Alec Watson as Self - Host
Episodes 126
Bell & The Invention of Artificial Sound
Alexander Graham Bell is famous for his invention of the telephone. In 1876, his device was the first ever to be able to reproduce sound. Before its invention, nothing existed capable of taking sound waves and replicating them.
Bell's invention marks the beginning of our journey through time. This series, of which this video is the first, will be taking you step-by-step through the history of sound reproduction. We begin today with the Telephone.
Read MoreEdison's Impression: Laying Sound into a Groove
Bell's invention, the telephone, was the first device capable of reproducing sound. But it couldn't record it. Thomas Edison's invention of the phonograph brought us the first device capable of capturing sound to be played back later.
How did Edison figure this out? By combining one of his earlier ideas with the ideas in the telephone, Edison was able to bring a revolutionary product to market (well, sort of). This week, we're exploring how Edison thought up his device.
Read MoreEmile Berliner's Fix: Flatten the Cylinder to a Disc
Thomas Edison's cylinder phonograph was fantastic, no doubt. Can you imagine what it would've been like to hear the first artificial sound? But Edison's mind for the accurate doomed his cylinder, because the cylinder as it turns out is a really stupid shape for this sort of a thing.
Emile Berliner threw accuracy to the wind with his disc phonograph, assuming people would rather deal with an easier and cheaper phonograph than a more "scientifically correct" one. Boy was he right.
We explore Berinler's idea of storing sound in a different way on a different shape in this episode of Technology Connections.
Read MoreThe Vacuum Tube and the Invention of Radio
In today's episode of technology connections, we take a look at the vacuum tube. This simple device had tremendous implications for sound reproduction. We explore how vacuum tubes revolutionized radio, and why they were necessary to make radio practical.
Vacuum tubes made possible the next advancements in sound technology.
Read MoreFrom Radio Waves to Electric Grooves: Electrical Sound Recording
Once we figured out how to amplify a signal with a vacuum tube, the possibilities became endless for the world of sound recording. In this video, we explore how the invention of radio improved the phonograph record by introducing electric recording technology.
Read MoreTape Recording: Taking the Electromagnet to a Whole New Level
Rather than use electromagnets to cut a groove, why not use them with other magnets? By using materials that could be magnetized, the electromagnets used in the phonograph cartridge could be adapted into a magnetic recorder. This technology is still very much in use today, but in this episode of Technology Connections, we're exploring the two earliest forms of audio reproduction done with magnets: the wire recorder, and the magnetic tape recorder.
Read MoreFrom the Chevy Volt, to the Nissan Leaf, to the Tesla Model S, electric cars seem to be the way of the future. Join me as we explore a typical wind farm and discuss the potential for wind energy and electric cars. While today's electric grid propels these bastions of modern engineering with a fair bit of fossil fuel, it's clear that electric cars are pretty green and will only continue to get greener.
Read MoreWhat is High Fidelity? How does Stereo work?
We've come along way since the invention of the phonograph. But up to this point, artificial sound was still decidedly artificial sounding. "High fidelity" isn't really one technology, but a collection of technologies that combined to create natural sounding recordings. Similarly, stereo sound, though now completely universal, had to be introduced. This episode explores what makes a good high fidelity recording, and how stereo came to be.
Read MoreExploring a Reel to Reel Tape Recorder: Sony TC-366
On Technology Connections, we looked at this machine briefly when we explored the invention of magnetic recording technology. Now, in long form, is a more thorough look at this machine and how it works. We start with an overview of operation, then take it apart to get a look at the inside.
Read MoreThe technological advances that we've investigated so far have revolved around the vacuum tube. But the invention of the transistor really sparked a whole new era of sound. The advent of small circuits for sound reproduction meant that things could shrink. Tape went into cartridges. Amplifiers used less energy. And everything became more robust.
Read MoreElectric Vehicle Charging: It's easier than you think
As more and more EV's make it onto our roadways, people start to freak out about how we're going to charge all these things. The thing is, they shouldn't. EV's are so much more efficient than their gasoline powered counterparts that they don't consume all that much electricity, in fact the size of the grid only needs to increase about 4.5% to accommodate an entirely electric commuter fleet. But people still worry about charging them. In this video, I explain why this shouldn't worry you in the slightest.
