLine.Read More…

FPGA vendors wisely follow the leaders 08.04.2005 Taking a market driven approach is the way to go for FPGA and PLD designers. Read More…

Where No FPGA Has Gone Before 08.10.2005 This week Mitrionics announced the ability to push-button program FPGAs in software for such lofty supercomputing computational-intensive applications as the human genome project, oil and gas exploration, aerospace, and finance.Read More…

Security–What Holes? 08.16.2005 I hate to shop. Although I know that there is a certain level of risk in doing business online, I still do a ton of it. I love Amazon.com, BN.com, Ebay, and Coldwater Creek. So far, I've been lucky that my transactions have remained secure; at least I think so. Read More…

Thwarting IP Hackers 08.24.2005 Seldom do companies write complete articles to answer my Blogs. This week, Actel did. Last week I asked, “Given Actel's announcement this week (Actel Turns Security up a Notch) of secure in-system programmability based on 128-bit AES encryption, it made me just a bit curious as to where are programmable device security breaches to date?” Read More…

Remember Bill Joy’s Fear? 08.25.2005 So, I know you're going to increasingly be experiencing the joy of designing FPGAs into the zoomiest applications. News is coming out fast and furious regarding that fact and I'm very excited as well.Read More…

How do I use this thing? 09.07.2005 Medical, aerospace, nuclear, human genome, financial and other applications are seeing the inherent value and cost-effective price tag of FPGAs. Read More…

Dice or Dartboard? 09.08.2005 Today, two market research firms stuck their necks out to provide forecasts for 2006. Read More…

C Programmers, Don’t Miss Out 09.19.2005 Does place-and-route, concerns of chip real estate, and issues of timing make your eyes glaze over? It seems you're not alone.Read More…

Magma Erupts, Spews Fire 09.29.2005 Not since a similar all-out war between Cadence and Avanti, when Cadence employees “borrowed” source code to create Avanti, has a press release contained so much venom.Read More…

Xilinx FPGA-powered Ghostrider competes in DARPA 10.07.2005 I love zoomy applications–and this one is literally one of the zoomiest I've seen. Xilinx Spartan-3 and Virtex-II Pro FPGAs are at the heart of an autonomous vehicle's vision algorithm, allowing the vehicle to 'see' its surroundings, even in adverse conditions.Read More…

Who is that masked man? 10.12.2005 I’m currently bouncing off the walls with excitement, because this is my first day to officially take the reins as the editor of this mega-cool site.Read More…

PicoChip’s field-programmable node arrays (FPNAs) 10.13.2005 I've been watching picoChip with interest since those days when they were running silent and deep in “secret squirrel” mode…Read More…

Microchip’s DSP PICs: Whatever next? 10.14.2005 You can only imagine my surprise to hear that those clever little rapscallions at Microchip are now selling 16-bit PIC microcontrollers with DSP-centric functionality!Read More…

Structured ASICs are cool! 10.17.2005 In addition to CPLDs, FPGAs, FPAAs, FPNAs, and programmable processors, Programmable Logic Designline is also going to cover Structured ASICs.Read More…

If I had a coconut for every … 10.18.2005 The IEEE in Boston are hosting a series of six FPGA Seminars starting on Thursday 3rd November, 2005.Read More…

ChipX save us from being frozen in silicon! 10.20.2005 One of the big problems with creating a standard cell ASIC is that your algorithms are largely “frozen in silicon.”Read More…

Cool “stuff” from Actel, Altera, and Xilinx 10.24.2005 In the schematics for an old computer I found a “Banana Register” (because the data came in bunches)…Read More…

Cool tool aids paralyzed engineers 10.26.2005 An incredible piece of FREE software called Dasher helps people communicate and remain productive.Read More…

Are they playing our tune? 10.27.2005 Cool website locates the number one song playing on the day you were born.Read More…

The great day draws nigh… 10.31.2005 Only three days to go to the first in a series of six FPGA seminars hosted by the IEEE in Boston.Read More…

Hmmm, dual-port FPGA memories 11.02.2005 There's more to implementing dual-port memories in FPGAs than one might think.Read More…

Low power FPGAs and the origin of the universe 11.08.2005 QuickLogic introduce ultra-low-power FPGAs and Stephen Hawking presents a lecture on the origin of the universe.Read More…

Valuable aid in managing designs 11.11.2005 Perforce is an incredibly useful tool for managing the hardware and software portions of a design.Read More…

ESL even I can understand! 11.16.2005 In which we discover how to make tightly-managed architecture and micro-architecture changes safely and quicklyRead More…

Hand-cranked computers! 11.18.2005 When I created a hand-cranked computer spoof in the days of yore, it seems that I was years ahead of my time!Read More…

The dawn of age of materials science 11.22.2005 A plethora of new announcements indicate that the 21st century will be known as “The Age of Materials Science.”Read More…

Happy Thanksgiving! 11.23.2005 “Good Golly Miss Molly!” It can't be time for Thanksgiving again; I only just recovered from celebrating last year's holiday…Read More…

Platform modeling workshop 11.29.2005 If you're going to be in Grenoble, France on 9 December 2005 and have nothing to do, then I have just the place for you to go…Read More…

Are we all in sync? 11.30.2005 How cool to hear that asynchronous logic design is becoming one of the better-kept secrets in the chip design community.Read More…

Pondering a floating-point problem 12.05.2005 You don’t realize what you don’t know until you try to explain it to someone else!Read More…

OCP is the one for me! 12.07.2005 Connecting IP cores together sounds easy if you say it quickly and wave your arms around a lot, but connecting these little scamps together is a non-trivial task.Read More…

Mixed-signal FPGA is here to stay! 12.13.2005 I've seen a number of devices that might be classed as “field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs)” appear and disappear, but I think this one is here to stay… Read More…

I’m in Nixi Tube Heaven! 12.16.2005 I've just been introduced to the “Mike's Electric Stuff” website, which provides a goldmine of information on early display technologies and other “stuff”.Read More…

Rounding algorithms we know and love 12.16.2005 The mind boggles at the variety and intricacies of the rounding algorithms used for different applications. Read More…

Happy Holidays (especially Boxing Day)! 12.22.2005 Coming from the UK but now living in the USA, this is the time of year when I have to explain just what “Boxing Day” is all about.Read More…

Just what is a Christmas Cracker? 12.28.2005 Having been born in the UK, this is the time of year when I have to explain British holiday traditions to my American friends, such as “just what is a Christmas Cracker?” Read More…

It’s going to be GREAT year! 01.03.2006 Happy New Year! Good grief, are the holidays over already? I was just getting into the swing of things!Read More…

A plethora of reconfigurable processing technologies 01.10.2006 The variety of reconfigurable processing technologies that are available are enough to make your brain ache.Read More…

Exclusive Editorial NetSeminar 01.17.2006 I'm soon to host a live one-hour NetSeminar on the role of programmable logic in embedded systems (I hope the camera catches my good side).Read More…

Have you signed up for the NetSeminar? 01.19.2006 Following our initial discussions on “The Role of Programmable Logic in Embedded Systems,” you can join us in a live Q&A session! Read More…

Did you attend our NetSeminar? 01.19.2006 Even if you missed the live event, you can still see view a recording of our NetSeminar on “The Role of Programmable Logic in Embedded Systems.” Read More…

Diamonds want to be an engineer’s biggest buddy 01.25.2006 When we are able to create consistent, single-crystal diamond films, then, in addition to being “a girl's best friend,” diamonds will also become “an electronic engineer's biggest buddy!”Read More…

Read any good books recently? 01.30.2006 I've long been fascinated by the concept of asynchronous design, but I've only ever been exposed to it from the “50,000 foot” view, until now…Read More…

There’s always another twist! 02.02.2006 The high-level multi-threaded language and tool called Mobius makes it easy to develop complex applications for FPGAs.Read More…

Things are buzzing at the Multicore Association 02.07.2006 Open for membership, the Multicore Association announces executive board slate and first public presentations on workgroup progress.Read More…

Cool new FPGA families from Lattice 02.08.2006 Industry analyst says Lattice now has the breadth and depth of FPGA products to become the third force in the FPGA market.Read More…

Cool “stuff” on the processor front. 02.10.2006 I don't know about you, but I'm tremendously excited by the ongoing developments in processing technology. Read More…

RTOS designed for multicore systems 02.13.2006 I find it relatively easy to wrap my brain around the concept of an operating system running on a single processor. But what about a system containing multiple heterogeneous CPU and DSP cores?Read More…

Deja Vu (Did somebody just say that?) 02.16.2006 In my last Blog, which was on the need for a good RTOS for multicore systems, I mentioned Quadros; so imagine my surprise to see today's news…Read More…

Multi-processor and reconfigurable computing 02.21.2006 Trying to wrap one's brain around the myriad alternative computing strategies available to today's designers is enough to make your eyes water!Read More…

Optimality study of logic synthesis for LUT-based FPGAs 02.23.2006 It looks like there are going to be a bumper crop of interesting papers presented at the FPGA 2006 conference this year.Read More…

What are framers and mappers? 02.24.2006 A reader poised a question to me regarding framers and mappers; I don't have a clue; perhaps you can help?Read More…

Anyone need a world-leading ASIC design team? 02.27.2006 3D Labs just closed down their operation in Huntsville AL, with the result that a world-leasing ASIC design and verification team is looking for a new home.Read More…

Spiral FPGA architectures? 03.01.2006 Could the structures of a volcanic dome and a revolutionary new cooling fan be harbingers of future FPGA architectures?Read More…

Why is grass green and tomatoes red? 03.06.2006 It turns out that much if what we learned at school with regard to color vision was wrong. For example, we do NOT have red, green, and blue color receptors in our eyes!Read More…

Will I see you at the Multicore Expo? 03.07.2006 I'm all aquiver with excitement, because I'm going to be hosting a “Birds of a Feather Get Together” at the Multicore Expo 2006.Read More…

Siloti from Novas: what a great idea! 03.10.2006 On the off-chance you aren't up to date; let me briefly summarize the key concepts behind this cunning little rapscallion.Read More…

Throwing someone off a tower for science! 03.13.2006 Have you ever had a stressful experience when everything seemed to go into slow motion? Was this the brain in overdrive or a fake recollection?Read More…

Know any good books? 03.14.2006 I'm looking for suggestions for books on design, programming, languages … anything suitable for beginners. Do you have any recommendations?Read More…

The Multicore Expo Draws Nigh! 03.16.2006 My excitement is mounting, because the Multicore Expo 2006 (where I'm going to be hosting a “Birds of a Feather Get Together” meeting) is just next week!Read More…

I’m off to see the wizard… 03.20.2006 As I pen these words, I'm poised to close down my computer and board a plane to fly out to the Multicore Expo in Santa Clara.Read More…

Time flies when you’re having fun… 03.21.2006 Stardate = 6:00 am PST, Location = Hotel in StanaClara, Mission = Finish working, eat breakfast, and race over to the Multicore Expo.Read More…

Things are rolling at the Multicore Expo! 03.21.2006 Part 2 of an ongoing account of Max's epic voyage of discovery at Multicore Expo 2006 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.Read More…

