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Where are you at? — Parallax Forums

Where are you at?

NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
edited 2012-11-21 11:49 in General Discussion
So, I know there are people from all over the world on this forum. Most seem to be in the US and some from the UK, a couple Aussies and at least one from Taiwan. I am just curious, where in the world are you located and what type of projects do you mostly work on? I would like to put together a "geographical" map of all Parallaxians based on location and interests. Myself, I am in Federal Way, WA. I mostly just dabble with robotics stuff but if it has to do with electronics I like to tinker along those lines also. Self taught everything I know (electronics, Computer and CCTV wise) which that in itself is sometimes scary!!!!
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Comments

  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-11-14 15:16
    ...San Jose, CA. The majority of my projects are music oriented.
  • lanternfishlanternfish Posts: 366
    edited 2012-11-14 15:27
    Dunedin, New Zealand. I am back working in theatre/theater. Projects revolve mostly lighting, AV and computery stuff but also rocketry and robotics. Though if I get a 'what if?' brain-storm (or more likely brain-fart) I muddle around with it until I realise it already exists, has no real purpose, or is too expensive and not worth pursuing.
  • rwgast_logicdesignrwgast_logicdesign Posts: 1,464
    edited 2012-11-14 15:44
    Yucca Valley CA, about 20 miles from Palm Springs in the deseret wasteland.

    My projects are mostly whever i feel i could benefit from learning. Originally i just wanted to understand computer hardware at a deeper level than plugging things in to a mother board so building micro computers and operating systems is a huge intrest. More recently robotics becuase I feel like a robot is kind of a jack of all trades project theres so many seperate systems in a robot that its really a well rounded starting point for electronics it involves everything fro everything from power managmet to rf and digital optics
  • PliersPliers Posts: 280
    edited 2012-11-14 15:47
    Orlando, Florida.
    Most of my Propeller projects end up being a conceptual testing exercise. I love to learn.
    I hope to start helping at a few local high schools and elementary schools in the near future.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-11-14 15:56
    What would be really interesting is to dynamically generate the map. You have everybody's location information as part of their profile, so you could write a script to scan the forums (perhaps all posts from the last 30 days?) and add the locations to the map.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2012-11-14 15:57
    New Orleans, LA, though tonight I am in Jackson, MS; I do a fair amount of traveling in the southern states for my job, an increasing amount of which involves deploying Propeller based embedded controllers.
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2012-11-14 16:05
    Pliers wrote: »
    Orlando, Florida.
    Most of my Propeller projects end up being a conceptual testing exercise. I love to learn.
    I hope to start helping at a few local high schools and elementary schools in the near future.

    And then determine how many of us are nocturnal!!

    [ near Cambridge, UK, many and varied projects ]
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2012-11-14 16:07
    I'm in Bedford, NH. I keep wanting to do something with music but end up getting bogged down with PropGCC-relates projects.
  • xanatosxanatos Posts: 1,120
    edited 2012-11-14 16:19
    I'm in Wilbraham, MA, and I mostly develop custom industrial controls, or sensor interfacing to existing systems, usually wireless/remote. It'll be interesting to see the map!
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-11-14 16:25
    Where am I?
    Judging by all the confederate flags around here, I'd say I'm somewhere in the deep south circa 1863.
    But judging by all the Gadsden flags I see on bumper stickers, I'd say I'm somewhere in Philadelphia circa 1770's.
    Taking into account the sound of gunfire in the woods on weekends, I might say Syria.
    Judging by all the fat guys I see at Walmart carrying their hand guns on their hips, I'd say I'm somewhere inside an episode of The Biggest Loser.
    Based on observations of chewing tobacco purchases at the grocery store, I'm most definitely within a regional IQ average above 42.

    As for what I do - I study photosynthesis and evolution.

    medium.jpg
  • Duane C. JohnsonDuane C. Johnson Posts: 955
    edited 2012-11-14 16:51
    Hi SRLM;
    SRLM wrote: »
    What would be really interesting is to dynamically generate the map. You have everybody's location information as part of their profile, so you could write a script to scan the forums (perhaps all posts from the last 30 days?) and add the locations to the map.
    I think google maps can do this.

    The Honda Nighthawk group, mine's an '83 CB550SC (pretty rare), has a google map showing where we all are.

    To get it "real time" would require something at the Parallax server, I would presume.
    I've seen real time maps on some other forums though.

