Spooky- Just this morning I decided that building a cell phone would be my next evening project.
DIY Cellphone
11–20 of 37 posts
Re: DIY Cellphone
#12Cool ... this gives me hope for the future I want. The day will come when we will all hold cell phone shaped PCs. You'll be able to interact with them as you do now. However, when placed within 10 feet of a keyboard or mouse, they'll automatically (configurable) and wirelessly use those peripherals ... keyboard and monitors on the fly baby! Imagine optional super thin foldable displays to pack in the bag ... keyboard…
I'm not sure if the idea of "peripherals" matching such a device appeals to me.
Let's think about this... A keyboard is basically a device for entering text via mechanical (or touch) switches which appear on your console/screen. A mouse is a virtual index finger.
Even though most of us can't imagine our daily lives without them at the moment, they both seem archaic in a way. Don't get me wrong; I think that's part of their appeal (I have an IBM model M somewhere in storage), but their high-tech-ness(?) is a bit of a non-sequitur when the day comes when our phone/device/gadget/pc-thing can talk effortlessly to a keyboard and mouse.
It's almost as if a mirror with built in camera interfacing to your straight razor. Some things are best left old-fashioned.
Re: DIY Cellphone
#13Cool ... this gives me hope for the future I want. The day will come when we will all hold cell phone shaped PCs. You'll be able to interact with them as you do now. However, when placed within 10 feet of a keyboard or mouse, they'll automatically (configurable) and wirelessly use those peripherals ... keyboard and monitors on the fly baby! Imagine optional super thin foldable displays to pack in the bag ... keyboard…
I'm not sure if the idea of "peripherals" matching such a device appeals to me. Let's think about this... A keyboard is basically a device for entering text via mechanical (or touch) switches which appear on your console/screen. A mouse is a virtual index finger. Even though most of us can't imagine our daily lives without them at the moment, they both seem archaic in a way. Don't get me wrong; I think that's part of…
Pens and pencils are archaic interfaces as well, but they're still perfectly suited for their task.
Re: DIY Cellphone
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure if the idea of "peripherals" matching such a device appeals to me. Let's think about this... A keyboard is basically a device for entering text via mechanical (or touch) switches which appear on your console/screen. A mouse is a virtual index finger. Even though most of us can't imagine our daily lives without them at the moment, they both seem archaic in a way. Don't get me wrong; I think that's part of…
Pens and pencils are archaic interfaces as well, but they're still perfectly suited for their task.
Yes, and we don't link them to our phones either. ;)
Re: DIY Cellphone
#15Does it require any binary blobs for the GSM module or other components? If not, this would be a pretty good choice for someone wanting complete control over his phone's software stack.
Re: DIY Cellphone
#16Only one question -- can you take this on a plane?
A while ago I had a cell phone where the battery charging circuitry went out. The battery was 3.6v, so I hooked up (via Velcro) a AAA battery holder and used rechargable NiMH batteries. However I was told (when I called the airline I was traveling) that it most likely wouldn't make it past TSA.
Re: DIY Cellphone
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pens and pencils are archaic interfaces as well, but they're still perfectly suited for their task.
Yes, and we don't link them to our phones either. ;)
But we certainly do link them to our computers. http://www.wacom.com/
Re: DIY Cellphone
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pens and pencils are archaic interfaces as well, but they're still perfectly suited for their task.
Yes, and we don't link them to our phones either. ;)
Re: DIY Cellphone
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pens and pencils are archaic interfaces as well, but they're still perfectly suited for their task.
Yes, and we don't link them to our phones either. ;)
But keyboards and mice are still just as useful and likely to remain so in the forseeable future, I think for much the same reason that pen and paper are still around in the digital age. Ergonomically, they just work and they're pretty intuitive, especially when you've got a large screen to deal with.
Even in a future in which spoken commands become commonplace, using a keyboard and mouse has an advantage. After all, I don't necessarily want everyone to hear every word I speak into a textbox.
It's like the similar argument about digital books replacing print books. Even though printed material technically (depending on if your definition of 'printed' includes cuneiform) has been around since Babylon. Its being old is no reason necessarily to replace a peripheral, so long as its function is still adequate.
Re: DIY Cellphone
#20Does it require any binary blobs for the GSM module or other components? If not, this would be a pretty good choice for someone wanting complete control over his phone's software stack.
I'm pretty sure it does. Binary blobs hidden in the GSM module and communication with the GSM module is done with AT commands via some serial bus.