IMEC are involved in some mega-cool stuff 03.21.2006 Part 3 of Max's epic voyage of discovery at Multicore Expo 2006 (in which we go to lunch).Read More…

Real men multi-task 03.22.2006 Part 4 of Max's epic trek through the wonders and delights of the Multicore Expo 2006 (in which we're poised to start day 2).Read More…

3000-plus FPGA-to-ASIC Conversions 03.22.2006 AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) have more than 3000 FPGA-to-ASIC conversions to their credit. Wow!Read More…

Which way to turn? 03.23.2006 It's day 3 of the Multicore Expo, and there are so many papers and tracks that it's difficult to know where to go and what to see!Read More…

The thin man is squeaking! 03.24.2006 The Multicore Expo is over, and – if nothing else – I now know that there's a lot more things I don’t know anything about!Read More…

Heath Robinson Rube Goldberg Computer 03.27.2006 Do you recall the American cartoonist and illustrator Rube Goldberg and his English counterpart Heath Robinson?Read More…

FPGAs for critical data traffic management 03.29.2006 This scalable tripl-play data traffic management solution can provide high-performance throughput support from 50 Mbps to 10+ Gbps!Read More…

Has anyone heard about Magnetic Logic from the days of yore? 03.31.2006 Emails are flooding in with all sorts of suggestions for my “Heath Robinson Rube Goldberg Computer” project, including using Magnetic Logic.Read More…

Arrggh, I almost had a Jacob’s Ladder! 04.03.2006 Another system clock contender for my “Heath Robinson Rube Goldberg Computer” project would be a Jacob's ladder.Read More…

I’m in Nixie Tube Heaven! 04.04.2006 I've just been introduced to the “Mike's Electric Stuff” website, which provides a goldmine of information on early display technologies and other “stuff”.Read More…

The first “integrated circuit” from 1926! 04.05.2006 To my mind, the “Loewe 3NF” from 1926 (a device conceived to reduce the amount of taxes one had to pay) certainly qualifies as an “integrated circuit”!Read More…

What’s the minimum instruction set for a useful CPU? 04.07.2006 I'm currently pondering the minimum instruction set for a useful CPU. Any ideas or musings would be gratefully received.Read More…

Any positions open for an EE near Newton, MA? 04.11.2006 I've been in email correspondence with a reader about different design technologies; he's a good all-rounder who is looking for a job.Read More…

The most amazing computer keyboard ever! 04.14.2006 I've just been introduced to the most amazing computer keyboard, in which every key is an active color display!Read More…

Happy Birthday Mentor Graphics! 04.17.2006 In the not-so-distant past, the company names “Daisy, Mentor, and Valid” went together like “Larry, Curly, and Moe!”Read More…

Ultrasonic teenage deterrent 04.24.2006 A new device has been specifically designed to disperse groups of teenagers from loitering in areas in which they are not wanted.Read More…

Das Keyboard! 04.25.2006 What would you think about a computer keyboard with absolutely no markings on the keys: genius or insanity?Read More…

2 GHz Asynchronous FPGAs and other “stuff” 04.26.2006 A new day dawns with more ideas than you can shake a stick at rattling around in my poor old noggin.Read More…

Be afraid, be very afraid! 04.27.2006 Will a credit card company still send you a card if you tear the application up into small pieces and then stick it back together again? Unbelievably, the answer is “Yes!”Read More…

We’re in RFID Wonderland! 04.28.2006 It won't be long before RFID tags appear on almost every product we buy, such as a can of beans or a carton of milk.Read More…

“Letter Board” for the severely disabled 05.01.2006 My wheelchair-bound friend, Steve Pesto, has developed a simple, elegant, easy-to-use tool to aid communication with the severely disabled.Read More…

Scientists make water run uphill (really!) 05.02.2006 There's so much cool stuff out there to discover (and play with) on the Internet that sometimes I'm amazed I actually get any work done!Read More…

Adjusting images for color-blind viewers 05.03.2006 Here's a mega-cool program that modifies color images in such a way that color-blind folks can extract useful information from them!Read More…

Igpay Atinlay (Pig Latin) and other translators 05.04.2006 If you've ever wondered how to speak in Pig Latin, then I have news for you! (Or perhaps I should say “Iay avehay ewsnay orfay ouyay!”)Read More…

Another aid to communication for the severely disabled 05.05.2006 Just about everyone knows someone who is physically challenged and who may benefit from a communications aid like Dasher.Read More…

Take me outside and spank me now! 05.08.2006 Good grief! I make one little mistake, and I find myself up to my ears in a deluge of messages (what's an XOR gate between friends?).Read More…

A mega-cool reference on computers! 05.10.2006 With more than 20,000 entries, this little rapscallion will keep you busy for ages. You can download a free demo or you can search for terms online.Read More…

There are some really clever TV adverts these days! 05.11.2006 I recently ran across a website containing all of those mega-cool TV adverts that make us go “Ooooh” and “Ahhhh”.Read More…

Wild and wacky ideas for the HRRG computer! 05.12.2006 Using a robot arm to write 0s and 1s on a piece of paper, combined with optical character recognition (OCR) to read the values back again as required.Read More…

Virtex-5 devices aren’t your mother’s FPGAs! 05.15.2006 Xilinx have just unveiled a new FPGA architecture at the 65 nm technology node, and these little rapscallions are mega-amazing!Read More…

Easy- and fun-to-use schematic-driven logic simulator is now freeware! 05.16.2006 I've long been impressed with the MMLogic simulator from Softronics, so I was delighted to discover that folks can now get it for free!Read More…

Are you looking for a new job (if not, why not)? 05.17.2006 Have you visited CMP's new Technical Careers website? If you're looking for a new job, or if you need more employees, you should check it out!Read More…

Mega-cool electronics hobbyist website 05.18.2006 I was just introduced to the Web-EE.com electrical and electronics website, which boasts a treasure-trove of interesting “stuff” for hobbyists and engineers alike.Read More…

The sad tale of the avocado (its primary eater is extinct) 05.19.2006 The South American herbivorous giant ground sloth is extinct. If I had to pass avocado stones on a regular basis, I think extinction would be the preferable option.Read More…

Fighting world hunger by building sculptures out of canned foods! 05.22.2006 A friend recently introduced me to the “Canstruction” website where competing teams design giant sculptures made entirely out of canned foods.Read More…

How many ergs equate to one poundal-foot? 05.24.2006 Have you seen that great little application called “Convert”? I use it all the time. And the best thing about it is it's free!Read More…

A blast from the past! 05.30.2006 Did you ever own an HP-41 programmable calculator? If so, I have a treat for you: a virtual HP-41 simulator-emulator!Read More…

X-number-based calculators and keyboards 05.31.2006 Calculator enthusiast James Redin has a suite of web-based calculators that demonstrate the use of verbal/structured numbers.Read More…

Almost everyone is on the FPGA bandwagon 06.07.2006 A story on the EE Times site says that more than 80% of designers employ FPGAs.Read More…

And I thought *I* was having a bad day! 06.13.2006 The one in which the boom of a track hoe excavator collides with an overpass and literally almost chopped it in half (the photos are simply amazing).Read More…

That rings a bell! 06.14.2006 When it comes to the “Mysteries of the Ancients,” let's not forget the two-tone bells from China circa 1200 to 200 BC.Read More…

Rockets powered by Oreo cookies! 06.16.2006 Just when you think you've seen it all, someone comes up with something more wild and wacky than you would ever conceive in a thousand years.Read More…

Information can be “negative” at the quantum level 06.19.2006 What does the concept of “negative information” imply? Well, in a nutshell, you would end up knowing less if I were to send you some negative information.Read More…

Where can one find a paper tape reader/writer? 06.21.2006 Someone just posed this question to me, and I realized that I would quite like one for myself…Read More…

ASICs and FPGAs may come and go, but rounding is for ever! 06.23.2006 The debate as to whether ASICs are a dying breed and FPGAs will take over the world continues unabated, but whoever wins we will still need rounding algorithms.Read More…

Synplicity’s open IP encryption proposal : what a GREAT idea! 06.26.2006 Protecting and deploying intellectual property (IP) is a major problem, but it looks like Synplicity has found a solution that will satisfy everyone.Read More…

Will I be riding a space elevator by 2020? 06.28.2006 Over the last ten years, the Space Elevator has moved from being a “far-future science fiction” item to being a very solvable engineering problem.Read More…

Synaesthesia: Hearing colors and tasting sounds 07.05.2006 When listening to other people talking, some folks may see colors or they may experience different taste sensations corresponding to the various words.Read More…

You’ve got to think things through! 07.06.2006 In which we take a look at some unfortunate domain names who's URLs do not convey quite the image their owners had perhaps intended!Read More…

USB-controlled desktop missile launcher 07.07.2006 The ultimate deterrent against those annoying people who lurk around your desk chatting incessantly because they've got nothing better to do.Read More…

I hate spyware! 07.10.2006 A recent expose on the spyware company Direct Revenue details the workings and business model of this insidious organization.Read More…

How big is Earth compared to … ? 07.11.2006 Just how much bigger is the Earth compared to Mercury, for example? Or how much smaller is the Earth compared to Jupiter?Read More…

Unavoidable laws of the universe as we know it! 07.12.2006 In which we discover some unavoidable laws of the universe (e.g. “Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.”); maybe you have some of your own to add?Read More…

Scientists discover beer in space! 07.14.2006 Three British scientists have discovered an interstellar gas cloud containing enough alcohol to make 400 trillion trillion pints of beer!Read More…

The future is (almost) now! 07.17.2006 Techniques for controlling the weather (rain on demand)? Suspended animation? Stuff that was science fiction yesterday is becoming real as we speak!Read More…

A self-contained data chip the size of a grain of rice! 07.18.2006 Different groups of folks like HP and IMEC are working on miniscule self-contained chips that can collect and/or store data and then transmit it when requested.Read More…

Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters” to appear at DAC 07.19.2006 With all of the vendors at DAC telling you that their products are the best, how can you know what's true and what's hype? This sounds like a job for the MythBusters!Read More…

I am a super-happy camper, because … 07.19.2006 Two Austrian engineers have commenced a project to implement a low-cost FPGA-based physical implementation of our virtual DIY Calculator.Read More…

$450 to turn your toilet into a fish tank! 07.21.2006 That's right, you heard me; this little scamp is billed as “A whimsical potty that turns your toilet into a nautical wonderland!”Read More…

My adventures at DAC 2006 (day 1)! 07.25.2006 In addition to learning lots of cool stuff about companies and tools, I also got to take part in Tensilica's art campaign to raise money for Ballet San Jose!Read More…

My ongoing adventures at DAC 2006 (Days 2, 3, and 4)! 07.28.2006 There are so many stories to tell; at the Magma briefing, for example, the bus to the next venue arrived at the same time as the Creme Brulee . . . arrggghh! Read More…

The eyes of the mantis shrimp puts ours to shame! 08.01.2006 Known as “sea locusts” by the ancient Assyrians, mantis shrimp are little tricksters, because they aren't actually shrimp or mantids.Read More…

Bubblz the Clown, is that you? 08.02.2006 Discovering that one of the engineers you used to work with has become a professional clown (and balloon artist) is not the sort of news one receives every day. Read More…