Read MoreExploring the good ol' Cassette Tape
If you remember the cassette as sounding awful, I have news for you. They actually sound just fine. The Compact Cassette has a unique history in the world of sound, which we explore along with their attributes in this Tech Explorations video.
Read MoreIt's not hard to make things safer. But sometimes people don't think about the tools they already have. With a simple reprogramming of an engine computer and perhaps with the addition of a sensor or two, the Jeep that killed Anton Yelchin could have saved his life. If cars were able to detect that their driver had exited, accidental rolling of a car could be a thing of the past. If we're lucky, it will quickly become one.
Read MoreHome Automation: A Beginner's Introduction
In the video today we look at current home automation technologies and what's behind them. I illustrate what's involved in adding a new device to a home automation network (it's actually quite easy) as well as demonstrate how they work.
Read MoreThe Impossible Feat inside Your VCR
These days a VCR seems more quaint than anything else. But in fact, there's a device inside every VCR that solved what seemed to be an unsolvable problem. The video head drum is a fascinating solution to the complex problem of tape speed, and therefore I think it deserves to be remembered. Plus, the video head drum shares some motor technologies with modern hard disk drives. So there's that.
Read MoreWhat is Dolby Noise Reduction? Dolby's Humble Beginning
In this video we discuss the Dolby Noise Reduction systems found in consumer cassettes decks and how they work. Though technically very simple, Dolby B noise reduction provides a very effective means of reducing audible tape noise, and was ubiquitous throughout the cassette's life.
Dolby noise reduction was such an important part of their legacy that the company still pays homage to it in their logo. The "D"s in the Dolby Double D logo are really the shape of audio tape heads.
Read MoreFurnaces: Why we still burn fuel to heat our homes
Ever wonder why the gas-fired furnace is still so prevalent? Why isn't electric heat the standard? Well, wonder no more as we explore the economic and practical reasons the gas-fired furnace is so ubiquitous in colder climates, and how in the future this is almost certainly going to change.
Read MoreStupid Design--The Needlessly Useless Webcam Activity Light
We've been told that our laptops can watch us without our knowledge. That little indicator light? Worthless. Hackers can get around that. But why? There's a simple way to make sure this is impossible, which is explored in this, the very first episode, of Stupid Design.
Read MoreThe late 1970's and early 1980's were a frightening time to be a video enthusiast. Two formats are duking it out and trying to assert their dominance, and although Sony was first* to market with their Betamax machine, they were caught off guard by JVC's competing VHS system which, rather than focus on pedantic details like cassette design and technical perfection, strived to make a cheap, versatile format that worked.
Read MoreWhy Sony's Beta Videotape System Failed--Part 2
This is the continuing exploration of Sony's repeated missteps in the development and marketing of the Beta videotape format.
Read MoreComparing Beta & VHS on Quality: Was Beta Really Better?
This is a much fairer comparison than using the Panasonic unit as the VHS playback device. Many people believe that Beta was a vastly superior product to VHS, but I think this was mostly marketing prowess on Sony's part. People seemed to think that they were giving up something of quality if the went with VHS over Beta. But as this video will demonstrate, I don't think that was really the case.
Read MoreLines of Light: How Analog Television Works
Have you ever wondered how old-school television worked? It seems almost impossible for a device to make moving images without a computer being involved. Yet analog television is very, very old. How on Earth did it work? Find out in this video.
Read MoreJohn Logie Baird is often considered to be the inventor of television, but not of television as we know it. His mechanical television is a remarkable invention for its simplicity, but as you'll soon see, it would never have been all that practical.
Read MoreLED bulbs that flicker, and CFLs that almost never did
While the CFL is pretty much done being a thing these days, it was a really great invention for saving energy. But some people claimed they caused them headaches. In this video, I explore the reason that fluorescent light can indeed cause headaches or eyestrain in sensitive people, and I explain why that wasn't an issue with the CFL. Then we explore the modern LED bulb and how it actually is bringing the cause of this flicker back.
Read MoreGE's bizarre early attempt at a CFL
Meet the grandfather of the compact fluorescent light. This device from GE is really interesting and ahead of its time, but far too weird to gain widespread acceptance. GE manufactured these adapters to shoehorn the standard circline tube into more everyday applications, and the result is kinda weird. This video's a quick exploration of this early attempt to bring the energy saving virtues of fluorescent lighting into the domestic arena.
