USB Deaddrops

What is a USB dead drop? ‘Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space. This network is made up of USB drives that are embedded in walls, buildings and other public places. Anyone is free to access, download, and upload. It is very similar to geocaching but with data. The first USB dead drop network of five locations was created by Berlin-based artist Aram Bartholl in 2010. Since then, there have been over 1,000 dead drop locations that have been registered at deaddrops.com (Including one outside the Instructables office.) For a walk through of how to set up a standard USB dead drop, check out this instructable by user frenzy.

Up until now, this has been mostly restricted to urban locations. In this instructable, I am going to attempt to expand this project beyond city limits by showing everyone how to embed USB drives in natural fixtures such as trees and rocks.

Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Create-a-USB-Dead-Drop-in-Nature/

Video Game Controller Hack

Everyone loves video games. But it can be difficult to enjoy certain games if you are injured or disabled and don’t have the manual dexterity needed to execute fast button combos. Fortunately, we can use an Arduino to do it for us. The Arduino can send signals to the controller that simulate the buttons being pressed. This lets you pre-program commands that can be activated by a single button. This kind of mod could be used to help more gamers enjoy combo heavy games.

Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-a-Video-Game-Controller-with-an-Arduino-for-G/

3D Photography

3D photography or stereoscopic photography is the art of capturing and displaying two slightly offset photographs to create three dimensional images.

The 3D effect works because of a principle called stereopsis. Each eye is in a different location, and as a result, it sees a slightly different image. The difference between these images is what lets us perceive depth. This effect can be replicated with photography by taking two pictures of the subject that are offset by the same distance as your pupils (about 2.5 inches or 63 mm). The two images are then viewed so that each eye sees only the corresponding picture. Your brain puts the two images together just as it does for normal vision and you perceive a single three dimensional image.

Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Stereoscopic-Photography/

How to Convert Battery Powered Electronics to Run on AC Power

We use a lot of battery power electronics. And they go through a lot of batteries. But some of them don't necessarily need to be powered by batteries. If your electronics tend to stay in the same general area, then there is no reason why they couldn't be powered by AC. This would let you save a lot of batteries and money. Here is how to do it.

Instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Convert-Battery-Powered-Electronics-to-Run-on-AC/