A future wonder of the world — “The Clock of the Long Now” 08.04.2006 Despite minor problems like the fall of civilization as we know it, this 60-foot mechanical behemoth is intended to keep accurate time for at least 10,000 years!Read More…

Dan from ‘down under’ is not a happy camper! 08.06.2006 Based in Australia, Dan Rutter's website contains an eclectic mix of product reviews and useful articles and tutorials … which someone has been plagiarizing!Read More…

Custom laser cutting for home robot projects! 08.08.2006 Pololu Robotics has just about anything one might wish when it comes to leaping into the robot-building arena, including a laser-cutting service for custom parts.Read More…

The 25 greatest PCs of all time 08.11.2006 A friend just pointed me at a very interesting article that wades through reams of history to pick the top 25 PCs of all time (plus a lot of “runner-ups”).Read More…

The return of ‘Digital Journal Online’ 08.14.2006 My old chum Bijan Tehrani (film maker extraordinaire) has just launched a film-related website featuring news and events, interviews and reviews, and all sorts of other content.Read More…

Can’t sleep? Then learn to play the didgeridoo! 08.16.2006 I just ran across a study published by the British Medical Journal showing that regularly playing the didgeridoo reduces snoring and daytime sleepiness.Read More…

NASA have misplaced original Apollo 11 tapes! 08.17.2006 I don't believe it – apparently no one knows where the original video tapes of the Apollo 11 moonwalk currently reside – and I thought I had organizational problems.Read More…

What an amazing optical illusion! 08.18.2006 I've just been exposed to a rather cunning optical illusion in which a black-and-white image appears to be in full color; you can check it out for yourself!Read More…

Big boys like big toys! 08.22.2006 Are you looking for an inflatable referee's costume, a water bomb-launching sling, or something warm to cuddle up in bed with? Well, look no further…Read More…

From tiny dice to pyramid-shaped-watermelons! 08.23.2006 There are some mega-interesting websites; for example, the “Pink Tentacle” site has all sorts of cool stories, from microscopic dice to mermaid mummies!Read More…

It’s official – Pluto is no longer a planet! 08.24.2006 After a turbulent week of discordant debate, the International Astronomical Union has stripped Pluto of its planetary status.Read More…

65 Optical illusions and visual phenomena 08.25.2006 Michael Bach has put a phenomenal amount of work into creating a website that provides incredibly cool examples of 65 different visual illusions!Read More…

Wheels within wheels! 08.28.2006 I've just been introduced to a company that creates the most amazingly intricate motor cycle wheels – you really have to see these little rapscallions to believe them!Read More…

From dark matter via perpetual machines to a flat earth 08.29.2006 An unbelievable assortment of original documents on diverse subjects that will keep the average techno-weenie-geek busy for at least a month!Read More…

The Daily Farce (a satirical and distorted look at the news) 08.30.2006 Read all about it: Apple Announces New iPod For Deaf People; NASA sells space shuttle on eBay; high school textbooks in California limited to only 200 pages…Read More…

Very cool (and free) graph paper printer software 08.31.2006 Instead of trying to create a logarithmic scale from the ground up (for use in an illustration), I queried the web and ran across this little rapscallion!Read More…

From banana-plant solar panels to 406 MPH in a Peugeot 406 09.05.2006 I've just returned from celebrating the Labor Day holiday (and by golly I was ready for it) to discover all sorts of cool stories in my email.Read More…

A ‘senses challenge’ plus lots of other cool stuff 09.06.2006 Among other things, we find an interactive challenge to our senses (each item comes with a short explanation as to how you can't always trust your perception).Read More…

Yet more free graphics programs 09.08.2006 Folks continue to recommend really good graphics programs; meanwhile I'm busily looking for (accurate) spectral data on moonlight.Read More…

The ‘box’ that broke the Enigma code is rebuilt 09.11.2006 Also, I'm more than a little surprised to discover that the 'machine' I'm currently using to as a door stop to keep my office door open may be worth $50,796! Read More…

The Khronos 4D projector 09.12.2006 Named after the personification of time in ancient Greek Literature, the Khronos Projector provides a new way to manipulate pre-recorded movie content. Read More…

Building a spectrometer from a CD and a cornflakes box 09.13.2006 This interesting and easy-to-build home experiment may provide a hint on the path to solving a question I've been pondering (or not as the case might be).Read More…

Let’s surprise Gabe Moretti! 09.18.2006 The editor of our sister DesignLine site, EDAdesignline.com, is on vacation – the silly sausage has left me in charge – let's surprise him on his return!Read More…

It’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day! 09.19.2006 Seriously, September 19 is one of the now-classic geek holidays and ranks right up there with 'Pi Day' (14 March) and 'Pi Approximation Day' (22 July).Read More…

Fast and free Acrobat document viewer 09.20.2006 This free viewer overcomes the two problems that make me rant and rave; the time it takes to open a PDF and the PDFs I can't open.Read More…

A reader responds to ‘seeing schematics in color’ 09.21.2006 I just heard from an electronics engineer who reports experiencing seeing the wires linking logic gates in color (this is in schematics printed in black-and-white).Read More…

The most amazing visual illusion! 09.25.2006 Called the “Rotating Turtles” illusion, this static image appears to move in front of your eyes to the extent you can become dizzy looking at it!Read More…

The Tertiary Period no longer exists! 09.27.2006 Geologists have recently gone through a fairly thorough revision of the time scale; the Tertiary Period (from 65 to 1.8 million years ago) has been given the boot!Read More…

I have a question about Venn Diagrams 09.29.2006 I know, I know, these representations are intrinsically simple in concept, yet I have a niggling memory of something that, well, I can't quite remember!Read More…

A call to arms – I need your help! 10.04.2006 Sometimes it's incredibly important to press the buttons to rate articles you read on the web; for example, a recent piece of mine own.Read More…

USB hamster wheel – it’s a MUST have! 10.05.2006 I have seen the future – at least the future as regards the next thing that will be appearing on my office desk, which is a USB-controlled hamster wheel!Read More…

The answer to my Venn Diagram query! 10.06.2006 I was right – using cross-hatching in a Venn Diagram can have meaning beyond simple shading!Read More…

Taking high-res images using a 1-pixel digital camera 10.11.2006 Unlike regular digital cameras that capture multiple pixels simultaneously, this new technique involves imaging a single pixel multiple times.Read More…

Fractal images that take your breath away! 10.17.2006 The really cool thing is that these images were created using a freeware program called Apophysis that runs on Windows.Read More…

Do you want to write a “How To” article? 10.18.2006 Have you been working on an interesting project? If so, would you like to achieve fame beyond your wildest dreams?Read More…

The most exquisite mechanical models 10.24.2006 I've just been privileged to see miniature mechanical models of such exquisite perfection it takes one's breath away!Read More…

Very cool verification-centric micro-website 10.25.2006 Everything you ever wanted to know about verification from the block-to-chip-to-system levels covered in excruciating detail!Read More…

The most amazing astronomical images for free 11.01.2006 Honestly, these images are gorgeous: baby stars being born – old stars exploding – galaxies colliding – and the list goes on.Read More…

Do-it-yourself snow-at-home project! 11.02.2006 A NASA engineer shows you how to make your own snow; be the envy of your neighbors and have the coolest (pun intended) yard on your street!Read More…

New color vision test is a bit of a shocker! 11.07.2006 I just took a new color vision test and was somewhat surprised at the results!Read More…

The future is now – 1mm thick light panels 11.16.2006 The folks at a company called CeeLite have developed Light Emitting Capacitor (LEC) panels that act as flexible, paper-thin light sources.Read More…

Interactive periodic table is rather interesting 11.21.2006 Occasionally an item in the net catches my eye, such as a recent email from the folks at Popular Science trying to entice me with all sorts of “goodies.”Read More…

How to save 100 horses + a rather amazing prank 11.29.2006 I was recently beguiled into checking out two online videos; one makes you want to laugh out loud and the other makes you want to cry (I'll let you decide which is which).Read More…

Emails from readers – from the sublime to the ridiculous! 11.30.2006 I now receive more emails in the average day than I used to in a month in ye “good old days” (some are really interesting, while others make me say “Que?”)Read More…

Where can we find ferromagnetic cores to make a magnetic core store memory? 12.04.2006 A reader asks if normal ferrite beads will work, or if they have the wrong hysteresis (and if so, where can we obtain some cores that will work?).Read More…

We now have BCD math routines for the virtual DIY Calculator 12.13.2006 I'm a “happy camper” because we now have a suite of binary-coded decimal (BCD) math routines for the DIY Calculator (plus I have some ferrite cores on the way).Read More…

More information regarding Gray codes is flooding in 12.18.2006 I'm learning all sorts of information on Gray codes and Gray code counters, such as the fact that they consume half the average power of a binary counter.Read More…

In which we discover the steam-powered origin of the Internet 12.20.2006 It is a little known fact that, even today, the Internet still relies on some steam-driven sections, mostly for little trodden routes to some of the more obscure domains.Read More…

Struggling with FPGA “gate” equivalents 12.22.2006 A reader explains how he calculates FPGA equivalent gates and compares today's devices to the TTL technology of yesteryear.Read More…

Matthias Wandel’s Magic Marble Machine 12.26.2006 I just ran across the website of one Matthias Wandel, who has an eclectic range of interests, including some really cool marble machines.Read More…

Vegetal FPGAs (only eight Euros each) 12.29.2006 New open source form of logic runs on water, oxygen, and biomaterial; is environmentally friendly; and is reputed to smell good.Read More…

TotalRecall – What an amazingly cool idea! 01.08.2007 Its as though the guys and gals at Synplicity all sport turbo-charged size-16 brains with “go-faster” stripes painted on the side!Read More…

I’m now the proud possessor of 50,000 magnetic cores! 01.10.2007 That's right, 50,000 ferro-magnetic cores! They are really tiny, but as we all know — of course — it's not the size of your cores, it's what you do with them that counts!Read More…

Reach out and OneTouch someone today! 01.16.2007 The folks at Synaptics have just introduced a family of mega-cool configurable capacitive sensing chips called Synaptics OneTouch.Read More…

A positive plethora of cool websites! 01.17.2007 Here are some cool sites that have crossed my desk in the last couple of days, from transistor museums to the dangers of using restrooms to the horrors of Wii.Read More…

Artificial-intelligence music program is thoroughly addictive! 01.24.2007 If you play with the Pandora program, you are in danger of discovering music you love by artists you've never heard of. How amazingly cool!Read More…

Do NOT press that big red button! 01.25.2007 While giving a tour of a data center, a manager flipped what he thought was a light switch; sadly, this turned out to be an ill-placed control for an entire bank of servers…Read More…

Students build a really cool computer 01.31.2007 Not exactly a “micro” — this beast comprises nine square feet of prototype boards, sixty yards of wire, seventy-nine LEDs, and fifty-three integrated circuits.Read More…

How long does it take to catch a computer virus? 02.01.2007 Would you believe only 8 seconds! Some folks connected an unprotected PC to the Internet and the results were immediate and very, very scary!Read More…