Read MorePhilo Farnsworth and the Invention of Electronic Television
Philo Farnsworth's Image Dissector was the heart of the first television cameras. This video tells the story of the early days of television, and shows how these early video tubes worked.
Read MoreDigital ICE: The High-Tech Dust Removal Found in Film Scanners
In this video we explore Digital ICE, an image processing technique involving infrared light, photographic film, and a dash of algorithmic magic.
Read MoreHow Analog Color TV Works: The Beginnings
In this video we explore how we added color to everyone's favorite passive entertainment medium. Modern color broadcasting began in 1954 after years of experimentation, and this video will teach you the early history.
Read MoreThe Twinkling Light Set: An increasingly rare but delightful type of decorative lighting
If you're anything like me, the countless light displays you'll find around the average neighborhood during the holiday season are always welcome. But there's a certain type of light set that seems to be disappearing that I certainly hope stays around a little longer. In this video, you'll learn a little bit about how fairy light sets are made, how they work, and how a particular type of light strand pulls this all together to make my far-and-away favorite kind.
Read MoreCompatible Color: The Ultimate Three-For-One Special
RCA's attempt at creating a new color television standard that would be compatible with existing black and white TVs initially faced technical challenges. However, it was an obviously great idea from a backward compatibility standpoint, and the National Television Systems Committee latched onto this idea and helped to propel RCA's idea to the real world. This is that story.
Read MoreAnalog Color TV Wrap-Up--Some extra info
In this installment on analog color television, we take a look at some odds-and-ends from the last video. Sit back, relax, and enjoy an eclectic jaunt into the realm of shadow masks, dubious inventions, weird mathematics, and more.
Read MoreTrinitron: Sony's Once Unbeatable Product
Throughout much of the analog television era, Sony was the fairly undisputed king of TVs. Their Trinitron picture tube was a universally well received technology and made a number of important improvements on the standard color picture tube. This is the story of its creation.
Read MoreRoller Coaster Safety: How to Manage Too Many Trains at Once
Roller coasters are pretty neat, I must say. But they rely on passive vehicles holding fragile humans while zooming around at high speeds. That can be a tough thing to manage safely, but it's not impossible. This video shows you a few ways it's done.
Read MoreLaserdisc: An Introduction
Laserdisc seems to get a lot of retro cred these days. It gets featured as a technical oddity, but from today’s perspective, it might seem strange that it didn’t become the de-facto standard. Boasting many of the same features as the modern DVD, you would think it couldn’t possibly have received the cold reception it did. In this series of videos, we’ll find out why.
Read MoreThrift Store Hi-Fi: Some tips and tricks
These days, it seems everyone wants the latest and greatest equipment for the audio needs. But there's a lot of fantastic hardware you can find in thrift stores and enjoy today. I've found that with a little patience, you can find true high fidelity speakers from the best brands, and though they may need some TLC, I think the results are worth it.
Read MoreLaserdisc's Failure: What Went Wrong
Laserdisc didn't have an easy start. In this video, we take a look at the first few years of Laserdisc's existence. Though many articles or videos talking about Laserdisc will blame the high cost of discs and the inability to record, those problems are only partially to blame.
Read MoreLaserdisc: Features, Follies, & Evolution
While Laserdisc certainly wasn’t the most successful format, it was among the most interesting. This video explores the evolution and features of the format, with a wide variety of sample clips.
Read MoreChevy Bolt EV: Winter Range and Performance (Chicago winter)
Nothing zaps the range of an EV quite like winter. But how bad is it? Join me on a few trips with a Chevy Bolt EV, and we'll find out.
Read MoreFaking It: The Obviously Dubbed Telephone Ring
If you lived in North America any time in the 20th century, you probably ran across one of these telephones. The Western Electric Model 500 and its subsequent variants were so ubiquitous that you almost couldn't go anywhere without seeing one, especially in the United States where it was standard equipment from the phone company.
Even if you're not American, if you've seen any of our movies, you'll have seen this phone, too. A literal fixture of American life, this phone was inescapable. But its ubiquity also caused some filmmakers or TV show producers to get a little lazy. This video tells that story.
