iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I missed these when JLCPCB announced it - so as I'm late to the party, would love to see creative and beautiful PCBs people have made with it (or similar services) jlcpcb.com/blog/multi-c...

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 31/10/2024

There are fun days at work, then there are "building a magic-wand controlled pumpkin" days at work :D

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 26/09/2024

The 'images' section in 'advanced' has a neat `show image` block. #MakeCode has a built-in 400ms delay in `basic➡️show leds` and `show icon`, but it's configurable with `images➡️show image`. Plus images can be in arrays... enough to make your heart beat faster. #microbit #faveblocks #TeamCompSci

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

I think my favourite change in the 2024 #MakeCode release for #microbit is one of the tiniest: make the border colour lighter/stand-out when blocks of the same colour are nested. Makes reading complex block maths so much easier 😃. All the changes at makecode.com/blog/microbi... #TeamCompSci

New MakeCode blocks with clearer highlighting on the blocks for compound expressions

Old MakeCode blocks, harder to read and see order of operations

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 29/08/2024

Any folks in #TeamCompSci tried using the #microbit Python Editor for more general #Python teaching, rather than "micro:bit first" stuff? With the simulator and the REPL you've got a browser-based REPL and some interesting possible inputs. Works with micro:bit Classroom too.

A picture of the microbit Python Editor showing the following code, as well as a REPL that's been used to interact with the code.

# Imports go at the top
from microbit import *

name = input('What is your name? ')
print('Hello', name)

if temperature() > 25:
temp = "hot"
else:
temp = "cold"

temp_response = input(name + " are you " + temp + "? ")

while True:
display.scroll(temp_response)

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 29/08/2024

This week, a more playful one for the #microbit #faveblocks: I love the "free fall" gesture (click on 'shake' dropdown). This micro:bit is deploying an umbrella as a parachute when it is falling ☂️🪂. (Under the hood this just checks the magnitude of acceleration is below a threshold.) #TeamCompSci

An image showing how to get to the 'Freefall' gesture in MakeCode and a sample showing the micro:bit showing an umbrella when free fall is detected.

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 22/08/2024

This week, `map`: Great for scaling physical input into the right ranges for micro:bit output - here's a super simple spirit level. Ideal if the maths/scaling part might be a distraction from the lesson and you want to focus more on the making or the output. #microbit #faveblocks.

The map block in Microsoft MkeCode, with a picture of the MakeCode simulator displaying a simple spirit level program. Code is: basic.forever(function () {
basic.clearScreen()
led.plot(Math.map(input.acceleration(Dimension.X), -900, 900, 0, 4), 2)
})

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 15/08/2024

You can swap in the function used to play 'tones' in #MakeCode for #microbit! Replace those robotic tones - your ears will thank you. The API is in Javascript, so I've exposed it in my (personal) pxt-musichelpers extension: github.com/jaustin/pxt-... eg makecode.microbit.org/_RMjhmMh2zTyq

MakeCode screenshot showing modifying the PlayTone function and playing 'happy birthday' with a better tone

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

The #clickskeyboard superpower I haven't heard mentioned yet is that if you swap "Globe" for "Control" you can use Ctrl+f/b/n/p for moving the cursor forward, backwards, down and up. Also a whole range of other useful shortcuts support.apple.com/en-gb/102650... - Ctrl+D for delete (not backspace)

Screenshot showing "Modifier Keys" settings in iOS with the Globe Key mapped to Control key

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 10/06/2024

Here's an awesome thing from the desk of fediscience.org/@johnvidler - we've been working on improving accessibility of micro:bit in both hw and sw. This prototype add-on is one avenue. Please shout if you'd like to test it or know people who will be able to - johnvidler.co.uk/blog/the-acc...

A BBC micro:bit and a new 'access:bit' add on that allows plugging assistive switches in

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 28/05/2024

Today I'm prepping for our #emfcamp workshop - trying to decide which messages birds might send to each other ("cat!", "hawk!") and how many pipe cleaners 30 children need to make birds! www.emfcamp.org/schedule/202... for the curious :D

A BBC micro:bit and some pipe cleaner birds for the activity

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

🚀🔭One of these boxes on SpaceX-29 contained a micro:bit! It's going to spend some time on the ISS with Andreas Mogensens www.dr.dk/skole/ultrab... as part of the DR ultra:bit project!

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 13/11/2023

Also had these things we called "ears" next to the buttons that let you connect jumper wires directly to the micro:bit. Super useful for prototyping. Also nice for connecting boards together!

micro:bit V2 prototype connected to an external board.

two micro:bit V2s connected together with a 2x2 2.45" header pin

a 2x2 2.54" pin header with jumpers, lined up next to some holes in a micro:bit V2 PCB

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 13/11/2023

Dug out the old micro:bit V2 prototypes that had been buried since we packed the office up for COVID. I think my favourite thing about this particular board is the experiment to use the piezo speaker 'in reverse' as a cheaper alternative to a MEMS microphone.

a prototype micro:bit V2 with flywires connected

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 13/11/2023

Here's how those "ears" (little holes by the buttons) 'worked'. It was a fun experiment - would like to try on future boards!

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Jonny Austin @jonnya.bsky.social · 13/11/2023

Here's the very first micro:bit V2 prototype. It's from Jan 2017 (!) and had loads of things we chose not to ship in the end, like R/G LEDs, "ears" next to the buttons for connecting other boards or cheaply connecting jumper cables. It also had an attempt to use the piezo speaker as a microphone.

prototype BBC micro:bit with flywires connected for bring-up

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