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Star Trek's tricorder comes to life

tricorderproject.org

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Re: Star Trek's tricorder comes to life

#21
post #6
post #2

Love it, but wasn't the software tricorder app shut down by CBS on the basis of trademark infringement? How on earth will this project survive that?

The tricorder app was apparently shut down because CBS claimed it infringed upon their graphical interface, not because of the name itself. The app has since been relaunched. http://code.google.com/p/moonblink/wiki/Tricorder

Which is sad, because a Tricorder without LCARS interface is kind of... lacking something.

Re: Star Trek's tricorder comes to life

#22
post #9

I want this. I would carry it everywhere.

i'd keep it in my bag next to my towel. :-)

but it would be really useful. have used the metal detector in the android tricorder app to find metal in places where we were planning to drill.

if somebody builds them in bulk the price will come down. even an expensive version will sell to geeks, nerds and hackers.

Re: Star Trek's tricorder comes to life

#24
As someone with a software background, and with limited experience with hardware, I would like to know: How hard is it to actually design custom hardware like this and assemble it? How expensive is it?

From the video, the logic boards he made look really high quality. How do you get to something like that? You send your design to a company that builds it for you? Is there a minimum volume (like thousands)? Can you "print" the circuits at home with some tool that's not terribly expensive? Or is it unaccessible for a hobbist? I've only used protoboards before.

I'm really impressed with his work.

Re: Star Trek's tricorder comes to life

#25
post #6
post #2

Love it, but wasn't the software tricorder app shut down by CBS on the basis of trademark infringement? How on earth will this project survive that?

The tricorder app was apparently shut down because CBS claimed it infringed upon their graphical interface, not because of the name itself. The app has since been relaunched. http://code.google.com/p/moonblink/wiki/Tricorder

I can't find it in the market. Looks like it's dead again. I guess all the source code is there.

I've missed that app. The LCARS interface was neat but just showing off the sensor capabilities to people, especially kids, was great.

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