Before the world comes to an abrupt end, I thought it would be pertinent to look back on the last year, and highlight some of my favorite Tech Instructables. Initially, I was going to make this a top 20 list, but with over 5,600 Technology projects to choose from, had trouble narrowing it down. After much mental gymnastics, I managed to narrow it down to a respectably-sized list of 30 great projects. I present to you now – in no particular order – my list of highlights for 2012.
Randy Sarafan
Technology Editor
Step 1:
The Pandora's Box Internet Radio Player helped ‘cracked the lid, – so to speak – on some of the amazing features of the Raspberry Pi. I think this simple and clever project is going to prove inspirational to many more projects to come.
Step 2:
One of the cutest projects of the year was the Animatronic Cat Ears. While they are not very technically advanced, they are probably one of the most incredibly fun projects on the site. In fact, it is their ease, accessibility, and immediate payoff that makes them a great beginner's project, and perhaps one of the best posted this year.
Step 3:
FireHero turns guitar hero into an extreme sport by visualizing the notes in giant bursts of flame. Now you can virtually rock so hard that it scares your neighbors. This project makes me take back all of the terrible things that I have said about Guitar Hero over the years.
Step 4:
The 360 Degree Analog Camera Hat shows us that not all Tech innovation needs to be “high tech.” Play Editor Mikeasaurus has zip tied a bunch of disposable film camera round a plastic hat and then uses remote control servo to press down on all of the shutters at once. After the film gets developed, he stitches all of the pictures back together to create a low-tech panorama shot. I am still waiting on someone to invent the digital version!
Step 5:
Storagebot is a voice-controlled robotics part finder and winner of the ShopBot Challenge. It makes the job of finding the right part as easy as speaking it out loud. I know there were many times that I wished that something like this existed, and dttworld did an amazing job of making this a reality.
Step 6:
The Arduino Vocal Effects Box was posted by certified “Instructables Genius” Amanda Ghassaei. While she posted many projects that pushed the boundaries of the Arduino's capability this year, I think this one particularly stood out above them all. This project demonstrates complex digital audio processing and playback using the Arduino and is sure to inspire many more projects to come.
Step 7:
The Framework for Making Affordable Stylish Modular Controllers gives an in-depth overview on making your own MIDI interface. Whereas some authors might leave this project as it is, Alex (aka fuzzy wobble) is currently working on expanding this project even further. Keep an eye out for future advancements.
Step 8:
The Gas Cap is a project that I almost overlooked when it was first published, but have since come to love. In a nutshell, it is a hat with a built-in LED fart-meter. If that were not great in its own right, what is amazing about the project is that it is entirely made by a 12 year old boy. This kid has been on a roll making Instructables that are more awesome than many things made by people twice his age. If this project is any indication of things to come, I look forward to seeing a myriad of amazing future inventions.
Step 9:
The Romance Pants were a collaboration between a number of Instructables employees (myself included) for the Redbull Challenge. When the zipper on a specially modified pair of pants is pulled down, the light dims the light and the sexy music rises. The pants are also unbuttoned with explosive candle-lit effect. If there is but one tech project this year that is going to help you dress up to get down, this is it.
Step 10:
The Pico Blimp finally fulfills the world's need for tiny blimps. This small remote controlled craft is sure to spawn a revolution in micro-aviation. After all, what rocks more than a little zeppelin? Get it…? Zeppelin…? Okay… I'll stop now.
Step 11:
Another personal favorite of mine from this year is the Edible Chocolate Brain from MRI Scan. This is an incredibly clever use of medical imaging to produce some really funny results. Having once had an MRI of my brain, I have been awfully tempted to track down the results to replicate this project. Perhaps I will in the coming year.
Step 12:
This DVD Player Hack is perhaps one of the most comprehensive electronics hacks we have ever seen on this site. Author dmitryp reverse engineered a DVD player, rewired it and re-cased it as a remote controlled alarm clock. This is an impressive feat of engineering and reuse. They have set the bar high for other projects of this type.
Step 13:
Portals: A Networked Mixed Reality Playground is ingeniously clever. This device allows for real-time interaction of real props within a networked environment. This project gives kids of all ages a magic fantasy portal in which to be imaginative interact.
Step 14:
How to Make a Long-Term Time Lapse is a last-minute addition to this list. When I saw this, I wanted to make sure it got the recognition it deserved. This is a very thorough overview of how to accomplish the difficult feat of doing long-term time lapse photography in an outdoor environment.
Step 15:
The Artificial Muscle Arm and Grip is by far one of my favorite Instructables posted this year. This projects makes DIY soft robotics seem easy, which is itself no easy feat. This project has a lot of potential for further innovation.
For more detail: Best Technology Projects of 2012