The latest and greatest on the multi-core front 02.02.2007 Now in its second year, the forthcoming three-day Multicore Expo will feature many technical sessions and keynotes, as well as a two-day exhibit.Read More…

Everything is relative (even my auntie Barbara) 02.07.2007 My auntie Barbara's assiduous scrubbing in my younger years has left me the proud owner of the cleanest pair on knees in the known universe!Read More…

Nominations are open for “Women in EDA” award 02.08.2007 You may be surprised to hear that this award is open to both men and women with technical or non-technical backgrounds in industry or academia.Read More…

Hardware Verification with C++ 02.12.2007 Much to my surprise, I spent my weekend curled up with a really good book on hardware verification with C++ by Mike Mintz and Robert Ekendahl.Read More…

The Dutch are so cool! 02.16.2007 No really, they've come up with a cunning plan to store plan to store gigawatts of electricity created from wind in refrigerated warehouses normally used to store food.Read More…

On the hunt of the wild conundrum! 02.27.2007 Do you recall the brain bogglers posed by the computer magazines of yesteryear in which you had to solve simple tasks using the fewest assembly code instructions? Read More…

The Journal of Irreproducible Results (and other sites) 02.28.2007 Here are a few more weird and wonderful websites that recently caught my attention and tickled my fancy. Read More…

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster 03.02.2007 Evolution versus Intelligent Design (AKA Creationism) versus Flying Spaghetti Monsters … and don't forget the link between Pirates and Global Warming!Read More…

Brian’s Brilliant Monitor vs Max’s Magnificent Monitor 03.05.2007 For the past few weeks, Brian Beckius and I have been competing with each other to write the coolest monitor program for a virtual 8-bit computer.Read More…

Domino-based versus organic computers 03.06.2007 Sadly, domino-based computation will never catch on where I live, because I've just discovered that it's illegal to play dominoes on Sunday in Alabama.Read More…

The crux of the biscuit 03.08.2007 As part of a religious debate I found myself researching Frank Zappa, one of whose kids is called “Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen”, and then things started to get strange…Read More…

The biscuit bites back! 03.09.2007 The meaning behind the Frank Zappa quote is revealed; plus we discover a kit that allows you to take high-speed photos with your digital camera.Read More…

Have I been praised or insulted? 03.12.2007 Generally speaking I consider myself to have a reasonably extensive vocabulary and a certain dexterity with the mother tongue, so why don't I understand this email from a reader?Read More…

Testing mainframe computers using a small loudspeaker 03.21.2007 An article on problem-solving in a 1970s IT department reminded me as to how we used to test mainframe computers using little more than a small loudspeaker.Read More…

All sorts of “stuff” 03.22.2007 A 1920 Comptometer mechanical calculator is winging its way to me from Argentina; the physical DIY Calculator works; part 4 of my HRRG series has been posted; and much, much more…Read More…

Coincidence? I think not! 03.26.2007 Things are starting to get a little strange. Every time I write something about anything, someone says: “I was there!”Read More…

Vintage sense amps for my magnetic core store 03.27.2007 I'm now the proud possessor of some 1974 vintage core sense amplifiers, the origin of which includes an interesting tale.Read More…

Genetically modifying human visual and other sensory systems 04.02.2007 Recent experiments on mice suggest that it may be possible to correct color blindness and even augment other sensory systems (why have drug-sniffing dogs when you can have drug-sniffing policemen?)Read More…

One of the funniest things I’ve seen on the web 04.06.2007 It's been a long, LONG day, but this little scamp of a web-based thread made me laugh out loud!Read More…

Free cell-phone locator website 04.10.2007 Just enter someone's cell-phone number to find out exactly where they are.Read More…

Don’t bite the hand that… 04.11.2007 This is pretty cool – see how first grade kids respond when presented with the first halves of well-known quotes.Read More…

Girls using computers? 04.17.2007 Here's a new collection of rather funny images from around the web (including “Geek Toilet”, “Hello Dear”, “Useless Cat”, and “Girls' Computer”)!Read More…

Looking at the world in a whole new way 04.18.2007 We're used to seeing maps of the world presented in terms of area, but this site shows them scaled in terms of population, wealth, fast-food, and many other criteria.Read More…

The girls bite back – boys using computers 04.20.2007 A reader is kind enough to point us toward a graphic illustration depicting how men use computers (and how true it is).Read More…

Victorian fax machines? 04.28.2007 Images were being captured, transmitted, and reproduced by electromechanical means in 1842, only five years after Queen Victoria had ascended to the throne!Read More…

Looking at things upside down 04.30.2007 If you don a pair of special glasses that make everything appear to be upside down, after a few days your brain will learn how to compensate.Read More…

Let’s all sing together… “It’s the end of the world as we know it…” 05.01.2007 An incredible experiment is nigh. The good news is that it could help us understand the universe. The bad? It might destroy the planet!Read More…

Was the Death Star attack an inside job? 05.04.2007 Was the mighty Imperial government really too incompetent to prevent a handful of untrained nerf-herders from destroying one of their most prized assets?Read More…

Proof that high ceilings DO help you think! 05.11.2007 With regard to my “Size Does Matter!” blog, a reader offers proof that being in a room with a taller ceiling does make it easier to think of interesting ideas.Read More…

I cannot wait! 05.12.2007 As a pre-birthday treat to myself, I have the coolest thing on order – a special skateboard that handles like a snowboard… but on asphalt.Read More…

Imperial incompetence (or master plan)? 05.14.2007 It seems I am not the only one troubled by the “official” account of Star Wars, but one reader says we're missing the vile underlying truth…Read More…

The mystery of Stonehenge solved? 05.15.2007 The most amazing video on YouTube may provide answers as to how the humongous standing stones at Stonehenge were raised.Read More…

Are you using assembly language? 05.16.2007 If you have a moment, I would love to hear your views on the pros, cons, need for, and use of assembly language in today's design environments and products.Read More…

Was this the world’s first IT professional? 05.17.2007 A unique video recording purporting to date from the Middle Ages may well show the world's very first IT professional at work.Read More…

This is a little sad 05.18.2007 A new craze sweeping Japan, in which folk spend hours isolated in Media immersion Pods, leaves me feeling a little blue.Read More…

You know you are living in 2007 when… 05.21.2007 Here's one of those funny lists of observations that is currently racing around the Internet; perhaps we could come up with our own version?Read More…

Pac-Man’s Skull and Photorealistic Art 05.21.2007 An artist and paleontologist collaborate to recreate Pac-Man's skull, while another artist creates a photorealistic image that makes you gasp in awe!Read More…

Cool custom search engine for ASIC, FPGA, and EDA-related topics 05.22.2007 We've all experienced problems searching for one thing and being presented with results for something quite different; this custom search engine is the answer to our dreams!Read More…

Britney Spears – ambassador of science 05.23.2007 It is a little known fact, that Ms Spears is an expert in semiconductor physics. This site reveals all!Read More…

An interesting Gray code FIFO counter question 05.23.2007 A reader asks if it is possible to generate a Gray code counter/sequence for any non-power-of-2 number (so long as it is an even number)?Read More…

From Gray codes to personality codes 05.26.2007 I just read a recently published book called “The Personality Code” on different types of personalities that proved to be surprisingly interesting.Read More…

Using FPGAs to aid the visually impaired! 05.27.2007 I was pondering a poser just the other day, when I conceived a way to (a) sell lots and lots of FPGAs and (b) make the world a better place for a lot of people.Read More…

When I was young, old people knew their place! 05.29.2007 Today is the day I celebrate the 30th anniversary of my 20th birthday … and I never felt better or bouncier (although I did use to have more hair)!Read More…

I’m a mega-happy-camper because my Flowboard has finally arrived! 06.01.2007 Unlike a regular skateboard, the front-and-back wheel assemblies on this little rapscallion comprise curved/arced axles each carrying SEVEN roller-blade-type wheels!Read More…

Ancient Roman steam engines and mountainized unicycles 06.07.2007 Did Hero of Alexandria create a steam engine around 60 AD? Can I ride a unicycle? And are these topics in any way related?Read More…

You won’t believe what just arrived on my desk! 06.11.2007 I'm bouncing off the walls in excitement, because the postman just delivered a package containing the most cunningly crafted device for my delectation and delight. Yes, you're right, it's…Read More…

This really is very clever 06.11.2007 Every now and then you see something that makes you sit back and say “Wow!”Read More…

My off-road (mountain) unicycle just arrived! 06.12.2007 I've been discovering some amazingly cool things, such as rough terrain unicycles, ultimate wheels (like a unicycle without a seat), and modern penny-farthings!Read More…

Kodak develop highly-sensitive color sensor 06.14.2007 The folks at Kodak have come up with a really cunning new color sensor technology that provides sharper, crisper images and support much faster shutter speeds.Read More…

A compendium of bad designs 06.18.2007 This cool website documents a variety of bad designs that make you want to say, “Ooooh”, “Arrgghh”, and . . . “Doh!”Read More…

Auto-generating the lyrics for “99 Bottles of Beer” song 06.19.2007 Can you imagine the source code for a program that appears to be simple ASCII art, but if you run this code it generates the lyrics for the “99 Bottles of Beer” song?Read More…

Get your mismatched socks here! 06.20.2007 Yes, the moment we've all been waiting for, a website that sells mismatched socks (and pajamas, swimsuits, linens, and more).Read More…

When insults had class… 06.26.2007 How about: “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – for support rather than illumination!”Read More…

How big is a bacterium compared to a transistor? 06.27.2007 Also, what is the total length of the interconnect (including poly-silicon, vias, and metal tracks) on a high-end silicon chip? Hmmm, interesting…Read More…

What’s the total length of the tracks on a silicon chip? 06.29.2007 Take a moment to ponder this poser. If we were to sum the lengths of all of the interconnect on a silicon chip, what do you think the total value would be?Read More…

Live video of iPhone tear-down 07.02.2007 Team waits in line 12 hours to purchase just-released Apple iPhone, then they tear it down to see what's inside and what makes it “tick”.Read More…

What’s the actual size of an individual transistor? 07.04.2007 Remembering, of course, that a digital/FET transistor is formed from a number of different structures, such as the gate, source, and drain diffusion areas, etc.Read More…

Would you believe a 10 cm x 10 cm die (silicon chip)? 07.06.2007 In answer to a previous question about the largest die out there, I just received a rather interesting email…Read More…

USB-based devices are taking over the world! 07.10.2007 Would you believe a USB desk-top digital microscope, USB-based virtual girl and boy friends, and much, much more…Read More…

Magic Wheel looks mega-cool 07.11.2007 This definitely comes under “The-Kids-Will-Want-One” heading. Consisting of a really big wheel and a smaller wheel, this is sort of a cross between a unicycle and a skateboard.Read More…

Wow, a USB-based ultrasound probe! 07.12.2007 Would you believe that everything you need to implement a state-of-the-art ultrasound probe can be run from the scant five volts trickling through a USB cable?Read More…

50% off hundreds of great engineering books! 07.13.2007 I just heard about a great deal; 50% off 100s of engineering titles from Elsevier, Academic Press, Butterworth Heinemann, and Newnes (but only until the end of July).Read More…

