Kit-of-No-Parts

Conventionally electronics that are built from a kit-of-parts have been optimized for speed, efficiency and repeatability of assembly. While this approach demonstrates the power of modular systems that have made many of the technologies we rely on possible, it also constrains us to particular styles of building, influencing what we build as well as impacting how we come to think about electronics. A Kit-of-No-Parts demonstrates a new approach to building electronics that emphasizes the expressive qualities of diverse materials as well as the skill and creativity of the builder. I believe that a more insightful and skilled process is also capable of producing more intelligible and personal results. In order to promote a different approach I have developed a series of techniques that allow us to build electronics using a variety of craft materials and tools. This website documents these techniques in the form of “recipes”. Besides containing instructions on how to build electronics these recipes are also detailed accounts of my development process that aim to promote further exploration and material investigation, instead of straightforward replication. This website is both the documentation and result of my thesis work towards a masters degree in the High-Low Tech research group at the MIT Media Lab. My thesis describes A Kit-of-No-Parts as an approach to crafting electronics, rather than designing discrete components. While the thesis has been written and handed in, this website remains a work in progress. I continue to add new information and update the existing. >> Download Thesis

Kit-of-No-Parts

Conventionally electronics that are built from a kit-of-parts have been optimized for speed, efficiency and repeatability of assembly. While this approach demonstrates the power of modular systems that have made many of the technologies we rely on possible, it also constrains us to particular styles of building, influencing what we build as well as impacting how we come to think about electronics. A Kit-of-No-Parts demonstrates a new approach to building electronics that emphasizes the expressive qualities of diverse materials as well as the skill and creativity of the builder. I believe that a more insightful and skilled process is also capable of producing more intelligible and personal results. In order to promote a different approach I have developed a series of techniques that allow us to build electronics using a variety of craft materials and tools. This website documents these techniques in the form of “recipes”. Besides containing instructions on how to build electronics these recipes are also detailed accounts of my development process that aim to promote further exploration and material investigation, instead of straightforward replication. This website is both the documentation and result of my thesis work towards a masters degree in the High-Low Tech research group at the MIT Media Lab. My thesis describes A Kit-of-No-Parts as an approach to crafting electronics, rather than designing discrete components. While the thesis has been written and handed in, this website remains a work in progress. I continue to add new information and update the existing. >> Download Thesis

SabroTone

A DIY guitar electronics diary

Makedo | Cardboard Construction Tools For Kids

Makedo is a simple to use, open-ended system of tools for creative cardboard construction purposely designed for kids. Build imaginative and useful creations from upcycled cardboard.

Getting Started with Nickel « Oliver's Development Musings

This is part 2 of the Great Rust Web Experiment. For Part 1 see here. I’m building the same relatively small web-application in Rust using both Iron and Nick...

Lego Brick Commons & Spontaneous Collaboration - Wesley's notes

A funner way to talk about nerdy stuff like Semble and modular science

sugarcube

Design tokens, generated CSS, and optional components. Build front ends on strong, reusable foundations.

Half-Baked Product

A fable about ovens, founders, and the second-highest priority that never gets done.

Clay PCB Tutorial — feministhackerspaces

Clay PCB Tutorial MaKING Printed Circuit Boards with Wild Clay It is an open secret that the hardware in our...