Read MoreHave you ever needed to light your fish tank with Chinese LEDs? No? Well, here's how. I'm sure the information will be incredibly useful. In any case, maybe you'll learn about how to use these new-fangled diodes of light.
Read MoreDVD: The Death Knell of Laserdisc
Well, it had a good run. Although Laserdisc could never really get off the ground, it had a reasonable showing in the high end video market. Intended as a mass market product, Laserdisc would never get there.
But DVD... well that's a whole other story. In 7 or 8 years, DVD went from being introduced to being everywhere, and it is still selling pretty well in the face of streaming services such as Netflix. Just how long DVD can cling to life remains to be seen, but you can still stroll on into any big box store and pick up a DVD player and some movies to go with it.
This video tells how DVD got started, and why it was able to succeed where Laserdisc failed.
Read MoreThe original PlayStation is a pretty neat thing. Using the CD as a storage medium was a smart move. But, Sony needed to add anti-piracy features to the disc to prevent miscreants from making bootleg copies of Crash Bandicoot. This video tells the story of how that works, why it wasn’t infallible, and also proposes a potentially impervious solution (24 years late, though).
Read MoreThe CD Player with a Robot Inside: Pioneer CLD-M301
Sometimes, a company in Japan decides they're gonna give it all they got, and the result is a wacky machine like this. Pioneer, the company that brought you pretty much everything to do with Laserdisc, designed this wonderful series of machines which are both single side Laserdisc players and 5 disc CD changers. Due to the limitations of the Laserdisc format, a rather robotic solution was needed to do the job.
Read MoreThese Are Not Pixels: Revisited
When I first made a video on analog color television, the thumbnail I created (and its explanation) caused nearly endless debate. I thought I'd try and clear this up a bit.
Read MoreIn this very chill and laid back video, we take a look at the Smith Corona PWP-3200, a word processing typewriter from the early 1990's. There were a number of products like this available, and while they are an interesting bit of technological history, they are really strange.
Read MoreAround the mid-2000’s, the LED traffic light began making its way onto the scene. Recent developments in LED technology meant that energy efficient replacements for the standard incandescent lamp were beginning to appear. Municipalities rejoiced with the energy savings they provided, but in cold climates they weren’t met with quite as warm a welcome. Not producing sufficient heat to melt snow on their lenses, some drivers became confused by ambiguous signals and caused fatal accidents.
This video tells the tale of why this newfound “problem” generated harsh criticism to the new technology, and explains why this reaction is entirely dumb and regressive.
Read MoreMacrovision: The Copy Protection in VHS
Did you ever try to copy one VHS tape to another and find that it just, well, didn’t work? Macrovision was the clever creation of what is now TiVo that managed to confuse a VCR without causing too much distress to a TV. In this video, we find out what it is, how to spot it, and how it works (with a healthy dose of speculation).
Read MoreMUSE Hi-Vision Laserdisc: The Blu-ray of 1994
1080i in 1994. Wow. Really, perhaps as early as 1993, but it seems the first player was released in 1994. Anyway, what better way to end the saga on Laserdisc than by talking about MUSE Hi-Vision discs. And some other stuff, too!
Read MoreChevy Bolt EV Summer Range Test
Come with me as I take the Chevy Bolt EV through 183 miles of summertime driving. It was really hot out and most of the drive was spent at 70 miles per hour, but the car still did pretty well.
Read MoreEver wonder why street lights are orange? For such a fast-paced world technology-wise, it seems somewhat odd that we are still using such a strange color of light for outdoor lighting. Well it turns out it is still a pretty good light source, though with limited use and perhaps a not-so-obvious flaw.
Read MoreThe LED's Challenge to High Pressure Sodium
Now that we know why street lights are orange, let’s look at whether or not they should still be so. The answer isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Although newer technology seems to surpass HPS in nearly all respects, there are still considerations to be made.
Read MoreIs this haunted room actually stretching? The answer may surprise you! (barf)
The stretching rooms at the Haunted Mansion are perhaps my favorite piece of hidden engineering at the Disney Parks. While only the Anaheim and Paris versions function in the fashion described in this video, it is still a neat effect regardless of how it’s done.