Yet another Gray code conundrum 07.19.2007 A reader has posed a new conundrum pertaining to Gray codes, and I must admit that this one has given me pause for thought.Read More…

Great balls of fire — a marble-based computing machine! 07.25.2007 This is so simple and yet so very, very clever — I wonder how far someone could take this concept (if anyone had the time).Read More…

Logic designer reports seeing black-and-white schematics in color! 07.26.2007 Also, new research shows that synesthetic colors are perceived in a realistic way, just as synesthetes report!Read More…

The teen who invented television 07.30.2007 In the summer of 1921, a 15-year old Idaho farm boy came up with an idea for how to make a truly electronic television system.Read More…

Speeding debug of FPGA-based systems using mixed-signal oscilloscopes 07.31.2007 Forthcoming live webinar shows how to dramatically accelerate the debug of FPGA-based Systems using mixed signal oscilloscopes (MSOs).Read More…

When FPGA I/O design becomes a necessity 08.01.2007 How to overcome the challenges of rising device complexities and higher costs when integrating programmable logic devices on the PCB.Read More…

If evolution works, why are there so many idiots? 08.02.2007 As Albert Einstein once said: “Only two things are infinite – the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the universe.”Read More…

The best “computing universe” diagram ever! 08.03.2007 I'm the victim of my own success; folks like my “computing universe” diagram and paper so much that they keep on asking me to change them.Read More…

Microchip launches chip Wiki 08.06.2007 New site allows engineers, students, and professors to collaborate online and share information on semiconductor products, applications, and best practices.Read More…

Mega-cool USB-based turntable 08.07.2007 Save your old vinyl records – convert them to MP3 or WAV files using this USB-based record deck.Read More…

More mega-cool USB-based “stuff” 08.09.2007 There are so many USB-based products out there that my head is starting to spin; some of these little rascals are way over the top, but every now and then…Read More…

AMAZING Victorian-styled computers! 08.10.2007 I am completely blown away. I have just been exposed to the most amazing Victorian-styled computer keyboards, displays, cabinets … and all sorts of things!Read More…

Great source for out-of-print books! 08.14.2007 Lindsay reprints out of print and public domain technical manuals from the 19th and 20th centuries.Read More…

Have you seen “The Device”? 08.15.2007 “The Device Patented Process Indicating Apparatus” is an enigmatic beast; at first glance, one hardly knows what to make of it … and at second glance things don't get much better. Read More…

Howling at the moon! 08.21.2007 Have you ever seen the moon rising just above the horizon and looking absolutely HUGE?Read More…

USB-based CD/DVD Destroyer 08.22.2007 Destroys the surface of CDs and DVDs rendering their data-bearing surfaces unreadable within five seconds!Read More…

Total Lunar Eclipse Aug 28th 08.27.2007 What are you doing in the wee hours of the morning of Tuesday 28th August (surely you weren't thinking about sleeping)?Read More…

Can anyone learn to design with FPGAs? 08.29.2007 The answer according to ASIC designer Sven Andersson is yes, and he's documented his experiences to prove it!Read More…

A rose by any other name … 09.03.2007 Contrary to recent reports, the folks at QuickLogic are NOT “Backing Away From FPGAs” … they just want to call them by a different moniker!Read More…

A plethora of interesting websites 09.05.2007 There are some crazy things out there, such as a mechanical oscilloscope, home-made “antique” calculators, and an automatic “wake-n-bacon” machine!Read More…

FPGAs for beginners 09.06.2007 I just heard from Sven in Sweden. It seems that his tutorial “How To Design an FPGA From Scratch” is a runaway success and he's added five more sections!Read More…

Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes (Oh my!) 09.10.2007 English teachers from across the USA submit funny and amusing analogies, metaphors, and similes found in high school essays.Read More…

Is anyone looking for an FPGA designer? 09.11.2007 The reason I ask is that I know a guy in Italy who is currently designing firmware, but who is looking for a design position with FPGAs.Read More…

International Talk Like a Pirate Day! 09.18.2007 Don't forget that September 19 is one of the now-classic geek holidays and ranks right up there with 'Pi Day' (14 March) and 'Pi Approximation Day' (22 July).Read More…

The “Univers Revolved” 3D Alphabet 09.19.2007 Every now and then I run into something that provides a new way of looking at things and that makes me say: “Wow! How Cool!”Read More…

Stop kids being “cyber bullied” 09.21.2007 Here's a very interesting site that every parent and kid should visit in today's crazy mixed-up world.Read More…

Can you invent a better smiley? 09.27.2007 Following my earlier blog on “The 25th Anniversary of the Smiley”, one reader suggested a rather clever new design, which set me to wondering…Read More…

Are Red, Yellow, and Blue primary colors? 09.30.2007 If printers use Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow (CMY) inks as primary colors, why do art teachers at high school say that the primary colors are Red, Yellow, and Blue (RYB)?Read More…

Mega-cool virtual slide rule 10.01.2007 My friend Wilfried in the Netherlands just pointed me at a website containing a really clever virtual slide rule.Read More…

USB-powered Whac-a-Mole 10.02.2007 Stop the world – I want to get off – I'm too young for all of this!Read More…

Man cannot live by French baguettes alone 10.08.2007 What is a picture of a loaf of French bread in front of a computer keyboard trying to tell me?Read More…

Remember you saw it here first! 10.09.2007 Samsung has just announced the industry's first wVGA OLED display using PenTile subpixel rendering technology from Clairvoyante!Read More…

Does this power supply make me look fat? 10.10.2007 I just saw a rather funny article on Embedded.com talking about what is (and is not) an embedded system.Read More…

Is it really this difficult? 10.11.2007 I'm in the process of moving house, and I'm running into a host of niggling problems that are making me gnash my teeth and rend my garb!Read More…

The future of the past tense 10.12.2007 Scientists have discovered how verbs evolve and homogenize at a rate inversely proportional to their prevalence in the English language.Read More…

Interesting online letter service 10.15.2007 This is a simple concept; it provides a useful service; it requires almost nothing to set up; and it has the potential to grow. Hmmm, I wish I'd thought of that!Read More…

This is just so darn cute 10.16.2007 Since I don't actually buy any dog medications, you may wonder why I'm looking at this advert.Read More…

The real story behind Triumph Motorcycles 10.18.2007 In which – amongst other things – we discover how to perform an emergency stop to aid someone who has dropped their pet badger!Read More…

Suggestions for improving English spelling 10.19.2007 After zis, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evri vun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.Read More…

It was a dark and stormy night… 10.22.2007 Penned by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1830, this phrase is now understood to represent an extravagantly florid style with redundancies and run-on sentences.Read More…

Shakespearean insult kit 10.23.2007 Have you ever wished for the ability to quickly and easily come up with insults like “Thou craven motley-minded foot-licker”? Well, here's how!Read More…

Here’s my entry for the 2008 BLFC 10.24.2007 I've been so enthused by the idea of the “It was a dark and stormy night…” contest that I've decided to submit my own entry. Read More…

The gas man cometh! 10.26.2007 In which a reader takes me back to my youth by reminding me of an old song by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann.Read More…

Are “horizontal emotes” taking over the world? 10.29.2007 I've recently been bouncing around a variety of websites featuring what I now think of as “horizontal smileys”.Read More…

The World’s Shortest Stories 10.30.2007 Described as: “The perfect gift for those who claim to be too busy to read, and literary canapés for the rest of us.”Read More…

Which FPGA development board are you using? 10.31.2007 I've been hearing some horror stories recently … would you care to share yours?Read More…

Steampunk Motorcycles 11.01.2007 Wouldn't it be uber-cool to ride around on a Victorian-styled, steam-powered motorcycle?Read More…

The Mobysaurus Thesaurus 11.05.2007 Light in size but heavy in features, this little scamp is a comprehensive, feature-rich, easy-to-use, freeware English thesaurus for Windows.Read More…

FPGA evaluation vs prototyping vs development boards/kits? 11.08.2007 What's the difference between these little scamps … and what are you using yours for?Read More…

Only 42 shopping days remain till Christmas! 11.13.2007 Eeeek, the sands of time are slipping through the hourglass … what presents are we going to buy for everyone?Read More…

FPGA implementation of antique Friden EC-130 delay-line calculator 11.14.2007 In which a student learning VHDL creates an FPGA-based implementation of this 1963 transistor/diode four-function calculator.Read More…

Want to build a moon rover? 11.27.2007 Seriously, would you like to be part of a team that builds a robot rover and flies it to the moon?Read More…

“Drive-by” restorers establish secret workshop and repair antique clock 11.28.2007 In which we discover an underground movement of “Cultural Guerrillas” in France who sneak around repairing and restoring antiques without their owner's permission.Read More…

$95,000 for a wristwatch? 11.29.2007 I'm currently in the market for a new wristwatch. I know the one I want, but when I called the store to ask the price, their answer made me cry!Read More…

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is alive and well 11.30.2007 I'm absolutely delighted to discover the DIY Life website, which presents all types of projects, from hobbies and crafts to home improvement and technology.Read More…

There’s a Steampunk mouse in the house! 12.03.2007 Here's another uber-cool Steampunk computer (including a Steampunk mouse) that is spurring me into action to build my own “Beast”.Read More…

Where can one find antique brass meters, switches, and knobs? 12.05.2007 I am a man on a mission. I want as many antique (or antique-looking) brass voltmeters, switches, and knobs as I can find. But where would one look for these little scamps?Read More…

Do you want an air-cooled mouse? 12.10.2007 My mind is reeling with a positive plethora of USB-based products ranging from a mouse that also prints labels to a combination blender/clock to a mini-vacuum.Read More…

Unique insights into the flat panel display industry 12.11.2007 Online publications that teach all you need to know about the very latest and greatest news and products in the flat panel display industry.Read More…

Christmas carols for students of psychology 12.12.2007 My favorite EDA industry analyst (we'll call him GS to protect the innocent) just sent me a joke list of potential Christmas carols for psychology students … I think several of these might apply to me.Read More…

Kids say the darndest things 12.14.2007 These insights may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders (6-year-olds) because the last one is a classic!Read More…

My Gray Code article saves the day! 12.17.2007 Cool Beans – I just heard from someone who used a cunning trick from one of my articles to make his FPGA design work!Read More…

Do you have any advice for an FPGA newbie? 12.18.2007 A letter from a reader starts me to pondering as to what I would like to see if I were a total newbie to the wonderful world of FPGAs.Read More…

Speeding your Christmas Post to its desired destination 12.19.2007 Here's some rather interesting info on how to find the extra 4-digit ZIP codes and use them to get your post where it is supposed to be going faster.Read More…

Yes, you do have advice for an FPGA newbie! 12.20.2007 Well, sort of . . . generally speaking the responses I received were “pungent” with gloom and despair, but there were a few glimmers of light in the darkness. . .Read More…

But are they equivalent? 12.21.2007 Aaik van der Poel from mentor responds to OneSpin's recent announcement of: “The industry's first sequential equivalence checking solution priced for the FPGA market.”Read More…

