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Good research topics & resources for beginners? — Parallax Forums

Good research topics & resources for beginners?

Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
edited 2009-03-27 17:06 in General Discussion
A big goal for Gadget Gangster is getting new people involved in electronics. The projects that everyone has posted act as an awesome teaser and will help build confidence, but I was thinking we should provide a one page 'Getting Started in Electronics' sheet with each kit. It would be a mini sales pitch to get involved and learn more.

Question 1 - What are some good online resources for the beginner? Think of a guy that probably has never soldered anything before or programmed, but probably reads tech blogs. allaboutcircuits might be an example resource.

Question 2 - I think it would be fun to ask them a few questions to research & if they return it, get $10 off their next order. One question might be "Why doesn't a bird standing on a power line get electrocuted?". Maybe, "What's 11111010 in octal?". What other questions would a beginner find enjoyable / illuminating to research?

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Comments

  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2009-03-25 14:30
    Nick, I've been thinking this direction for Warrantvoid as well, so perhaps we could collaborate a little.
    My own thoughts on this have been toward videos rather than the format of Allelectronics, which
    gives the impression that I've just opened a heavy college textbook, rather than "fun-in-learning" angle.

    Make has been doing some occasional highlights on electronics parts which have been very reasonable.
    You might take a look what they are doing in this regard. I've got links to most of them if you want them.

    There is definitely a place for this in your website, keeping in mind that many people are doing
    this for both educational and relaxation reasons. (free time stuff) and you don't want to start
    them sweating. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    OBC

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  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-03-25 17:10
    It's true - allaboutelectronics is internet circa 1995 & and little daunting. I like the make videos on parts, but they don't really fill my palate. I listened to the Cal course podcasts when I got started. They were good, but they take quite a while.

    I don't really want to create a resource, just refer people to it. I do agree, though, that it shouldn't be a chore.

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  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2009-03-26 02:45
    The Circuits and Electronics course linked at academicearth.org isn't bad either.
    You'll either learn from it or find yourself a cure for insomnia.

    It is an excellent resource that should be taken in small doses. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    OBC

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    Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
  • PhilldapillPhilldapill Posts: 1,283
    edited 2009-03-26 03:20
    Nick/OBC, I think one the reason it's hard to find a good "quick and easy" run-down of electronics, is because it's not quick and easy. There is so much basic knowledge that I think alot of us take for granted. I've noticed many times on the forums, someone will ask a question, and they don't even know what ohm's law is. How do you explain what a circuit does without that kind of knowledge. I've seen a couple of people that have a hard time wrapping their brain around the difference between voltage and current.

    I think if there is any kind of "Electronics Tutorial", you'll need to have good analogies of the basics of electricity, e.g. the water flowing through a pipe and pressure in that pipe analogy. I think you might break it up into sections or "levels". The first level would be the most basic principles of electricity, and the next level would building on that with some simple LED circuits, and so on.
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-03-26 07:36
    From my perspective, I'm not interested in 'quick and easy', I'm thinking more of 'interesting and compelling'. Imagine if your significant other decided to learn more about your hobby. What site would she go that that she'd find enjoyable enough to read more?

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  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-03-27 15:40
    You may also want to include a book list of good beginners(to advanced too!) books. Here's a thread that I started a while back. I'm still working through them, but there are some good books there. On your site you could just make a list, sorted by category, with perhaps links to amazon or the like. I can also give some more book recommendations that aren't on the list, if needed, although most of my reading is on programming, not circuits.

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=741483
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-03-27 17:06
    Thanks for the links! I was thinking of circuits and programming, so that's perfect.

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