Redefining Mobile Computing: Calder-A

Two pictures side of by side of Calder-A, a hanging computer

[Update 06/01/04 - 22:45:59] — Calder-A has been turned into this.

Alexander Calder would have enjoyed this, but it was also basically useless.

After returning from my travels in Mexico and WaDC/NYC/Boston, I decided to finish Calder-A, a hanging computer.

Machine Specs

The frame specs are:

Oh yeah, in the right hand image above, the computer doesn't actually lean like that.

I kept everything as orthogonal as possible during the soldering process and it's just a trick of the webcam optics that produces the visual warp.

Prototype

I built the prototype when I was still living at university in Columbus, Ohio.

My cluttered desk in college with all sorts of electronics equipment, a monitor with Internet Explorer 6 running, a duck Beanie Baby, a stuffed Ham doll from Toy Story, a Coca Cola mug, some black and white photos on the wall, and a print of Rene Magritte's The Lovers The view of the hanging computer parts from standing level, there's a Handspring cradle visible, several stacks of burnable CD-R discs The view of the hanging computer parts from standing level, there's a Handspring cradle visible, several stacks of burnable CD-R discs A close up view of the hanging computer parts. In the background, a shelf full of books, and the Hellbender Archive computer A close up view of the hanging computer parts. In the background, a shelf full of books, and the Hellbender Archive computer

Final

Two long copper tubes which will be used to build the frame of the mobile construction A Bernzomatic propane torch, solder flux, solder, and copper joints and endcaps Cutting through the copper pipe using a pipe cutter Soldering the copper pipe using the propane torch, a view of the workbench in the basement A close up of a T-junction soldered together, in the background a copy of IEEE Spectrum magazine with the headline 'Sizing Us Up' A close up of cut copper tubing that was cleaned with steel wool and is ready to have solder flux applied A close up of the propane torch, burning at a low setting The T-junction soldered together, with the yellow coiled hose of an air compressor visible in the background Two T-junctions connected via another piece of copper tubing, which form the base of the stand One long piece of copper tubing which will plug into the base and point directly vertical into the air Filling the copper tubing of the base with BBs to weigh it down The base is totally full of BBs The vertical tubing is complete and now has a horizontal piece connected at the top with a carriage bolt for things to hang off of The full stand is now moved up to the attic room and can have items hung onto it, behind the stand is a painting by John Singer Sargent Two wire US English keyboards, both partially obscured at the left edge of the picture, and a Logitech wired mouse with the red glow of the sensor LED visible The PowerMac 7200 connected to the keyboard and mouse, a large monitor sits atop the computer and is on, and shining bright white The horizontal hanging connection pieces, with carriage bolt in place, on the basement workbench The finished horizontal hanging connection piece, soldered together, on the attic work table The full stand being soldered togehter in the basement, there were some added diagonal supports built with tubing added to reinforce the main vertical tube A glass mason jar filled with BBs which will be used as a counterweight The full stand being assembled in the basement, laying on its side being prepared for soldering The full stand being assembled in the basement, now standing up on its base The computer being reassembled in the attic workroom, with parts hanging off the main horizontal arms A glass mason jar, empty, with a 6 inch piece of one quarter inch rebar bolted into the lid with hex nuts and one inch washers. Next to the jar on the workbench is the chuck from a drill, a Black and Decker corded drill, a pair of pliers, and a spring-loaded clamp Another view of the worbench including a drill bit set with 24 drill bits in an orange plastic holder A view of the horizontal counterbalancing arm with two mason jar lids attached via 6 and 10 inch rebar segments The fully assembled hanging computer with one counterweight jar filled with pennies Another view of the fully assembled hanging computer in the attic workroom, with several green storage bins, and a Mexican flag made of cloth A close up view of the hanging computer's CD-ROM drive A view of the custom power, reset, and turbo single pole single throw switches mounted horizontally to a piece of wood, which is attached to the vertical stem of the computer A close up of all the parts of the computer, including power supply, motherboard, network and sound cards, hard disk, and CD-ROM drive

Framecaps

Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom Me working on Calder-A in the attic workroom