Read MoreThe Most Common EV Charging Misconception
We need to talk about private home charging more than we do. 99% of our charging infrastructure already exists, and this is something that absolutely needs to be communicated and not enough people are doing. Here is my attempt.
In short, no matter if it's a Chevy Volt, Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf, or any of Tesla's cars, you will most likely be charging it at home. It's the cheapest and easiest way to do it--creating your own charging infrastructure.
Read MoreBetamovie: Sony's Terrible (But Ingenious) Camcorder
Oh man, did this not go well for Sony. Sometimes clever engineering can really backfire, as was the case for Betamovie. Let’s learn a bit about it.
Read MoreThe Senseless Ambiguity of North American Turn Signals
There are studies linked below that demonstrate a tangible safety benefit of amber turn signals. You might want to check them out. Though it might be small, the benefit is demonstrably there.
This has always bugged me, and no one talks about it. Our automotive lighting regulations in North America are stupid when it comes to tail lights. This video is about what is stupid, why it’s stupid, and what we could do about it.
Read MoreSound By Numbers: The Rise of Digital Sound
These days, listening to music on the analog formats of old has seen a massive resurgence. Whether it’s cassettes or vinyl, it seems analog is in and mp3’s are out. But digital sound is pretty freaking neat! This video discusses how it works and is the launching point for this, the final videos on sound reproduction.
Read MoreNyquist-Shannon; The Backbone of Digital Sound
Let’s talk a bit more about digital sound. Thanks to a mathematical theorem, we know that a bandlimited signal can perfectly be represented by a series of discrete samples that occur at twice the rate of the frequency of the bandlimit. OK, that’s hard to explain in a little descroption blurb, so the video is probably your best bet.
Read MoreThe GFCI/RCD: A Simple but Life-Saving Protector
These devices are a common sight in homes and businesses around the US and around the world. But what are they for? Why do we need them? This video explores the life-saving potential of the GFCI (known alias: RCD) and explains how they work.
Read MoreThe Compact Disc: An Introduction
The Compact Disc. Just, like, radical man. Lasers making the music? What will the technology wizards think of next?
In this video we take a first look at the compact disc and its underlying encoding. Soon we’ll be looking more into CD players and their laser pickup systems, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already!
Read MoreDissecting the CD Player: How to Turn Shiny Plastic into Music
Did you ever want to know a little more about the nuts and bolts inside a CD player? No? Well I’m afraid you’ll have to pick another video because that’s exactly what this one is! In it, I start with a taken-apart Magnavox CDB 260, and we examine what all the parts do, how they fit together, and how they work together to turn pits and lands on a plastic disc into your favorite electrosynthamagnetic musical sounds.
Read MoreLED Printers: The Common Printing Tech You Haven't Heard Of
If you’re among the 85%* of people who don’t know what an LED printer is, then prepare to have your mind mildly blown as I tell you about the common printer tech that may in fact by lurking in your home or office, but which you’ve been mistakenly referring to as a laser printer. *gasp*
Read MoreAn Oscilloscope Bonus: 20+ Minutes of Poking Around a CD player
This video is a supplement to the latest "real" video from this channel. There was a lot of interesting stuff here that got cut, so if this is the sort of thing you like--sit back and relax as you watch this loosely edited, not-at-all planned video.
Read MoreCDs: More to Talk About (Sony vs. Philips)
Well, it’s time to answer that question that’s been burning in your minds. There’s lots of good stuff down here, so please to expand it to see!
Read MoreTC Projects: Lead-Acid Battery Backup
Sometimes life throws curveballs. But rather than just get hit in the face, why not do something about them? This video is a mishmash of a project, some insight on Lead-Acid Battery technology, inverters, and applications. A bit different you might say from TC’s normal stuff, but what’s life without a little variety?
*There are definitely different ways to charge lead-acid batteries, with different strategies optimized for different results. However, for general 12V applications, a large battery and a slow-ish charger for a car battery will be an A-OK combo.
Read MoreThe time has come. What was once just a replacement for big black frisbees of sprially wavey soundy sounds has matured into a versatile, ubiquitous data storage solution. Would you look at that, progress on a disc! But that wasn’t all; many colors of books were published (neato, wouldn’t ya say?) and the disc went from a-thing-you-buy-with-stuff-on-it to a disc that you can put your VERY OWN stuff on it! Radical! And here’s some of that story.
