Sure: It's for a DOE program to encourage middle and high school students to study math and science. Some 15 years ago DOE realized a lot of their engineers and scientists were not far from retirement, etc. So, to help avert the mess we're in now, they started this program. Since it's a lot like the College Bowl from the 1950's (slightly like Jeopardy now), it needs clocks and BuzzIn systems. After 12 years in Arizona, those have been failing, so I and a team are upgrading the equipment. Please browse to for more than you want to know. Some photos are at including some taken by Joseph Sinclair at the Eastside Xmas meting. The guts are a Microchip PICmicro controller driving a handful of ICs, LEDs, etc. My plan is to connect it, via USB, to a laptop running my clock program, but right now we need to get 9 more "stand-alone" versions built this month. Thanks, Gene PS: The 9 we're now building are fully wired for USB (I cloned Microchip's USB Demo board), just the firmware only runs the BuzzIn/LockOut logic. Since the PICmicros can be programmed "in-circuit" upgrades are not a problem. Vaughn Treude wrote: >Gene, >Great! Sounds like it would be a good fit. Since I missed the Eastside >meeting (as usual), can you tell me a little more about it? >Thanks! >Vaughn > >On Fri, 2006-01-06 at 17:22, Gene Holmerud wrote: > > >>I'd like to present my Science Bowl project (used for the Trivia contest >>at the Eastside meeting last month). Might get some volunteers for >>construction. It's a nice blend of hard/firm/software. >> >>Gene >> >>Vaughn Treude wrote: >> >> >> >>>Hello everyone: >>>My IEEE consultant's group, which is meeting next week, has had our >>>planned speaker cancel at the last minute. I'm trying to round up >>>somebody to speak on a technology-related topic. I know I've heard some >>>good PLUG presentations in the past, but I'm not sure who has done >>>what. In particular something of general interest, such as computer >>>security or the Myth TV project or web page development, would be good. >>>The meeting is this coming Thursday, which I think is the same night as >>>the east-side PLUG meeting. Here are the details: >>> >>>Time: 6:30 PM, second Thursday of the month (1/12/06) >>>Place: The Denny's at Scottsdale and Osborn (they have a nice meeting >>>room in the back) >>>We normally chat for a while and order food, and the presentation is >>>usually done around 8 but we'll make it earlier if the speaker prefers. >>>We'll pay for the speaker's meal (yeah, we're big spenders. :-) ) >>>It doesn't have to be anything long. I think the presentations are >>>usually a half-hour to an hour. We try to get out of there by 9 or 9:30 >>>at the latest. >>>We're all pretty computer-savvy, though mostly Windoze or Mac people. So >>>you couldn't assume in-depth Linux knowledge, but at least we all know >>>what it is. >>> >>>I know this is late notice so I certainly understand if nobody steps >>>forward. But I'd greatly appreciate it, and it could certainly be a >>>recycled PLUG presentation. >>> >>>Please contact me ASAP if you might be interested or need more info. >>>BTW, our meetings are always open to non-members, in case any of you are >>>interested in the consulting business. If the speaker wants to bring >>>friends along for moral support, we welcome that, too. >>> >>>Thanks! >>>Vaughn >>> >>> >>>--------------------------------------------------- >>>PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>>To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: >>>http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>--------------------------------------------------- >>PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: >>http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> >> >> >> > >--------------------------------------------------- >PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: >http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss