Recent content by Algr

I agree that if "two" isn't a word in binary, then "ten" would not be a word in English. I don't like the idea that the "correct" way of speaking one base would be to convert it to another. So the options to speak 102 are: - Ten - Two - One oh. - Beep Bip. I think context matters. If you...

If you story needs big infrastructure on Earth, then I don't think you are going to find anything less "magic" than a space elevator. Since this is an established idea in both fiction and real science, you'll be able to avoid getting into too much detail about how it works. This is a very good...

Well if you did, you wouldn't be here talking about it. Now I've got 120/240 volts in mind. This is actually more complex than it sounds. You can't just add an extra pin and connector, because universal devices would have to connect to both, adding complexity. Do 240v devices get damaged...

At what point does it stop being a camera and become a telescope?

Taken about 40 minutes ago.

Also because sometimes the people in early photos were... dead. Post-mortem photography.

Pets. I think most US houses have 2 phase, not three phase. That is why the Tesla charging port works like it does. Just a thought: The 12v network is NOT connected to the internet by default. Each device has to manually ask your router for access, and then the homeowner decides to allow...

Could be. A wider right with a more gentle bulge would allow thousands of inserts before wearing out. Also, these bulges provide some resistance to the plug pulling out, so that the pins don't need to apply too much friction. Is there a safety issue with making a plug too difficult to remove...

Here we go. I'm not sure if these areas are properly called "rings" when the plug is not round, but this is the term I found in my search. We can prevent the rings from connecting ground and neutral together by having the insulation rings bulge outward from the pin. That way when the plug is...

Lots if interesting info, thank you! I see how this makes sense for Ethernet and RJ-11, since these standards were not built with this situation in mind. But a standard designed from the start to integrate data with power ought to be safe, as all the products would be built with shields to...

I confess. I just didn't _want_ to remember what the brown note did.

Measurements of weight or sound come to mind.

Uh oh. I was aware of the contact, but didn't know it was a problem. Back to work, I guess. I guess that is why home ethernet never took off? There are networks that use the AC wires themselves to transmit data, so presumably if a networking standard is designed to be run this way, it would...

It's about the size of a 1/4" headphone jack, so a toddler's finger would not fit. Also, the tip of the hot pin inside the socket (not shown) would be non-conductive. A fuse could be added by making the handle a bit larger. We have these in the US, but I've only ever seen them on christmas...

When you insert it, the ground would momentarily touch the neutral and the data pin before grounding the device, but would still connect before the hot wire. (So maybe the pin closest to the handle ought to cary data instead?). For clarity, I drew the internal metal visible in the hole, but it...