Read MoreThe Ubiquitous Sound That You May Have Never Noticed
Ya know, I just love learning about the everyday things in our world that are meant to make life a little more accessible to those with disabilities. This video is about a small (but nearly universal) thing that elevators do to make life just a bit easier for the blind and visually impaired.
Read MoreLightScribe: HP's Clever Twist on the CD Burner
I remember when LightScribe was first marketed, and let me tell you I thought it was *the* *coolest* *thing* to ever happen. Burning labels with lasers? No way! Well, it worked amazingly well. LightScribe wasn’t without its flaws, though, and in this video we’ll discuss a bit of its history, how it worked, and why it wasn’t a runaway success.
Read MoreLED Experiments: Making Holiday Lights Less Garish
How could I forget about the hmm-hmm light experiments? And/or; holy hard drives it’s already Decemberween? My how the year has passed in a flash. Just like these lights! HA!
Yeah, so here’s the thing--I owed you this video. And honestly, the results were great! I have some more work to do (assuming no one listens to my plea toward the end) but now I know that what I want is at least vaguely possible.
Read MoreClosed Captioning: More Ingenious than You Know
Over the years I’ve found that there are plenty of people who use captions, not just those who need them. But did you know that it took until the 1970’s for anyone to think of putting captions on TV? I can sort of understand that, since captions might be annoying if you don’t want them, but closed captioning would save the day and provide access to all, but only when needed.
Read MoreThe Superheterodyne Radio: No really, that's its name
The superheterodyne receiver may seem like a radio with a silly name, but in fact it’s a completely logical name that describes the key action these radios take to become excellent radios. The superhet solved a tricky problem in a clever way, and using our friend Algebra (as well as wave phenomena) proved to be the most effective way of tuning in a radio signal.
Read MoreDVD-RAM: The Disc that Behaved like a Flash Drive
DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW ain’t got nothin’ on my man RAM. Oh yes, DVD-RAM, the format of mild obscurity which seems like it should have been friggin huge. Alas, it was but mildly useful.
Read MoreThe Odd History of the SD Logo
So, what’s the deal with the D? Why is it all, disclike? Last I checked, SD cards weren’t any sort of disc. What’s going on? In this video, we find out.
Read MoreThe Time-Lapse VCR
Analog video and frame-by-frame review don’t usually go nicely together (unless of course you’ve got a CAV Laserdisc onhand). So how did security camera systems stretch the normal recording time of VHS from a couple of hours to upwards of a week? Why, with ingenuity of course! Watch this video and find out the juicy secrets!
Read MoreSpace Heater Nonsense
Unless my understanding of the universe is deeply flawed, something about space heaters just doesn’t add up. In this video, I talk about that.
Read MoreThe Story of Disney's PeopleMover in Texas
This is the fun, weird, and surprisingly complicated story of Disney’s PeopleMover attraction and how it ended up somewhere unexpected. And maybe even somewhere *really* unexpected!
Read MoreThe Electromagnet in Your Toaster
Ya ever wonder about what’s in a toaster? No? Well, too bad ‘cause you’re gonna find out right now!
Read MoreExploring the World of E-Ink
It’s ink. But better!
Read MoreE-Ink on Android, and other new things!
Big things are coming soon. In some ways, they already have!
Read MoreThe Antique Toaster that's Better than Yours
That title isn’t hyperbole or clickbait nonsense. This really is better than your toaster. At least, I think so. Seriously, can we make this the norm, please? If we figured it out in 1948, you’d think we woulda kept going with it. I mean, really.
Read MoreFlexplay: The Disposable DVD that Failed (Thankfully)
Have you ever run across a cool idea that you desperately hope doesn’t catch on? Flexplay is one of those. In this video, we’ll talk about what it is, why it was crazy to think it would go anywhere, and why it’s probably a good thing it didn’t.
Read MoreThermostats: Cooler than you think!
Boy do I have a COOL topic for you today. We’re gonna turn up the HEAT with this one!
Read MoreAutomatic Record Changers: We used to like them
Hmm. What were these things? Why were some record sets made to work with them? When did we decide we hated them? Was that the right call? Will I ask another question?
