LittleBits: Easy way to get started with electronics

Re:LittleBits: Easy way to get started with electronics by xerophtye on Thursday November 07, 2013 @04:23AM (#6688460)

Just checked em out, they look pretty cool! Are you sure they aren't still in the market? I mean didn't you check the manufacturer's site? (i cant cuz it's in japanese and google services don't work in my office) but i did manage to find a blog post[1] about them from 2 years ago.

[1]http://threestepsoverjapan.blogspot.com/2011/12/gakken-kit-3...

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Re:LittleBits: Easy way to get started with electronics by fit2rule on Thursday November 07, 2013 @04:31AM (#6688488)

Yeah, they re-released the EX150 series .. I have one of the new ones, but I really prefer the older kits that were released in the 70's and 80's - the synth component, for example was pretty badass. (Sorry I didn't make it clear that I was an Ebay junky looking for the older kits..)

I suppose its irrelevant these days; I could just wire up my own new Denshi blocks with ease, and it'd be a good reason to polish up my Japanese .. there is a thriving Denshi culture, but it seems to have withdrawn into Japan.

For some reason Denshi blocks never caught on out in the West; but I think - as we see with this new-school effort - there are still tinkerers out there who yearn for such modularity. In the case of Denshi in the 70's, I think it was more that kids just lost the blocks too easily. Magnets help, I guess!

EDIT: Exploring the subject a little more, I realize that in fact Denshi blocks are thriving in Japan .. in fact look at this great picture:

http://otonanokagaku.net/feature/vol27/0ku8jv00000006xr-img/...

I now have a reason for a 3d printer. :) (Another one, anyway)

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