J.P. ArmstrongJ.P. Armstrong

DIY Operating Systems

J.P. Armstrong — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:15:26 +0000

Operating systems have always fascinated me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to make from scratch. Being able to control computer hardware at the lowest level. While looking up how to make my own I’ve stumbled on a few others have made. These OSes bring me back to the days of MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 Here [...]

mbedPG: Make Your Own Portable Game Console

J.P. Armstrong — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:27:28 +0000

With scrap parts, I created a Connect Four® style game using an mbed microcontroller, a cellphone LCD, and a few buttons. The circuit itself is rather easy and the Nokia LCD library is readily available online. With the right parts and two hours you can get this running on a breadboard. With a little more [...]

6 Programs That Make a Tech’s Life Easier

J.P. Armstrong — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:46:41 +0000

Computer technicians use a wide range of software to get the job done. Some programs make installing programs quicker and others help find viruses/malware. Here are some no nonsense applications that work great and will make your life easier. Ninite (Win & Linux) This is the latest program in my arsenal. It’s a package manager [...]

How to Communicate after an Apocalyptic Disaster

J.P. Armstrong — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:15:56 +0000

December 21, 2012 is just around the corner. A supposed cataclysmic event is to happen that day. Could doomsday be triggered by a shift in the magnetic poles, or perhaps some unstoppable airborne virus? Who knows! Either way you have to ask yourself, “Am I ready?” If the apocalypse happens in 2012 you don’t want [...]

Home Video Surveillance Install

J.P. Armstrong — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:30:36 +0000

Setting up video surveillance camera system is a great way to deter burglars. If they spot the cameras, they’ll most likely leave your house alone and go to an easier target. However, if the burglar is determined to break in you can catch them in the act. If you’re looking to get one of these [...]