These are the things you’ll learn in this video, where we explore the humble record changer. Seriously. They didn’t suck!
Read MorePortable Air Conditioners - Why you shouldn't like them
Oh no. It’s a new version of a well-established product that trades efficiency for convenience. But this time, it’s more than just being cool. It’s about cooling.
Seriously, either we need to get more awareness of how dumb single-hose portable A/C units are, or we need to just use window units whenever possible. While I know that there are times a portable unit is the only option (remember, I’m in that boat), it seems that only very high capacity, premium machines have the facility to use two hoses. Which is frankly stupid but then again that’s what I’m trying to tell you now.
Read MoreAfter much annoyance dealing with fiddly capturing methods, I thought I’d show you the method I stumbled upon that works amazingly well, is fairly cheap, and awfully easy. I’ve been thrilled with it, and I think you’ll be too.
Read MoreTOSLINK: That one consumer fiber optic standard
Well. Isn’t that strange. Digital data through fiber optics, and in the home no less! Let’s explore this a little, shall we?
Read MoreFiber vs. Copper; What do we really need?
Fiber optics. A DeLIGHTful technology. Ooh that’s a groaner. Well, why don’t we see them around more often? Let’s find out!
Read MoreSwitches are Clicky; Here's Why
Click clack I was taken aback. Wonderin’ ‘bout those switches of light, yeah.
Let’s find out what the point is of all that clacking, shall we?
Read MoreThe Weird World in RGB
Have you ever wondered why the word looks so weird? Wait. Weird as in, like, all the time? Of course! We live in a weird world! But light, though! What about weird light? Ahhh, that's what this video is all about.
This is the strangest vid. description I've written in a while. Cool.
Read MoreThe CED: RCA's Very Late, Very Weird Video Gamble (Pt. 1)
Bring the magic home… with RCA! Please? We really want you to buy this. Please. Buy it now. Right now. It’ll be great.
Read MoreThe CED: No really, it coulda made sense! (Part 2)
It’s seriously not that crazy of an idea. RCA might have pulled this off in a couple of ways, and in this video we explore those new angles.
Read MoreLCCS: The LCD / CRT Hybrid from JVC
So. Ya want color, eh? But you don’t want any of them dots or stripes? We can do that.
Read MoreThe VFD that isn't
Wouldn’t it be nice if VFDs made a resurgence? Just put VFDs on everything, already! Make VFDs the new “blockchain” or “neural networks” or whatever. Priorities, people!
Read MoreRCA's CED failed; their history can tell us why (Pt. 3)
Part three! It’s here! Huzzah! Let’s learn about what happened in the history of RCA that led up to the eventual failure of the CED.
Read MoreThe VHS cassette was more clever than Beta
“Oh nooo! Betah!”
In this video, we discuss the endlessly discussed rivalry betwixt the Victorious VHS and the Bent-outa-shape Beta, but from an entirely new angle!
Read MoreLED color experiments 2019; Beyond the Sharpie
Yeah, so if you're new here, this is a thing that happens because I'm a curmudgeon about holiday lighting. Let's see what this year brings!
Read MoreOne more thing: the VHS notch
This is not the same video you watched previously. I promise. It’s a whole new video.
Read MoreKlaxons; What makes them sound like that?
ahOOOOOga! All aboard the HONK HONK express! We're gonna learn a few things about horns and then probably there will be bloopers or something.
Read MoreFilm: the reason some of the past was in HD
♫ last Christmas, I shot it on film ♫
♫ but the very next year, I switched it to tape ♫
♫ this year, to save me from tears ♫
♫ I’ll just go and shoot in 4K ♫
Read MoreHolograms, Lasers & Boredom; the CED's march towards eventual invention (CED Part 4)
Alright, here it comes! The fourth part.
Read MoreOld-fashioned rice cookers are extremely clever
Bet you didn't think a rice cooker was so interesting, did ya?
Read MoreRace to the finish; RCA's final gamble (CED Part 5)
The end is near. The death knell approaches. What will become of RCA’s invention? And is this really the end? Would you like fries with that?
Read MoreBrown; color is weird
This video discusses the color brown. Seriously.
Read MoreTeleprompters are clever, simple, and also pretty neat
Yep. Teleprompters. That's what this video's about.