Happy Christmas! 12.24.2007 I can't believe it, but here we are again!Read More…

Do you want to help save a radio telescope? 12.26.2007 On the off-chance you were wondering what to do with your spare time, I just heard of something rather interesting…Read More…

I am mega-excited – a digital tablet computer thingy is heading my way! 12.27.2007 This is uber-cool – a paper-and-pen tablet/pad that connects to your computer and allows you to upload your hand-written notes and diagrams into your main computer.Read More…

Making a Hi-Fi loudspeaker from a foam plate 12.31.2007 This do-it-yourself project is so wild and wacky that I just have to try to build one myself.Read More…

On 1 Jan 2008 I walked 6.5 miles in freezing weather! 01.02.2008 Why? Well, it's part of a challenge that has inspired me to exercise and lose some weight using some rather cool iPod-based technology from Nike.Read More…

Recreating the original personal computer! 01.03.2008 I've just discovered the most amazing website – amongst other things they have info on kits you can purchase that recreate the original personal computers.Read More…

It’s time to Despair.com 01.07.2008 Satirical products reverse-engineered from the most powerful motivational posters ever inflicted upon mankind.Read More…

How does a calculator perform division? 01.08.2008 I just received a question from a reader; this query seems so simple on the surface, but it actually leads to a quagmire of confusion.Read More…

Some useful info on VGA 01.10.2008 A reader provides some additional info to complement this week's “How To” on designing a simple VGA interface.Read More…

Is anyone using your wireless internet without permission? 01.10.2008 Here's a pretty cool trick for techo-dweebs that will baffle and bewilder any of your neighbors who are accessing your wireless Internet connection while you aren't looking.Read More…

The 2007 Darwin and Stella Award results are in! 01.14.2008 Although I'm naturally competitive, here are two award categories I hope never to win or even be a runner-up!Read More…

Marshalling an airplane 01.15.2008 Now here's something you don't see every day – this guy … but no, you'll just have to see it for yourself! Read More…

It seems I’ve been taken for a sucker! 01.17.2008 I'm gnashing my teeth and rending my garb, because the Stella Awards about which I recently penned a blog …. turned out to be a spoof!Read More…

Dog versus Cat diaries 01.18.2008 This is an “oldie but goodie”. As my wife and I have two dogs and a cat, I can attest for the underlying truth in these “journals”.Read More…

Suppose everybody on earth suddenly disappeared 01.21.2008 There's a show on television this evening that I'm really looking forward to seeing; it's called “Life After People”.Read More…

Where have all the mentors gone (all sing together: “far, far away”)? 01.22.2008 Young hires are left to flounder on their own while still being expected to be highly productive a day after graduation.Read More…

The Bug Labs Store is OPEN! 01.23.2008 This is very cool technology — a collection of easy-to-use electronic modules that snap together to build almost any gadget you can imagine!Read More…

Must-have, mega-cool video game 01.24.2008 This is great, a video camera that clips to the top of your monitor and inserts you in the middle of games on your PC.Read More…

How to fix your mom’s computer from the other side of the world 01.28.2008 Here's a simple and secure way for you to remotely take control of your mother's desktop and fix her computer without driving yourself insane in the process.Read More…

Munging Windows Vista to make it work 01.29.2008 This cunning tool can cut the size of Windows Vista in half and speed it up at the same time – and it's FREE!Read More…

Could this be the next “Dilbert”? 01.30.2008 I just heard about a new online comic called “Heroes Happen Here” whose IT-based story lines are inspired by readers' real-world experiences.Read More…

What do you call a man who…? 01.31.2008 I was just reminded of a series of one-line jokes we used to tell when I was young, but I've forgotten most of them; maybe you can help?Read More…

OneSpin bites back 01.31.2008 An email from Aaik van der Poe at Mentor sparks a feisty response from Michael Siegel at OneSpin.Read More…

Speaking of cool games… 01.31.2008 A physics-accurate spacecraft simulator that allows you to fly real craft (like the shuttle and ISS) as well as imaginary ones.Read More…

Fixing your mom’s computer “Part Deux” 01.31.2008 Several folks have responded to my recent blog titled “How to fix your mom's computer from the other side of the world”Read More…

I thought I’d seen everything, and then… 02.01.2008 I tell you, just when I thought I'd seen everything, along comes an inflatable mouse (and you don't expect to hear yourself saying that every day!)Read More…

Are you being served? 02.04.2008 Dutch inventors create a robot that can automatically fill your car with gas.Read More…

Turning bits of aircraft into furniture 02.05.2008 Some of this stuff is very cool – I really love the “get bombed” table, which is made out of a real bomb!Read More…

The latest-and-greatest in pussy-cat-camera technology 02.06.2008 Well, this actually may not be the state-of-the-art, but it's still rather interesting to be able to see what your cat gets up to while you're not looking.Read More…

Cool Pool Tricks and Amazing Loudspeakers 02.08.2008 I don't know which I want most – to own these $54,000 loudspeakers or to be able to play pool like the folks in this video.Read More…

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day! 02.11.2008 Valentine's Day (February 14) is racing toward us – make sure you don't mess up like this guy last year…Read More…

Pickled onions that bite back 02.12.2008 I recently received an email from someone who had tried one of my recipes with some success, so I thought I'd share this little scamp…Read More…

Son of “What do you call a man who…?” 02.13.2008 Here are a pile of entries readers have submitted with regard to one-line jokes based on folks names…Read More…

Two good jokes 02.14.2008 You may moan and groan, but you'll be telling these to someone yourself before the day is over!Read More…

Can you spot the difference? 02.15.2008 In this photo of two dubious characters, can you tell which one is me (and which one isn't)? Read More…

Total lunar eclipse on Wed 20 Feb 2008 02.18.2008 If you live in the Americas, make sure you take the time to watch the last total lunar eclipse until 2010.Read More…

Is this the best prank ever? 02.19.2008 I just saw a video of an AMAZING stunt. This totally blew my mind. I so wish I could have been there to see this!Read More…

More amazing pranks! 02.21.2008 A reader points us at a video on YouTube showing some more amazing “real-world” pranks.Read More…

Monster Machines – Barge Transporter 02.22.2008 This is amazing – a transporter in Russia that carries a huge barge a few miles from one river to another.Read More…

Ask not for whom the duck quacks… 02.22.2008 I was just informed of an interesting piece of “uncommon knowledge” pertaining to ducks that has me scratching my head…Read More…

There’s good news … and there’s bad news 02.25.2008 I thought we'd have at least 5 billion years (starting today) before the end of life on earth, but it now seems this is a tad optimistic.Read More…

Yet more amazing (some may say insane) pranks 02.26.2008 In which we see unsuspecting victims being unexpectedly deposited (sans clothing) on a snow-covered mountain (and then things start to get strange).Read More…

Can you solve this brainteaser? 02.26.2008 Even though I actually know the answer to this one, I still cannot “wrap my brain” around it.Read More…

Earthquake in the UK 02.27.2008 Which leads to a tale in which I show great presence of mind and consume a lot of whiskey in a very short time.Read More…

Brain boggler #2 – can you wrap your thinking organ around this little beauty? 02.28.2008 Here's a conundrum that I saw ages and ages ago. I know what the answer is, but I no longer remember the proof – maybe you can help?Read More…

Brain boggler #3 – the conundrum of conundrums! 02.29.2008 Here's a puzzle of my own that's been lurking in the back of my mind for years, but I'm still no closer to a solution. Maybe you can answer this puzzling poser.Read More…

Funny newspaper stories 03.03.2008 A friend in the UK just emailed me some funny newspaper stories and other amusing items that made me chuckle.Read More…

FPGA book for absolute beginners 03.04.2008 Would you be interested in helping a publisher by reviewing a proposal for a new book on FPGAs for absolute beginners?Read More…

This is a mega-hoot! 03.05.2008 This is a really cool site that let's you create your own Kung Fu movie and then email it to your friends.Read More…

Inter-molecular blending? 03.06.2008 I just received an email about a program called “Mr. Wizard” and “inter-molecular blending” — is there such a thing?Read More…

Weekend reading: Where are we in the universe? 03.07.2008 Here are some interesting questions (and links to websites containing the answers) that may keep you busy for some time…Read More…

Google Calculator is Googalicious 03.10.2008 A reader just pointed me at a pile of interesting utilities on Google.Read More…

Want a job at Synplicity? 03.11.2008 The folks at Synplicity are looking for a Software Build/Release Engineer.Read More…

Nautical miles and the International Space Station 03.12.2008 Here are a couple of totally unrelated topics that recently caught my attention…Read More…

Happy Pi day! 03.14.2008 Yes, it's that time of the year again, March 14 when we celebrate the mathematical constant Pi (after all, where would we be without it?)Read More…

Awareness test 03.17.2008 This is a rather interesting psychological test to see how much attention you're paying to what's going on around you.Read More…

The DIY Calculator now has a BASIC Interpreter! 03.17.2008 A reader has created a mega-cool BASIC Interpreter using the virtual DIY Calculator's assembly language.Read More…

The most advanced quadruped robot on the planet? 03.18.2008 This video shows an amazing “Dogoid” robot that moves in an incredibly lifelike manner.Read More…

“Dialectize” any webpage 03.19.2008 Have you ever wondered what a website like CNN would look like in a redneck dialect (or Jive, Cockney, Sweedish Chef, …)? Well, now you can see! Read More…

Convert your docs to speech and load them on your iPod 03.19.2008 This free website is amazing – it allows you to convert your Text, Word, Acrobat, etc docs into audio files and load them onto your iPod for your later listening pleasure.Read More…

Video guide – getting started with Xilinx FPGAs 03.21.2008 I just ran across this jolly interesting step-by-step video guide that was put together by design engineer Anthony Burch.Read More…

Fiery explosions and beautiful reactions 03.24.2008 From Gummy Bears undergoing a fiery death to a mega-cool animation of the inner life of a cell.Read More…

Two new cool USB-based products 03.25.2008 Check out this can-shaped memory card reader and a compact temperature and humidity sensor.Read More…

Unleash the power of your laptop computer’s TouchPad 03.27.2008 I recently discovered that the TouchPad on my notepad computer has a lot of mega-cool features I'd never heard of before!Read More…

French Engineering Student looking for summer internship 03.28.2008 Do you know of any summer intern positions available in the robotics and/or microelectronics arenas for a young, enterprising engineering student?Read More…

New brain boggler – this one is a “corker”! 03.31.2008 I just ran across a great website containing “The world's hardest easy geometry problems”; these are GREAT – they'll keep you busy for hours! Read More…

Free 411 calls (not a joke) 04.01.2008 Why pay your cell company $1.00 or more for a 411 call when you can get this information for free?Read More…

Do you know any simple geometry-based puzzles? 04.02.2008 I'm looking for some simple geometry-based conundrums – possibly based on real-world examples such as problems involving ladders leaning against walls and suchlike.Read More…

From Gummy Bears to Astronomy via Cryptography 04.03.2008 Boldly going behind the beyond, behind which no man has boldly gone behind, beyond, before.Read More…

Walking (rolling) on the moon 04.08.2008 The amateur moon rover team – of which I find myself a member – will be demonstrating its prototype Moon Lander and Robot Rover at ESC next week.Read More…

