DIY Life

We've reported on Bug Labs before. They make a sort of gadget LEGO system so you can easily build stuff like a GPS-enabled alarm clock. Not useful? Ask the guy who kept missing his train stop by falling asleep!

I spoke to Bug Labs founder Peter Semmelhack about what the company is up to, and how the future of DIY is shaping up.

We've mentioned Bug Labs before, and Engadget has regular updates, but this was too good and I had to share. Bug opened up their website to unveil a few of the hardware goodies you'll be able to plug together like the dreamiest LEGO set you ever imagined. The base of all this is an ARM processor with 128MB of RAM, wifi, USB, Ethernet and a tiny LCD with some buttons-- basically a nice little Linux computer. You can currently add a GPS, camera, touch-sensitive LCD or accelerometer to this base, but more items are coming soon, including a teleporter(?).

Of course, the hardware would be pretty useless without some software, but since it's Linux in the box, you can practically do as you wish. The hardware can be controlled via Java, but there are several other options, including an SDK code-named Dragonfly that'll provide a nifty interface for you codemonkeys out there.

The best part? They want beta testers willing to make this platform grow and flourish. Exciting times, as Bug has really opened the door to hardware that most hobbyists would have to spend a lot of time to get to talk to each other. I may need to dust off my anti-static wrist strap...

I remember growing up around Heathkits and TAB books. My dad was an electronics hobbyist, and I dreamt of robotic companions like K-9 scurrying around the house. Of course, we never built that army, but my lifelong dream of easily-sourced and rapidly-built robots and other gadgets just might become a reality if Bug Labs has their way.

You see, the problem with trying to make your own MP3 player or PDA is that there are scant few electronics interface standards. The chips of yesteryear were simple enough to talk to each other with relative ease. Today we've got a mishmash of manufacturers, and a lot more specialization. Interoperability is the stumbling block. What we really need is a sort of common language for electronics. Much like that the http protocol does to make all websites work and talk together. Bug Labs is hoping to create just such a lingua franca for electronics components. Imagine having a bunch of building blocks, like electronic LEGO's that you can connect together to make things work.

Will it be successful? Will you someday be able to make your own iPod? Only time and energy (and money) will tell. But I'm hoping Bug makes this a reality, because I still want a K-9 that can talk to my fridge.