Technology Connections

MP3 CDs: a hybrid "format" that never existed, yet was surprisingly common

Published on 2024-10-16 | Archived on 2024-10-16

Duracell PowerCheck: A genius idea which didn't last that long

Published on 2024-10-08 | Archived on 2024-10-08

Thermoelectric cooling: it's not great.

Published on 2024-09-22 | Archived on 2024-09-30

Induction cooking - but what about woks?

Published on 2024-08-31 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Door closers: ubiquitous, yet unloved and often maladjusted

Published on 2024-08-22 | Archived on 2024-10-11

Passive infrared motion sensors: a two-bit camera powered by crystals

Published on 2024-07-25 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Awnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot about

Published on 2024-07-15 | Archived on 2024-07-23

The Numitron: An obvious idea that wasn't very bright

Published on 2024-07-01 | Archived on 2024-07-05

Your dishwasher is better than you think (tips, tricks, and how they work)

Published on 2024-06-11 | Archived on 2024-06-14

Tilting, taking turns, and winning free games: the many tricks inside old pinball machines

Published on 2024-05-27 | Archived on 2024-06-14

The simple, clever sensor behind automatic windshield wipers

Published on 2024-04-29 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Simmerstats: The genius old tech that controls your stovetop

Published on 2024-04-24 | Archived on 2024-06-14

Bright from the Start: GE's CFL with an incandescent trick up its sleeve

Published on 2024-04-01 | Archived on 2024-06-14

Old HVAC industry practices are holding us back and costing us money. But we can fix it.

Published on 2024-03-07 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Flash photography used to be pretty wild

Published on 2024-02-02 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The step-by-step, mechanical logic of old pinball machines

Published on 2023-12-29 | Archived on 2024-10-22

LED Christmas lights still annoy me. Let's try some more fixes.

Published on 2023-11-30 | Archived on 2024-10-22

What's the deal with the popcorn button?

Published on 2023-11-21 | Archived on 2024-10-10

The Clapper: Yes, that one.

Published on 2023-11-18 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Back-up beepers: Obnoxious, but getting better - and spreading!

Published on 2023-11-05 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Old pinball machines are amazingly complex

Published on 2023-10-14 | Archived on 2024-10-21

Power outlets are topsy turvy - but does it matter?

Published on 2023-09-26 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Photoelectric light controls are weirder than they seem

Published on 2023-08-26 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Tesla won the plug war - and that's good news!

Published on 2023-08-11 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Longer-lasting light bulbs: it was complicated

Published on 2023-07-16 | Archived on 2024-10-22

This goofy fridge has a really clever design. It's also kinda terrible.

Published on 2023-06-26 | Archived on 2024-01-22

Digital audio needed videotape to be possible - and the early days were wild!

Published on 2023-06-09 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Electric cars prove we need to rethink brake lights

Published on 2023-05-25 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Sony Betacam: Not the Beta you're thinking of (it's way better)

Published on 2023-05-09 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Contactors: how we power the big stuff

Published on 2023-04-24 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Plug-n-play solutions for home electrification, and options for power outages (Part 2)

Published on 2023-03-30 | Archived on 2024-10-22

How do vinyl records hold stereo sound?

Published on 2023-03-24 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Home Electrification: There's not a lot to do, and it doesn't have to be hard (Part 1)

Published on 2023-03-05 | Archived on 2024-10-22

A simple water heater is more clever than it seems

Published on 2023-02-10 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Timer switches: literally just a clock and a switch

Published on 2023-01-25 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Movies made sound with a light bulb: Sound-on-film

Published on 2022-12-25 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The decorative lamp that's built wrong on purpose

Published on 2022-12-12 | Archived on 2024-10-22

In Defense of the Switched Outlet

Published on 2022-11-28 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The clever camera code on rolls of film

Published on 2022-11-20 | Archived on 2024-10-22

This TV gadget censors bad words with 1980's tech

Published on 2022-11-09 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Old car headlights were all the same — which was a fairly bright idea

Published on 2022-10-16 | Archived on 2024-10-22

This 1960's camera is powered by light and completely automatic

Published on 2022-09-27 | Archived on 2024-10-22

A Complete Beginner's Guide to Electric Vehicles

Published on 2022-09-09 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Drip Coffee Makers — super simple, super cheap

Published on 2022-08-11 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The correcting feature of typewriters is not what I thought

Published on 2022-08-02 | Archived on 2024-10-22

There are two types of smoke alarm. One of 'em ain't so good.

Published on 2022-07-08 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Is Philips discontinuing their coolest warmest product?

Published on 2022-06-22 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Why don't Americans use electric kettles?

Published on 2022-06-01 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The tech which can charge an electric car in 10 minutes

Published on 2022-05-13 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The Autochrome; Color photos? Just add potatoes.

Published on 2022-04-26 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Heat Pumps are Not Hard: Here's what it will take to start pumping

Published on 2022-04-13 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Why Heat Pumps are Immensely Important Right Now

Published on 2022-03-26 | Archived on 2024-10-22

A troubling trend in lighting?

Published on 2022-03-04 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Lessons from a Can Opener

Published on 2022-01-14 | Archived on 2024-10-22

A Backwards Camera in a Dark Room - Photographic Printing

Published on 2021-12-17 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Once again I attempt to add polish to LED holiday lights

Published on 2021-11-30 | Archived on 2024-10-22

This digital piano has some very clever controls

Published on 2021-11-20 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Making Film Reveal its Image: the B&W Development Process (Photography Part 2)

Published on 2021-11-05 | Archived on 2024-10-22

The Birth of Photography: Drawing With Light (and silver iodide)

Published on 2021-10-23 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Holey Plugs, Batman! But... what are they for?

Published on 2021-10-09 | Archived on 2024-10-22

Why do hurricane lanterns look like that?

Published on 2021-06-16 | Archived on 2024-04-18

Perhaps the weakest link in the US electrical system

Published on 2021-05-30 | Archived on 2024-06-15

Laptop Docks! They're pretty neat!

Published on 2020-06-29 | Archived on 2024-10-11

Flexplay: The Disposable DVD that Failed (Thankfully)

Published on 2019-04-28 | Archived on 2024-01-01

LED Printers: The Common Printing Tech You Haven't Heard Of

Published on 2018-09-19 | Archived on 2024-07-31

DVD: The Death Knell of Laserdisc

Published on 2018-03-19 | Archived on 2024-09-29