The ABC of invertebrates 04.09.2008 From Moonsnails and Nudibranchs, to frontotemporal dementia, to Maurice Ravel and his Bolero (via 10 and Bo Derek), to…Read More…

Unbelievable Reunion! 04.11.2008 This video shows the reaction of a full-grown lion on being reunited with a woman who saved him as a baby.Read More…

ESC is the place to be! 04.15.2008 It's now 6:00 am on day #2 of ESC as I pen these words, and my head is spinning with all of the exciting things that are going on.Read More…

Don’t talk to me about #$%* computers! 04.17.2008 I've been bursting with ESC news to share, but I've been having computer woes you would not believe.Read More…

Are you going to Stockholm, Sweden? 04.21.2008 If you happen to be planning a trip to Stockholm in Sweden, I happen to know the perfect place to stay.Read More…

RepRap ” Self-replicating machine 04.23.2008 Here's a novel idea… an open-source DIY (do-it-yourself) rapid prototyping machine that can manufacture a significant fraction of its own parts.Read More…

A cryptic message about cryptography 04.24.2008 Can you help (a) decoding this message from a visitor and (b) providing an answer to his cryptographic comundrum?Read More…

An engineer’s guide to cats 04.24.2008 None of the cats or engineers were mistreated in the making of this film.Read More…

My computer woes (Part Deux) 04.25.2008 In which we discover what happened to the back-up image for my machineRead More…

The Leningrad Cowboys 04.25.2008 Now, here's something you don't see very often … this video nearly blew my socks off!Read More…

All-in-one Victorian (Steampunk) computer 04.28.2008 Not content with his old water-cooled computer, our old friend Jake von Slatt has just created the most amazing All-in-One Victorian machine. Read More…

Unicycle-Motorcycle-Segway-Hybrid 04.29.2008 This little scamp looks to be mega-cool and uber-uncomfortable, but what's comfort when you have “cool”?Read More…

Is this the world’s largest helicopter? 05.01.2008 Wow! I just saw photos of the most amazingly humongous helicopter (it's big enough to carry a dump truck)! Read More…

Three cool beginners’ books on VHDL 05.05.2008 While responding to a question from a student, I discovered the answer in our very own Programmable Logic DesignLine forums.Read More…

Yet another brain-teaser – the two-ladder conundrum 05.06.2008 A reader just sent me another (seemingly simple) geometry problem that I have no doubt will keep us occupied for hours.Read More…

Snap Circuits – 100 electronic projects – only $21.77 05.07.2008 I just saw “The Deal Of The Day” at the Creative Brains website, and I think it's a jolly good one.Read More…

I’m looking for a 1986 issue of Scientific American 05.09.2008 I know that someone out there has been grimly holding on to their collection of Scientific American magazines just waiting for this day…Read More…

Reader query re rounding in binary 05.09.2008 I just received an interesting query from a reader with regards to rounding in binary…Read More…

Enhancement vs. Depletion vs. Junction FETs 05.14.2008 Does anyone know (a) which came first and (b) what are the different types used for?Read More…

Tired of dealing with rogue software, spyware, and malware? 05.16.2008 Readers have provided some very interesting pointers to tools that may be the answer to all my woes.Read More…

$200 million for one FPGA? 05.20.2008 Thus far I haven't seen the pricing for Altera's new 40nm Stratix IV FPGAs, but if we were to extrapolate from an analog device I just saw, the result would make your eyes water!Read More…

Evaluating FPGA floating-point performance 05.22.2008 Here are links to a couple of interesting papers that will get the old gray matter firing on all six cylinders.Read More…

I laughed so hard I almost passed out (seriously) 05.23.2008 Yesterday evening I was reading a funny passage from one of Bill Bryson's books. I tell you, I was laughing so hard that I almost passed out!Read More…

Giant telescope links London and New York 05.23.2008 This is absolutely brilliant – I only wish I could get to see it in person. Read More…

Duck! AirJelly coming through! 05.27.2008 This is really rather amazing – sort of like a giant jellyfish (twice as tall as a man) that glides gracefully through the air.Read More…

Xilinx responds to Altera’s FPGA benchmarks 05.30.2008 The folks at Xilinx say that they've re-run the tests with different tool settings and, overall, the Xilinx software solution with Synplify Pro and ISE 10.1 dominates.Read More…

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) questions 06.03.2008 I'm trying to find via and pad diameters for “typical” and high-end circuit boards, and also for…Read More…

I want a pneumatic car (and I want it now)! 06.04.2008 I'm really tired of the fact that my Nissan Xtera achieves only 16 miles-per-gallon ” I want one of these pneumatic cars that runs on air!Read More…

How do you spell EDA? 06.06.2008 I'm heading out to DAC to explain everything there is to know about EDA to a bunch of high school students (I have just one hour).Read More…

Calling all FPGA companies in stealth mode… 06.10.2008 I've recently been pondering how many future FPGA companies are out there already working in stealth mode.Read More…

But what about… 06.13.2008 Inflatable cars that can survive a fall off a cliff; I get a new car; but what about…Read More…

Cadence trying to buy Mentor 06.17.2008 Noooooo! I am not a happy camper. This is NOT a good idea.Read More…

Jules Vernian analog synthesizer 06.18.2008 This is one of those things you don't know you want until you see it, after which you can't get it out of your mind…Read More…

So, which type of car did I end up buying? 06.19.2008 With regard to my hunt for a new car, lots of folks are asking which make and model I ended up purchasing…Read More…

Harsh words re Cadence grabbing Mentor 06.19.2008 A reader has some very definite views he felt moved to share with me (be warned, this includes tongue-twisting words like “megalithic mediocrity”).Read More…

A Magma and Mentor Merger? 06.19.2008 I just perused a blog by Gabe Moretti that has certainly given me “food for thought.”Read More…

A staple-free stapler – what a good idea! 06.20.2008 I can't count the times I've been trying to remove a staple and ended up with it sticking into my thumb or slipping under my fingernail.Read More…

How to drive your business colleagues insane 06.20.2008 If would be a funny old world if you couldn't laugh at somebody else's misfortunes (grin).Read More…

Don’t slip on the PEEL array 06.23.2008 Does anyone know the name of the company that purchased ICT and their PEEL arrays?Read More…

Killing people in an environmentally friendly way 06.24.2008 When one is creating weapons to blow things up and kill people, it seems a little “weird” to associate an “environmentally friendly” qualifier with them.Read More…

The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and other stuff 06.25.2008 It's all go at the moment, my mom is in an airplane jetting over to see me as I pen these words, plus some classic comics are heading my way.Read More…

The best-ever freeware utilities 06.26.2008 There are tools here I never even heard of before, but now I know they're there I realize I can't live without them!Read More…

Air hockey-playing robot plus uber-cool software 06.27.2008 I just ran across a couple of interesting blogs that have videos associated with them, and it's well worth taking a peek at these little scamps.Read More…

Is your company looking for a world-leading program/project manager? 07.01.2008 I happen to know a program/project management diva (or the male equivalent thereof) who can make himself available if the right consulting or full-time position presents itself.Read More…

Storing energy using compressed air in caves 07.02.2008 Here's another brilliant idea that makes you say: “Why didn't I think of that?”Read More…

The laws of ultimate reality 07.03.2008 Although these “laws” can't be proven scientifically, it's amazing how often the little scamps come true…Read More…

The myth of fossil fuels 07.07.2008 I just finished reading a book that has left me astonished, amazed, and an absolute convert to a radical collection of theories…Read More…

Newnes want to put you on their payroll 07.08.2008 The folks at Newnes will pay $1,000 to whoever comes up with their new tagline!Read More…

“Hands Free” comedic video pokes fun at California law 07.09.2008 This video pokes fun at California, which is the latest state to require hands free use of cell phones while driving.Read More…

Steampunk Car Update 07.11.2008 Phase one is complete, Phase II is in progress, and Phase III will be the ultimate conversion to steam power…Read More…

Lorenzo the flying Frenchman 07.13.2008 Here's a link to a video that will leave your eyes agape and your mouth hanging wide open saying “Wow!”Read More…

Latin quips for all occasions 07.15.2008 I just read a book containing a plethora of witty Latin sayings by some jolly wise Romans.Read More…

Computer archeology 07.16.2008 I just saw an interesting article on reconstructing the Apple I BASIC from an antique cassette tape.Read More…

Cadence’s new website is rather spiffy 07.16.2008 In addition to being clean, sharp, and easy to navigate … Cadence's new website employs some very cool technology that makes it interactive and interesting.Read More…

Building an Archimedes Death Ray 07.17.2008 In which Rob from Cockeyed.com builds a functional Archimedes Death Ray using an old satellite dish.Read More…

Reciprocating windmill 07.18.2008 Have you seen all of the things going on in “Eco-Geek” space?Read More…

Trying to understand CRC-7 for the SD Card 07.21.2008 A student in Canada has run into a problem on his MP3 player project and is asking for our help…Read More…

Octopus eats shark – Fish eats duck 07.21.2008 YouTube is an extremely “sticky” website; once you go in, it's very hard to come back out again…Read More…

What am I holding in my hand? 07.22.2008 Close, but no cigar – it's actually an $84.95 book that provides a hands-on introduction to Verilog synthesis and FPGA prototyping and I'm giving it away…Read More…

How to increase your productivity and fitness at the same time (seriously) 07.23.2008 I've discovered a way to increase one's productivity at work while at the same time increasing one's fitness and losing weight.Read More…

Two “jokes” – one happy, one sad 07.24.2008 Here are two items of interest that I bet you'll be telling to someone you know before the day is out…Read More…

Verilog versus VHDL (which is best?) 07.24.2008 A reader who knows a little Verilog and a little VHDL is trying to plot his future course; which language should he learn in detail?Read More…

Here’s the answer to CRC-7 algorithm for the SD Card 07.25.2008 I think the student who posed the original question is going to be a very happy camper…Read More…

Dancing robots – this is a MUST SEE! 07.25.2008 In which we discover a robot fish, a bicycle-riding robot, some fighting robots, and some amazing dancing robots!Read More…

Animator versus Animation 07.28.2008 Here's a very clever Flash animation created by a very gifted young artist.Read More…

A geeky way to track exercise and weight-loss goals 07.29.2008 Here's an interesting way to map out walks and bike rides and view them in 3D.Read More…

“Secret Agent” sunglasses with hidden camera 07.30.2008 Good grief, I would have given almost anything to have these when I was a kid…Read More…

Do-it-yourself Geiger counter 08.01.2008 While roaming, roving, rambling, and ranging around the web, I found this rather nifty Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Geiger counter project.Read More…

eASIC’s 45nm Structured ASIC 08.04.2008 These new devices provide a very compelling argument for folks to start using Structured ASICs.Read More…

Am I regressing or progressing? 08.05.2008 I'm not sure if I'm regressing to my first childhood or progressing (at an ever increasing pace) into my second childhood.Read More…

New book on FPGAs 08.06.2008 A new book on FPGAs just arrived on my desk, but it was some time before I realized that I was the author!Read More…

Designing CPCI plug-in cards? 08.07.2008 Does anyone out there know anything about designing CPCI plug-in cards?Read More…