    White Bear Lake, MN USA

    Scratch built Props, although I have done a bunch of others too.
    Solar trackers, direct and heliostats.
    Anything electronics, especially analog, but also digital.
    Electric vehicles.
    A really wide variety of interests.

    Duane J
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2012-11-14 17:03
    New Richmond, WI Just across the St. Croix River from the Twin Cities. I work mostly in the Twin Cities as a Contract Software Developer.
    I'm just learning about the Basic Stamp and Propeller with a Boe Bot, Stingray and then got interested in the ELEV-8. I'm a boater (32' Carver Aft Cabin) and want to develop some instrumentation for the boat. I'd also like to build an autonomous model boat some day.
    So many things to do, so little time.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-11-14 17:27
    Medina, Oh.
    Self taught in electronics from my first 8080 based Altair clone way back.....took a break in the 80's through late 2000's.
    Educated in computers through some school (no degree) and 10 month program for new graduates through Sperry (now, sadly, Unisys) - ended up as a mainframe OS internalist/developer/fly&fix guy. From there it's been downhill, technically.

    As for projects and interests? Robots, propellers, languages (Forths)....I'm finding project seem to get in the way of me getting things done!! :0)
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-11-14 19:36
    SRLM wrote: »
    What would be really interesting is to dynamically generate the map. You have everybody's location information as part of their profile, so you could write a script to scan the forums (perhaps all posts from the last 30 days?) and add the locations to the map.

    This sounds interesting but is a little beyond my programming abilities at this time.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-11-14 19:43
    dmagnus wrote: »
    New Richmond, WI Just across the St. Croix River from the Twin Cities. .

    How close are you to Kenosha? I was born there!!! Left shortly after. The only time I was ever back was December of 1980. Took a bus trip from Hinesville, GA (80 degrees) to Billings, MT. Stopped there and it was 20 below zero!!! And of course, I had no coat!!!
  • sunblocksunblock Posts: 55
    edited 2012-11-14 20:23
    Northern Virginia. Traffic Central. And work areas of interest focus mostly on technical surveillance.
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2012-11-14 22:38
    Hmmm... San Leandro, California. Interests? Wow...
    There's

    Electronics and robotics. (Duh!)
    Geology... with the obligatory mineral collection, rock pick and geiger counter.
    Amateur radio... all tube type Hallicrafters gear.
    Computers... programming and repair with 8 Macs, 4 peecees (winderz & linux), 2 SGI boxes and a Sun Micro.
    Astronomy/astrophotography with 5 telescopes and two video cameras
    Image and audio editing
    World war 2 history and gaming
    and a fascination with chemistry and quantum physics.

    I have a difficult time finishing projects! :-|

    Amanda
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-11-14 23:19
    Avondale, Arizona. Was tech instructor for data systems in USN as well as Siemens Medical Systems. By day I maintain general x-ray systems, card and angio sysrems (right at home w/ atdiy's day job; also do CT, mammography and ultrasound. If Phoenix ever craters, U Rochester and Cleveland Clinic would be my first and second choices). Got into the prop because it seems best choice for a medical device should a research grant ever go through. Meanwhile, started to build and instrument a 70s curve tracer (mostly built) but fell down the analog rabbit hole and continue to explore the posibilities there. Finally learning C, and my parallel mcp3201 capture system is now running under C with high speed functions in separate cogs. So down further branches of this warren I go. One day I will get back to the curve tracer.

    Never stop learning,

    Frank
  • 1 what1 what Posts: 3
    edited 2012-11-15 00:21
    Brisbane, Australia.
    Formal education in electronics mid to late 1960's (yep - valves!)
    Away from it for many years and a recreational return in the last decade.
    Started out designing and building tesla coils then learning about microprocessors.
    Robotics seemed to be a fun way to move from theory to the real world and let the little beasties do something.
    Got very familiar with "Basic" then onto the C's.
    Currently stuck there with high levels of confusion, frustration and occasional breakthroughs.
    Progression to Parallax Forum seemed unavoidable.
    I'm looking forward to learning a lot more here.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-11-15 00:35
    Someone on the forum used to have a map that showed where all the Prop Heads lived.

    I tried to encourage people to use the "location" feature when we switched forum software a while back. I still think it would be nice to see where people are living.
  • JordanCClarkJordanCClark Posts: 198
    edited 2012-11-15 02:50
    Hudson, MI-- well, actually the mighty metropolis of Clayton, MI. 800 residents, including the cows. My work is in Hudson, which, thankfully, is only about six miles from home.

