I'm thinking that this is actually a GOOD problem to have.

It seems much more acceptable these days to be a=20
software/electronics/robotics/whatever geek.  So acceptable, in fact,=20
that other kids with simply idle curiosity are stopping by to take a=20
look because it's no longer as uncool as it once was. I'm actually a bit=20
jealous at how easy it is to play with this stuff for kids now.=20
Robot/lego leagues everywhere... the Internet for ideas... Sparkfun, etc=20
for parts...

I expressed an interest in electronics to my parents when I was 9 or 10.=20
Not being technical, they asked my uncle what to do... he said the one=20
tool any electronics person needs most is an oscilloscope. So... they=20
bought a Heathkit Oscilloscope kit for me to build and left me=20
completely alone to attempt it.  After soldering on parts for a few=20
days, I figured I was making enough mistakes that there was no way it=20
was going to work... and I didn't want to kill myself trying to plug it=20
into an AC outlet....  so I gave up on electronics and I didn't really=20
look back for almost two decades.

I don't think that's as much of a problem these days.


Darron Black


On 5/20/13 4:26 PM, IVP wrote:
>> Arduinos seem to be ubiquitous because they're really good at
>> what they do... making entry level electronics easy. Use that,
>> don't resent it.
> Didn't intend to come across as snippy. Arduino is a good tool
>
> I'm mosty just disappointed that the enthusiasm and/or imagination
> for adding a couple of LEDs or sensors to one and calling it a
> "project" doesn't seem to extend much further than that
>
> Maybe it's engineering/workshop resources that are lacking. I'll
> have to look into that
>
> Joe

--=20
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