Here’s a “Must See” Video (legacy H/W performing music) 08.07.2008 In which an art student uses legacy computer hardware controlled by a Sinclair Spectrum programmed to produce a musical piece.Read More…

1st look at next-generation US stealth fighter 08.08.2008 Here are some amazing images in which we see … but no, you'll have to check them out for yourself!Read More…

Looking for Dwight W. Grimes 08.08.2008 A reader is trying to contact his old mentor Dwight W. Grimes who previously contributed some suggestions to my paper on color vision.Read More…

2GB USB 2.0 Flash memory stick for $12 08.11.2008 You could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered how far prices have fallen for USB 2.0 flash memory sticks.Read More…

It’s a great day to be alive 08.12.2008 Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to slow down and smell the roses.Read More…

Capacitive control and proximity detection TNG 08.12.2008 How capacitive control and proximity detection can help the aging with regard to using the many electronic products in their homes.Read More…

Some more mega-cool videos 08.13.2008 Here, for your delectation and delight, is a further collection of cool videos and flash animations.Read More…

The Mojave Experiment 08.18.2008 Well, I don't know about you, but this brought a wry grin to my face.Read More…

Half-price FPGA “How-To” training videos 08.19.2008 What do the Beijing Olympics have to do with a special half-price offer for nineteen step-by-step FPGA “How To” training videos? Read on…Read More…

Free web-based screen reader for the visually impaired 08.20.2008 Do you know someone who has problems seeing/reading computer screens and who travels a lot? If so, this could be very interesting for them…Read More…

USB 3.0 is almost here and I can’t wait! 08.21.2008 USB 1.0 was pretty clever; USB 2.0 really made my world a happier place; and now USB 3.0 is set to blow my socks off!Read More…

Now, this is getting creepy… 08.22.2008 Have you seen the “Emily Isn't Real But Would You Have Guessed?” article and video? This is strangely creepy and weird…Read More…

Know your British Policeman 08.25.2008 A friend just sent me a link to a hilarious website that had me chortling happily and brightened my afternoon.Read More…

A goat by any other name… 08.26.2008 It's not often a joke makes me laugh out loud, but this one managed the trick…Read More…

The Hacker’s Diet 08.27.2008 The definitive guide on how to lose weight and hair through stress and poor nutrition!Read More…

Clones R Us 08.27.2008 Have you visited the Dream Technologies International website, which boasts that you can order human or animal clones…Read More…

USB 2.0 may not be “High Speed”; USB 3.0 may not be “SuperSpeed” 08.28.2008 A reader notes that although “High Speed USB” = USB 2.0, the opposite is not necessarily true; that is, a USB 2.0 compliant device may not support “High Speed.” Read More…

It’s time to vote… 08.28.2008 …on a new tagline for Newnes' engineering books. Here are the top 10 entries, now it's over to you…Read More…

USB History and Direction 08.28.2008 My blogs on USB seem to have sparked a flurry of interest and responses…Read More…

The Hacker’s Diet (Part Deux) 08.28.2008 I've started to use some free weight-logging tools and they are really useful!Read More…

Cool application for iPhone and iPod touch : FatWatch 08.29.2008 This software tool looks rather cool; if I actually owned an iPhone or an iPod touch I would certainly use this little rapscallion!Read More…

Bebop to the Boolean Boogie EDITION #3 08.29.2008 The only electronics book where you can simultaneously learn about state machines, musical socks, Reed-Muller logic, and the best time of the day to eat smoked fish!Read More…

An interesting problem to ponder 09.02.2008 The response to previous problems I've posed has been extremely enthusiastic, so here's another poser for us to peruse and ponder…Read More…

Google announce new web browser called Chrome 09.02.2008 Google's new Chrome web browser is claimed to combine a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.Read More…

Lots of interesting “stuff” 09.04.2008 There's so much interesting “stuff” out there that I can no longer keep up with it all…Read More…

Yet more nuggets of arcane USB knowledge 09.05.2008 Well, we certainly seem to have opened the floodgates with our discussions on USB…Read More…

The End is Nigh! 09.08.2008 Here's a link to the “official” magazine of the apocalypse (get it now before it's too late)!Read More…

“Your Inner Fish” and other books 09.09.2008 In which I waffle on about books in general and the ones I've just read (or am in the process of reading) in particular.Read More…

The End is Nigh (Part Deux) 09.09.2008 Is the end of the world scheduled for Wednesday 10th September 2008 when the Large Hadron Colider (LHC) is powered-up? I don't think so…Read More…

The Doomsday List 09.11.2008 Here's a list of predicted “end-of-the-world” scenarios that failed to live up to expectations (if you'll forgive the pun).Read More…

Misinformed Australian 09.12.2008 This is one of the funniest things I've seen for a long time… I'm still chuckling as I pen these words.Read More…

50th Anniversary of the first IC (Part Deux) 09.14.2008 A reader is perturbed by my failing to mention the contributions of Robert Noyce…Read More…

Sine and cosine wave generation in FPGAs 09.14.2008 A reader asks how this can be achieved in the most efficient manner possible…Read More…

1.5 GHz FPGAs shipping now! 09.16.2008 How exciting! As I pen these words, the folks at Achronix have started to ship their 1.5 GHz FPGAs.Read More…

Magic Sine Waves 09.19.2008 I'm still trying to wrap my poor befuddled brain around all of this, so let me just quote from the executive (read “for those of little brain”) summary…Read More…

Squirrel Obstacle Course 09.22.2008 If things are going missing in your garden, this video might help explain why…Read More…

Free webinar on new Virtex-5 TXT FPGAs 09.23.2008 Virtex-5 TXT devices offer single FPGA solution for 40Gb and 100Gb telecom equipment.Read More…

Infrared Night Vision Goggles for only $89.99 09.24.2008 Yes, it's true; you can now purchase true infrared night vision, for the price of a toy (imagine my happy dance)!Read More…

FPGA Lab Liquidation Sale 09.25.2008 Hardware at clearance prices — buy now before it all goes!Read More…

I never knew that! 09.26.2008 Someone just told me the most amazing (incredibly simple) secret that will be of interest and use to almost everyone I know…Read More…

Student completes his MP3 project 09.29.2008 With the help of the readers of Programmable Logic DesignLine, a student learns about the CRC-7 algorithm used by SD Cards and successfully completes his project.Read More…

USB in GM automobiles? 09.30.2008 Once again, a visitor to Programmable Logic DesignLine asks us to plumb the depths of our collective consciousness…Read More…

“n-ary” (non-Boolean) Gray codes 10.01.2008 A reader poses a pert and perky problem for us to ponder; to cogitate, consider, and contemplate; to reflect, revolve, and ruminate…Read More…

Free FPGA Fundamentals Online Course 10.01.2008 Hurrah! My FPGA Fundamentals course went live just a few seconds ago as I pen these words…Read More…

Michael Palin for President! 10.02.2008 As this video shows, Monty Python's Michael Palin is better qualified for executive office than is Sarah Palin.Read More…

Feel the (dark) flow 10.03.2008 First we had “Dark Matter,” then came “Dark Energy,” and now we find “Dark Flow” … sometimes I wish scientists would simple leave me in the dark… Read More…

Simultaneous parabolic approximation of sin and cos 10.06.2008 Here's a useful “DSP Trick” that is sure to come in handy one day.Read More…

“n-ary” (non-Boolean) Gray codes (Part Deux) 10.07.2008 I've been pondering this topic some more, and now I can't get it out of my head…Read More…

The 2008 Ig Nobel awards are out 10.08.2008 The 18th “First Annual Ig Nobel Awards” ceremony honors the best (weirdest) scientific research.Read More…

We (almost) have a ternary Gray code solution 10.09.2008 I just heard from a reader who has come up with a ternary Gray code and associated binary mapping that (almost) does everything we need…Read More…

A tower of light 10.13.2008 The strength, intensity and brilliance of this light sculpture continually change with the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.Read More…

A video, a book, and a whachamacallit 10.14.2008 In which we find a couple of things to amuse ourselves for a few minutes.Read More…

Amazing invention 10.15.2008 This really gets the creative juices flowing and makes you want to build one of your own.Read More…

John Cooley to take over Cadence? 10.16.2008 You never know what's going to happen in EDA Space (“where no one can hear you scream”). Read More…

Programmable Logic DesignLine and Altium are holding a Design Competition 10.21.2008 Do you want a free super-cool Innovation Station (a US$9000+ value including a perpetual software license)? If so, I'm the man you need to be talking to…Read More…

Dreadful Puns 10.22.2008 Don't blame me… it's not my fault.. the person responsible for all of this is…Read More…

Beyond Touch 10.22.2008 Is this a glimpse of user interfaces to come?Read More…

Seeing Red 10.22.2008 New research shows that synaesthetic experiences (where one sense triggers the involuntary use of another) can be induced by hypnosis.Read More…

Halloween Project 10.23.2008 For your edification and delight, I thought I'd share something I just made with my son…Read More…

Is the universe really expanding or is it actually contracting? 10.24.2008 A friend just posed two questions that I'm finding difficult to answer… perhaps you could help… Read More…

5 x 14 = 25 10.24.2008 Maybe this explains the current financial crisis and the way the government's bailout plans are supposed to work…Read More…

Competition: Win 1 of 10 Actel IGLOO Icicle FPGA development kits 10.27.2008 We're just giving all sorts of mega-cool stuff away at Programmable Logic DesignLine these days; will you be one of our ten lucky winners?Read More…

Amazing 3D Animation-Music DVDs 10.28.2008 I was just watching two of the most amazing 3D Animation-Music DVDs I've ever seen … and the best thing is that I have a spare pair for one lucky winner…Read More…

Great minds… and a cool 3D Web Cam 10.29.2008 I'm racing around doing “stuff” at the moment, so here are two quick blogs for the price of one…Read More…

It’s not the size of your… 10.30.2008 In which we discover some amazing images that will boggle our minds…Read More…

Awesomely funny… 10.30.2008 It's the entire mix (video clips, background music, and sound effects) that makes this video such a “must see” experience…Read More…

And the lucky (Actel) winners are… 11.03.2008 In which we discover the winners of the ten Actel IGLOO Icicle development kits…Read More…

The winner of the 3D music animation DVDs is… 11.04.2008 Well, we certainly had some interesting entries for our “The worst opening sentence…” in a hypothetical FPGA book competition…Read More…

Hard case for a Flip Video? 11.05.2008 Does anyone know where I can find a hard case that will clip on my belt and hold my Flip Video?Read More…

Here’s something that will NEVER happen again! 11.05.2008 You could be among the first three people in the known universe to receive a free autographed copy of Bebop to the Boolean Boogie (3rd Edition).Read More…

An interesting idea to cut home energy costs 11.06.2008 As far as I'm concerned, anything we can do to save energy, preserve our natural resources, and protect the environment has to be a good thing.Read More…

Arrggghhhh!!! 11.06.2008 The first 22 folks to enter the competition to win the first three copies of “Bebop to the Boolean Boogie Edition #3” … have to do it all again…Read More…

Awesome water fountain/display thingy in Japan 11.07.2008 This truly is an impressive beast … I want one of 