Read MoreThe Computer-free Automation of a Jukebox (Electromechanics)
Ever wonder how we made all these crazy machines do all their crazy machine things before computers came along? Wonder no more as we explore the inner workings of a Wurlitzer 3400 series jukebox from 1970!
Read MoreThe Selection Accumulator; a Jukebox's Brain
Today, we take a look at the selection accumulator; how it works, what it does, and how that relates to the rest of the machine. Strap in, folks!
Read MoreChest Freezers; What they tell us about designing for X
This video is super cool. We're talking about refrigeration, and how the design of a refrigerator affects its energy consumption. Freezers are the perfect place to see this in action, so let's take a look!
Read MoreCoffee Percolators: An Explanation and Roast
Do you like your coffee to have a little kick? Then try a percolator! It's like tasting a shoe!
Seriously. Why are these still a thing? I don't know but let's talk about them!
Read MoreDVD+R and DVD-R; What was that about?
We're really looking at the plusses and minuses of this whole ordeal...
Read MoreFans; High is next to Off on purpose
This video is absolutely fantastic. Ever wonder why it goes Off-High-Medium-Low? Well, it has to do with motors and the ways we cheat with them.
Read MorePulse Oximeters; An Amazing Use of Light
You might have been seeing a lot about these little devices lately. Have you ever wondered how they work? Well, let's find out!
Read MoreHow to design an actually good toaster with lessons from the 1940's
I love this toaster so dang much.
Read MoreThe US electrical system is not 120V
It's more than 120V. It's even more than the other 120V! It is the sum of the two (and sometimes a different two!) that makes us who we are. Learn about the US electrical system in this not-at-all snarky video!
Read MoreLaptop Docks! They're pretty neat!
I know, my use of a laptop (and worse, that I like it!) makes me a truly terrible person.
Read MoreCassette adapters are remarkably simple
It's a real lost opportunity that we didn't call these Cassettepters. It's not-at-all difficult to say! OK, maybe Cassepter would be easier but isn't that, like, a sword or something? The descriptions are getting weird.
Read MorePersonal "air conditioners" aren't what they seem
You know, it's one thing when a product has a limited scope and application. It's another when it's passed off as something greater than what it is. Learn why these fad devices are fad devices in this video.
Read MoreThe Impact Sprinkler - more clever than it seems!
It's that time again! Time to take a deep dive into the mundane to see what we can learn. Join me as we look at this sprinkler!
Read MoreA record player that can play CDs: The Fisher DAC-145
Well now, what do we have here? It's a CD player... but also a turntable? Hmm... very interesting. But why? How? And is it actually a good idea? Lucky for you you've clicked on this video and will find out!
Read MoreRetroreflectors; they're everywhere, and they cheat physics (sort of)
Road signage and other markings may be something you take for granted, but have you ever wondered how they can appear so brightly with just the output of your headlights? Find out how, and get a load of other trivia, in this video!
Read MoreThe touch lamp; a neat idea, and older than you'd think!
I think we really oughta make this fashionable again, don't you?
Read MoreElectric car chargers aren't chargers at all – EVSE Explained
Catchy title! But it's mostly true! There's a pinned comment you might want to read, as well. But there's some links down here, too.
Read MoreForced-air Furnaces: The What, Why, and How
Let's not get too heated, this is after an inflammable subject. Frankly it's exhausting, but we gotta do it. We gotta explain how furnaces work! And soon, we'll talk about what will replace them. I'll try to remember to put a link here when that time comes!
Read MoreCamera Tech from 1971: Match-needle exposure meter
Ever wonder how pro cameras from the 1970's worked? Learn about their single most important tool for the photographer (and lots else!) in this exposé.
Read MoreThe Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours
Seriously. How is this so old and yet so advanced?
Read MoreWhat exactly is the goop inside a lava lamp?
Yep! Gonna get questionably gloopy!
Read MoreBubble Lights: The Weirdest Christmas Light?
Yes indeed, these are silly! Very silly! But, mesmerizing.
Read MoreDetergent packs are kinda wishy-washy (Dishwashers Explained)
Ever wonder how dishwashers work? Are you ever bummed by the performance of yours? Well, this video can answer your question and possibly provide you with a solution!
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