Mark Frederick

I drink coffee and build high tech embedded systems. I'm the CTO at MākuSafe - making the world safer through technology and data.

[VCF Southwest @vcfsouthwest]

Before SIMMs and DIMMs, there was ferrite core memory. Join us at #VCFSW to see a vintage core memory module in action and learn about this technology: https://t.co/rgTb4JRsgr

[Mustafa @oprydai]

build a home lab.

not for aesthetics.
not for content.
for capability.

→ a table becomes a workstation
→ a room becomes a systems environment
→ your house becomes a prototype factory

start minimal:

→ power supply
→ multimeter
→ soldering iron
→ breadboards + wires
→ a microcontroller (arduino / esp32)

this is enough to:

→ read signals
→ control hardware
→ break things and understand why

then layer complexity:

→ sensors (imu, gps, cameras)
→ motors (dc, servo, stepper)
→ embedded compute (raspberry pi)
→ fabrication (3d printer, cnc)

now you are not learning.
you are building systems.

home lab changes the feedback loop:

idea → build → fail → debug → rebuild
no permission. no waiting. no abstraction.

software alone lies to you.
hardware forces truth.

you will:

→ miswire circuits
→ burn components
→ chase noise in signals
→ debug at 3am

good.

this is where intuition forms.

over time:

→ your lab becomes organized chaos
→ parts turn into modules
→ modules turn into systems
→ systems turn into products

this is how engineers are made.

not courses.
not certificates.

iterations in a room full of tools.

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@oprydai

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@cherry_takuan I have a Sony Texteonix 318 and I love it! Such an amazing piece of digital computing equipment!!! Great work!

[Sokol @sokol_cc]

Macro shot of Hewlett-Packard 5082-7101, a vintage solid-state alphanumeric LED display module from the early 1970s. It’s part of HP’s 5082-7100 series of GaAsP LED displays, designed for rugged, IC-compatible applications like calculators, computers, military/aerospace equipment, and portable devices. It can be your wallpaper now

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@MehdiHacks I use long mountable power strips next to wire raceways. Then drill holes and 3D print through hole grommets to route wires onto my workspace. Hope that inspires you to come up with something even better!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@GinieSigonney SFO?

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@oldestasian Wait - is that flat gray or white? I really like that color…

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@cherry_takuan This is so great! You’ve done an amazing job on this!!!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@Sarahhuniverse More impressive is that he’s wearing a Nowthen Threshing Show T-shirt. My childhood is wrapped up in that town. Love this for that reason more than anything!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@EndWokeness I took a flight from JFK to London on a United flight - I’m basically the same as Charles Lindbergh… 🙄

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@dieworkwear @dieworkwear - I have a tremendous respect for you and how you contribute to the public discourse. I’m curious about your position on “how” we produce clothing? For example, is there an opportunity to lessen labor requirements by leveraging more advanced automation in the US?

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@histories_arch @archeohistories @grok is the image in this post really the original Motorola DynaTAC phone with Martin Cooper?

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@sokol_cc That display is magnificent!!!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@mattganis @ProsperoWinery That’s great! My helper is relaxing!! Ha!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@mattganis @ProsperoWinery Thanks for asking! All is good. Kids are growing up and we are grandparents now - hard to believe! Trusting all is well with you! Let’s have virtual coffee sometime - I would really enjoy that Matt! 😊👍

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@matty_323 @RiverRatOG @whazzhat @GichuhoMungai @elonmusk I see what you’re saying Matty - I guess I just think accountability can be a good thing - even if it’s not being administered in the best way. Thanks for the dialogue on this!

[Mark Frederick @mpfrederick]

@matty_323 @RiverRatOG @whazzhat @GichuhoMungai @elonmusk Hi Matty - my experience is high performing teams have a solid understanding of activities and have high levels of accountability. Asking someone to articulate their work after 40 hours isn’t unreasonable. My best teams have meetings to review this type of accountability weekly.

[Andrew McCarthy @AJamesMcCarthy]

Yesterday afternoon I captured a fleeting moment- the moment the ISS transited the moon. Despite being broad daylight, the ISS was clearly visible against the cratered terrain.

I captured it in conjunction with the lunar south pole where astronauts will soon return.