Filling small gaps in the case

[Binky]

Assuming that the Pyra will have a similar structure to the Pandora (that is all main hardware, including UI stuff on a single PCB  in the base, with a battery behind it) then there will end up being gaps, such as those between the smaller external connectors and the battery compartment,  or near areas of the PCB where only the thinnest components are used.

I suggest (and I appreciate that this could be classed as 'silly')  that some of these gaps should be filled with the kind of tool found in the end panels of penknives. That is:

• small ballpoint pens
• tweezers
• toothpick
• tiny screwdrivers
• etc

I can't imagine this would be particularly expensive once a usable design were found - but it might be rather fiddly to get right. Or swamped by patents.

Anyway, I thought I'd throw that out there

 

[zonova]

I'm not sure about ballpoint pens, as they would run out of ink and then just sort of sit there and be useless. THough, I think a small screwdriver that would match the screws on the Pyra would be really cool.Also maybe like a place for a lanyard, if it was well made

 

[Grench]

I'm not sure about ballpoint pens, as they would run out of ink and then just sort of sit there and be useless. THough, I think a small screwdriver that would match the screws on the Pyra would be really cool.Also maybe like a place for a lanyard, if it was well made

Shhh - don't tell anyone because they're all in denial about it.  The current Pandora has a lanyard hole in the lower center of the back panel.  It works great.  Go to any hardware or sporting goods store.  Buy a $5 or less flashlight with a wrist strap on it.  Take the wrist strap off the flashlight and install it on the Pandora.  It works great.

As for the screwdriver idea - that implies that everyone should be ready at a moments notice to disassemble the thing and fix it on their own.  It might have the effect of back-firing and implying that the Pyra isn't robust.

 

[_wb_]

Swiss army knife Pyra. Why not?

 

[Grench]

Swiss army knife Pyra. Why not?

Because the US's TSA would confiscate it.

 

[_wb_]

Good point. But I wouldn't include an actual knife, just things like a pencil / ballpoint pen / screwdriver. And make them removable.

 

[zonova]

Grench, that implication might happen if the Pyra becomes Huge all of a sudden, though I don't think that it will. People often make mods to the Pandora. At the least, it would let people tighten up the case when they get it. ED's work is great, but not perfect, and there have been reports of a hinge or a piece of the case feeling wobbly. I think it would be cool if people could just tighten it. I'm actually not really sure what impression it would give, but I don't think it necessarily has to be a negative one. A lot of modders/"hackers" would be drawn to the Pandora, so it could fit right with the theme

 

[slaeshjag]

Although, if you fill every little space inside the case, there won't be room for any mods or hacks

 

[moz]

I reckon any space should be padded so it feels solid, but easily removable for any mods or hacks..

 

[zonova]

How about a laser pointer? Now wouldn't that be the shit

 

[FBnil]

There is this space, the size of a chewinggum above the speaker, protected by the bezel. You can also hold some nails in that space.

I use chewing gum to keep the case together, but sometimes it is time to kick ass or chew bubblegum.. this way I am never out of gum.

Is the stylus hollow? We could make it into an antenna you can pull and make longer, if the pyra has radio, that is.

Or hide a needle with curare in it.

edit:

xiongxioi uses a little mirror. It's super reflective!

 

[xiongxioi]

I can use a little mirror. But we can just make Pyra's case super reflective. 

 

[Grench]

If there is spare space &/or voids, I can think of device hardware to fill them.

IR blaster

IR receiver

laser thermometer (laser pointer too)

barometer/altimeter

telescoping wifi yagi (100 meter WiFi anyone?)

The catch - the more we add the more complex it becomes the longer it takes etc...

 

[FBnil]

I like these, but they are expensive: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10530

Details: https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/Magneto/HMC5843.pdf

In that category, there is this other one:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10937

As for Radio, this is a world receiver (I really would want a transmitter too, but alas, those require special licenses for each country and such.):

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11737

Look around, there is much more:

https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/23

And here you have the size, for the camera, for example: 6mm

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8667

If we could get maybe, interface boxes for these things:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10138

 

[Neelix]

Am I the only one thinking that it's nice to actually have available space within the case to allow extra hardware to be hacked in?   If you fill up all the remaining space inside the case with supports designed to hold all this extra crap in place, there'll be nowhere for hardware hackers to add their own bits and pieces...

- Neelix

 

[FBnil]

Of course not! We just have the hope they can cram an extra chip on the board...

 

[Binky]

Things wired up to circuit boards are more restricted in position than those that aren't...

 

[_wb_]

Am I the only one thinking that it's nice to actually have available space within the case to allow extra hardware to be hacked in?   If you fill up all the remaining space inside the case with supports designed to hold all this extra crap in place, there'll be nowhere for hardware hackers to add their own bits and pieces...

- Neelix

Can't hardware hacks just start with "take out the pen and screwdriver and the bits of plastic that keep them in place"?

It would be nice to design the extra bits in such a way that it is easy to remove them without damaging the main unit, but other than that, I don't think it's a good idea to have empty spaces just for potential hardware hacks. You could just as well argue that the everything has to be padded with 5mm of empty space (making the unit 1cm larger in each dimension) to make life easier for hardware hackers.

How many people are even interested in hardware hacking? As far as I can tell, only a dozen people or so, which is less than 1% of us.

 

[Neelix]

I'm not saying you should make the case bigger just to add empty space,  I just don't see any reason to fill up what spaces exist with crap.   Besides, which most of the items suggested are things you'd want to be able to easily remove without having to crack the unit open,  so it wouldn't just be 'remove the screwdriver holder'  it would be 'remove the screwdriver holder and find some way to plug the gaping hole in the case.'

- Neelix

 

[slaeshjag]

Pyra needs an extendable bottle opener