technabob » etch a sketch

twist and shake: the etch-a-sketch laptop carrier

karen m. — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:27:08 +0000

You could carry your laptop around in a boring old bag, or you could be really cool and tote it in awesomely retro style with this Etch-A-Sketch laptop carrier.

Crafter Betz White made this one for her brother Roger’s birthday, so she called it a Rog-A-Sketch. The cool carrier is made from wool felt with Velcro closures and has button knobs that really turn.

I loved my Etch-A-Sketch when I was a kid, despite the fact that I could never actually draw anything non-geometric with it. Still, I want one of these for my laptop!

Note to Betz: please make more, add a strap, and put this baby on Etsy!

[via Craft:]

clock-a-doodle-doo: time telling magna doodle hack

technabob — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:00:54 +0000

This unique electromechanical clock is like a cross between a Magna Doodle and an Etch-a-Sketch.

Using a modified Magna Doodle as the basis for their display, the Clock-a-Doodle-Doo is the brainchild of a recent UCLA mechanical engineering class.

The clock uses a XY plotter-like mechanism to “draw” the current time by neatly arranging the magnetic particles with a mechanical pen. When it’s ready to change time, another mechanism pulls the “eraser” mechanism to release the particles and clear the magnetophoretic display. Each minute, it does the whole thing all over again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Ever wonder how a Magna Doodle really works? HowStuffWorks has deconstructed the gory innards of the mysterious magnetic device for your personal enrichment.

mario gets the etch-a-sketch treatment

technabob — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:26:55 +0000

You’ve gotta hand it to the Etch-A-Sketchist. The stuff he’s able to pull off with his little red sketch toy always blows my mind. One of his latest creations is everyone’s favorite little plumber, Mario.

Other recent drawings from the master of metallic filings include such pop icons as Hall and Oates, Master Chief, and the Don’t Tase Me ‘Bro dude. He’s even mocked up the interface to Adobe Photoshop using his etching skills.

Not a straight line among the bunch. I stand in awe.

look mr. bubbles, we’ve been etch-a-sketched

technabob — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:53:43 +0000

Given the fact that for my entire life, I’ve been completely incapable of drawing anything but some straight lines and the occasional stair step on an Etch-A-Sketch, this image simply blew my head off.

I was already duly impressed with the detail that artist the Etch-A-Sketchist has been able to squeak out of the little red and white drawing toy. But with his decision to (momentarily) immortalize Big Daddy and Little Sister in metallic powdery form, he’s become a real superstar in my book.

And just like the city of Rapture before it, this once beautiful work of art will eventually be lost.

[via CrunchGear]