    Interests? Do I have time for those? Lets see...

    First: Jesus. Period. 'Nuff said!

    Then, in no particular order:
    • Programming-- pretty much anything, sometimes with the boss sanding over my shoulder, when something isn't working.
    • Music-- Been on the church worship team for going on ten years now. It provides a good outlet and emotional pick-me-up so I don't go around Gibbs-smacking people. (The Gibbs-smack is an oblique reference to NCIS, in case you were wondering)
    • Astronomy-- Unlike Amanda, I only got one scope. Okay, two, but the other one is the one I've had since I was eight, it's pretty beat up, no motors, and full of sentimental value.
    • Poilitics-- only in a real roundabout way. No interest in really running for anything, but it's kinda like watching people at the mall. You just shake your head and move on.
    • Trying to get my daughters interested in the same sort of stuff. I've got hopes for the nine-year-old. The fifteen-year-old... well, let's just say she's discovered boys...
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-11-15 04:55
    Chicago, software quality; that's the software development life cycle process. I'm the referee between management, engineering, and test, and represent the customer's interest.
    I use forth for teaching little kids about technology by building robots.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-11-15 05:40
    Taiwan, as you already mentioned above.

    Projects. Right now it is all about learning Forth on the Propeller. I am not so much a builder as a reader and enjoy learning. It is rather difficult to build things as I live in a small place in Taiwan and parts are not easily gotten on the level that they are in the USA.

    Experience with Basic Stamps, SX Chips, the Propeller, and other items that are non-Parallax. I like CANbus a lot and I'd say my most interesting creation was a board to control start up and stopping of daily air cooling for a pig farm in Northern Thailand that used bio-methane from the pig waste to power a Nisan truck motor adapted to driving huge fans that blow air across a wall that drips water. That had inputs for humidity and temperature monitoring (dew point becomes an issue) and real time clock that adjusts the on/off periods to the time of day and season of the year. This wasn't discussed here as it depended on a non-Parallax uC and a competitor's product. A pair of relays was set up to toggle ignition of the auto motor and to turn over the starter motor. All this ran off the 12VDC car battery as there was not AC mains available.

    Another interest was monitoring green house climate and ambient light for orchid growers in Taiwan with data recording and periodic reports sent via email to an off site computer.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2012-11-15 05:46
    Near Harrisburg PA (yes the city that is bankrupt but won't admit it).

    Bean
  • JLockeJLocke Posts: 354
    edited 2012-11-15 06:23
    Austin, TX. I mess around with Propeller projects, mostly for stuff around the house, or whatever interests me. Sometimes I buy stuff just 'cause it looks neat to play with, then try to find a 'practical' use. ("But honey, I can use it for... ")!
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2012-11-15 06:29
    Previously from Lewisburg, WV, but now I'm a student at UIUC in Urbana, IL.

    Interests? Electronics, programming, and anything related to that. I love to invent and build things, so I often just build anything that comes to mind. I don't have any specific category that I stick to.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-11-15 06:35
    I forgot other interests.....which could explain a lot!

    in no particular order:
    Photography - Digital as well as film (yes, you can still get film and the tools to process it with! :smile:) Which of course includes vintage cameras of all types.
    Woodworking - temporary hiatus while my workshop is deconstructed and relocated. I really enjoy turning wood on a lathe and making pens and such small things.
    Stained glass - it's a simple road to relaxation that lets you play with light and color. It's fun to see how intricate a curve you can cut into a sheet of glass before you whimp out and use a grinder.
    Astronomy - old and rusty skills but I have a nice 10" primary mirror in a box ready to be built into a telescope.
    Learning - I'm just naturally curious which leads to distraction which leads to poor time management which leads to frustration which leads to the dark side......
    History - Why are things as they are, why did things happen as they did and why weren't the entire stories told.
    Military History - people have always fought and always will -
    Reading - fueled by all of the above.

    The one thing I really have no interest in is my paying profession. Sad but true, it's a means ($$) to an end.
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2012-11-15 08:28
    South of Malaysia on an island that happens to be a country called Singapore....
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2012-11-15 08:35
    MacTuxLin wrote: »
    South of Malaysia on an island that happens to be a country called Singapore....

    I'm your next door neighbour, but not living in Johore. I'm staying in the Kuala Lumpur suburbs. :)
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2012-11-15 08:58
    Oh yeah, I remembered you John but I had the impression you're in Indonesia, my memory needs to be de-fragmented ...
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