I saw a straight slide rule a few days ago. Interested? Shall I keep my eyes open for a round one?
Don,t know what libraries are like where you are but here there are quite a few computers and nowhere near as many books on the shelf as there used to be.
Generally I don't visit the local libraries as they are mostly Chinese. We have a few univeritiy libraries with large English sections, but the topics are rather academic. So I depend heavily on the internet for reading.
Please don't look for any slide rules - ciruclar or straight. These days my major number crunching is limited to annual tax returns.
The real dilemma is that 'basic circuits' are just not as clear as they used to be. We had discrete components rather than ICs. These days it is all like fitting a black box to another black box until you run into a need for some real input or output.
Along this same line, is there a one-stop compendium of circuits and code to go with specific boards? Especially, say, the quickstart or the demo board? Kind of like the library of tutorials that come with the early PICkits?
I fear that when you narrow it down to one board or product, it is harder to get a writer involved without paying cash up front. After all, there is no real market for the text except in that context. I rather write something for everyone and sell the back cover to Parallax for ad space.
I am still pondering writing something quite generic, without naming a preference of CPU - but based on real engineering.
For a first chapter, the heading would be "Smoking or Non-Smoking".
Introduce the destructive power of misplaced watts first, and after that get into Ohm's law.
You'll lose your audience with that approach. It's important that users experience success right out of the gate; otherwise, they'll tune out rather quickly.
You'll lose your audience with that approach. It's important that users experience success right out of the gate; otherwise, they'll tune out rather quickly.
-Phil
So, it seems in that tact that preventing failures is beyond the scope of any DIY text - no market for showing how to avoid mistakes.
Methinks that this a prudent marketing versus building a good basis in electronic fundamentals. I'll stick to offering a good basis. These days, the internet is awash with quick fixes of dubious merit written with compelling authority. I would rather have a reliable reference that sells itself by word-of-mouth if need be.
Readerships do know when something is better than average.
Comments
No guess what the caps are like now.
Don was ahead of his time.
Generally I don't visit the local libraries as they are mostly Chinese. We have a few univeritiy libraries with large English sections, but the topics are rather academic. So I depend heavily on the internet for reading.
Please don't look for any slide rules - ciruclar or straight. These days my major number crunching is limited to annual tax returns.
The real dilemma is that 'basic circuits' are just not as clear as they used to be. We had discrete components rather than ICs. These days it is all like fitting a black box to another black box until you run into a need for some real input or output.
I am still pondering writing something quite generic, without naming a preference of CPU - but based on real engineering.
For a first chapter, the heading would be "Smoking or Non-Smoking".
Introduce the destructive power of misplaced watts first, and after that get into Ohm's law.
You'll lose your audience with that approach. It's important that users experience success right out of the gate; otherwise, they'll tune out rather quickly.
-Phil
Whats a micro-controller -> http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/books/edu/wamv2_2.pdf
or also very good - for PicAxe, but very general:
Microcontroller circuits -> http://www.picaxe.com/docs/picaxe_manual3.pdf
James
So, it seems in that tact that preventing failures is beyond the scope of any DIY text - no market for showing how to avoid mistakes.
Methinks that this a prudent marketing versus building a good basis in electronic fundamentals. I'll stick to offering a good basis. These days, the internet is awash with quick fixes of dubious merit written with compelling authority. I would rather have a reliable reference that sells itself by word-of-mouth if need be.
Readerships do know when something is better than average.
Sooner or later, I'll post an update to that reference with fresh materials.
I've started collecting materials for the revised, more polished publication here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qwhixzvtlrvp1u1/_rcN6Ncv27/Schematics
Jeff