It’s safe to say that the Digi-Comp was my first real computer. I used to love sticking bits of straws on the “programming” pegs, cycling the “clock,” and watching the results. I first learned binary on this thing. Now, version 2 of Digi-Comp is available. Rather than delicate plastic, this one is made from laser-cut paperboard. The reviews I’ve seen are glowing. I may just have to get one so my kids (who are now the same age that I was when I had one) can get a feel for what really goes on inside the box.

Oh, this is so cool. Chip PC has announced a new thin-client PC that resides inside a standard dual-gang outlet box. Plug a monitor, keyboard, and mouse into the JackPC, and you have a complete networked PC. The company has a standard wall box that has contacts on the upper inside edge. You run network cable (which also handles power) to this box when you install it, and put a blank cover over it until it’s time to use it. When you want to install a PC, it simply slides into the box, making contact with the connector inside. There is also a wifi access point that can be installed in the same box instead of the PC. If you simply need network connectivity, there is a slide-in module that gives you that as well.

Imagine installing these boxes all over the house or other building during construction as you might install ordinary network jacks. When you need a PC at some location, simply slide it into the box and you’re done. Very nice.

Several years ago, the Connecticut DOT installed dozens of cameras on the interstates in and around the Hartford area. I’ve been waiting patiently for them to finally come on-line, and I’ve just discovered that day is here. Now I can check the Hartford area cameras before leaving in the morning to see if I might run into any delays.

Not being a Mac person these days, I’ve watched the development of the various flavors of OS X from the sidelines. One of the more recent additions to the OS is widgets. These are small gadgets that sit on the desktop and do something simple but useful. Examples might be a clock, news ticker, or battery gauge.

Now Windows users can get in on the action, and I have to say these things are mighty fun. Konfabulator has dozens of widgets written for it, and I’m finding all kinds of useful devices. I have a nice analog clock in the lower right corner of my screen. What makes it unique is that I have its opacity set to 50% and it’s always on top, so I can see what time it is no matter what else is open, but I can also see the windows under it. The best part is it’s completely transparent to the cursor, so I can click on the window under the clock as if the clock wasn’t there.

Since Google released an official API for their map service, we’ve seen even more awesome-looking hacks show up on the net. This one overlays the New York City subway system on top of a map of Manhattan and the other boroughs. As one who’s had to deal with that subway system, I can truly appreciate this hack.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about a homemade air conditioner that circulated cold water through tubing strung across the front of a fan. In the same vein, here is a homemade swimming pool heater that uses similar techniques.

While I’m on the subject of geocaching, both Google and Yahoo have announced APIs for their popular map services. Now it will be easier than ever to include maps on custom web pages. I can’t wait to see what kind of applications people come up with now.

Unless you are a geocacher, you probably don’t know the frustration of unexpectedly seeing a nearby cache on your GPSr screen, but have no additional information about it. Often times a cache description page contains details needed to find the cache beyond a waypoint coordinates. While scanning the logs of some nearby caches, I came across a mention of a geocaching WAP interface, and immediately Googled to find it. Point your WAP-enabled cell phone to http://rtr.ca/geo and search on a waypoint or your ZIP code. I really could have used this last week!

Wow! Google does it again. If you thought Google maps was cool, then Google maps with satellite images was even cooler, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Go to earth.google.com, download their app, and prepare to have your socks knocked off. You can actually fly over any area of the U.S., panning, rotating, tilting, and zooming at will. It’s almost like having a private helicopter available at your fingertips. While you can’t read the license plate off a car in a parking lot, you can certainly get a feel for what an area looks like if you’ve never been there before.

Quick, how does an air conditioner work? If you said by blowing air over coils that contain a cold liquid, you’d be pretty close. Who says that liquid has to be freon, and who says you need a compressor? A bucket of ice water and some simple plumbing is all you need. It’s not exactly convenient, but it certainly appeals to the hacker crowd.