Know How... 158

Intel's take on Microsoft's "Kinect" is called RealSense, Thermoelectric Cooling Basics, DIY Active Cooler, and a way to use Windows 10 Gestures on your MacBook.

Let's talk about Intel RealSense!

• It's Intel's take on Microsoft's "Kinect"
• It was developed primarily as a hardware implementation of "gesture-based" IO
• They just released their newest version of RealSense, the R200 and gave away units at one of the IDF sessions. (I wasn't able to get in. :( )

The new version uses a variety of tech

• A 2d camera for conventional image capture // an IR camera for depth perception // an IR laser projector
• A special Intel chip in the unit captures the 2D image, then uses the IR image to create a 3D image.

This enables a few interesting applications:

1. It gives you 22 tracking points per hand.
2. It allows for interesting camera tricks... like green-screen-less chroma keying. (Since it can scan for depth, you simply tell it not to include anything past a certain distance.)

TEC (Thermoelectric Cooling Basics)

A TEC is a solid-state device that uses the "Peltier Effect" to create a "heat flux" between two different materials, acting as a "heat pump" that transfers heat from one side of the device to the other.

You make a TEC by placing two semiconductors, made of different materials, physically parallel to one another, but electrically wired in series. You then attach each semiconductor to a thermally conductive plate. (Ceramic)

• You need two different semiconductors because you want two different electron densities
• When you charge the device (one semiconductor is postive, the other side is negative) you will get a flow of DC current across the junction between the two semiconductors
• As the current jumps across the junction, one side of the device will get hot, and the other side will get cold.
• (The heat from the cold side is transferred to the hot side... PLUS the heat generated by the current flowing across the junction.)

Advantages vs. Closed Cycle Refrigeration

• Small and simple (no moving parts)
• Long-lived (100,000+ hours)
• Cooling effect is easily regulated (by adjusting voltage)
• More durable (in most cases) than a refrigeration unit

Disadvantages vs. Closed Cycle Refrigeration

• Maximum heat difference of 70 degrees C (The cold side can be no colder than 70 degrees cooler than the hot side.)
• Inefficient. (10-15% vs. 40-60% for Closed Cycle Refrigeration)
• Efficiency drops as more heat is pushed through the TEC
• You can stack TECs to increase cooling potential, but you create an increasingly inefficient devices as you add more TECs.

Let's Identify our TEC!

• All Peltier Elements will have an ID stamped (usually) on the Hot Side of the element.
• For example "TEC1-12706" (These are the ones we're using for our project)
  • "TE" stands for "ThermoElectric)
  • "C" means "standard size" vs. "S" for "small size"
  • "1" indicates how many stages are in the device
  • "127" indicates how many P-N couples are in the device
  • "06" indicates how many amps the device is rated for

So... our TEC is a Standard 1-stage element with 127 positive-negative couples that can handle 6amps at 12 volts, or 72 Watts. Since our device is 10-15% effective, that 72 watts will get us less than 11 watts of cooling power.

Windows 10 Gestures on a Mac

Trackpad++

• Who’s this for? People running Windows on Mac
• The Problem, trackpad multi gestures don’t work on Windows 10.
• Apple's BootCamp does a great job of bringing over 90% of the drivers needed for Windows
• One of Windows 10’s best features is multiple desktops.
• Introducing Trackpad++, a 3rd party app that allows you to take advantage of multi finger gestures
• This is the closest thing you’ll get to a fully functional trackpad
• Installation is relatively simple but also a tad sketchy, you will need to also install Power Plan Assistant to bypass Microsofts digital signature policy for 64bit.
• Trackpad++ is “Donation-ware” which means you can use it for free, but it’ll will continue to ask you to update.
• If you like the software, i encourage you to pay the developer, dude needs to pay for a better website. May I suggest SquareSpace.
• Will work with Win7 through Win10
• Why use Windows 10? Everyone has their own reasons but I like to play Xbox Games on my laptop :P
• For Apple Magic Trackpad Users

Connect with us!

• Don't forget to check out our large library of projects at https://twit.tv/shows/know-how.
• Tweet at us at @PadreSJ, @Cranky_Hippo, and @Anelf3

Links

• Intel RealSense
• TrackPad++
• Extramagic for the Apple Magic Trackpad
• Hey Look the Most Nightmarish Idea for Plane Seating Ever