Teen Security: S.H.A.R.K.
When I was an early teen, the issue of security was of paramount concern to me. Not computer, social, national, or even homeland security. No, it was Room Security. My room. The one in the basement. The mostly unfinished basement that smelled like concrete and pine 2×4’s. I wanted to build an early detection system for parents. I called it S.H.A.R.K.. It began simply enough with some parts from Radio Shack: Some infrared diodes, a relay or two, and a piezo electric speaker. I had a lot of time for this project, and naturally the system requirements exploded. I didn’t really see it that way at the time (thankfully), but I ended up drawing master plans for a general purpose computer. While not yet introduced to Alan’s machines, I knew S.H.A.R.K. needed memory and some sort of execution system. I envisioned a tape with rows, each where a hole could be cut. Through a hole light would cause a relay to trip, closing some circuit that was paramount to Room Security and the prevention of unannounced parental intrusion (UPI). See the tape allowed me to have a modular, dynamic approach to security. Swap in a fresh roll and have a brand new security strategy. Brilliant. Kind of like programming, or modular hardware, or..well BUG. Sadly my imaginations never actually worked in practice, but I had a bunch of wires in a shoebox and it did something.
This week I have the honor of speaking on Bug’s behalf at Maker Faire. I’m a huge fan of the publication and when reading it get the same stimulating, awesome feeling of creating that I did when S.H.A.R.K. was fresh in my mind. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the freaky cool things people are doing, and hope BUG makes a few people smile.
