Hardware Hacking In The WSJ

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Posted by timothy on Wednesday September 8, 2004 @01:38AM from the it's-been-in-low-rider-for-years dept.

NaDrew writes "The Wall Street Journal has an interesting piece called "So Your Roomba Vacuums ... Does It Also Take Pictures?" (No reg. req.), profiling a couple of hardware hackers. Phillip Torrone has modified a laptop-brained robot to follow his Segway, which he is modifying to follow a pink ball. He's also modded his Roomba with a built-in Webcam. The article goes into a bit of the history of hardware hacking, from the CueCat to Andrew 'Bunnie' Huang's Xbox hacks."

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FIRST FISH! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 01:42 · Score: -1, Offtopic

I AM A FISH!
He's also modded his Roomba with a built-in Webcam by plaid747 · 2004-09-08 01:43 · Score: -1, Offtopic

So this is how they caught Martha Stewart
Re:My Roomba doesn't take pictures by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 01:47 · Score: -1, Offtopic

-5 Troll.

Read the article, dumbass.
Roomba Cam? by grunt107 · 2004-09-08 01:51 · Score: -1, Offtopic

I don' wanna know that that thing is sucking up.
Re:Eek by Michael+Dorfman · 2004-09-08 01:52 · Score: -1, Offtopic

I'd like a Gmail invite--

send link to Michael_Junk@hotmail.com
OMG Grandparent doesn't succumb to groupthink! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 01:52 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Must mod down as Troll! OMGWTF!

Seriously, this is an open forum. If dissenting opinions can't be tolerated because they don't fit the groupthink of the board, do you think that you can truly claim this website as an 'open forum'?

I can hear the responses now... "You must be new here"...

But seriously, hacking is cool insofar as it begets new and cooler technologies. This is why Perl and Unix were such cool hacks. Python and PHP to a lesser degree. On the flip side you end up with people who are so afraid of Big Brother that they decide to put cameras in everything so that they can monitor Big Brother when there really isn't anything to monitor.

Is it wrong to want these crackpots driven out of the geek community? Maybe on Slashdot it is right, but in the interest of a Free Society it is important to rid ourselves of these pariahs that do nothing but de-legitamize the geek community.
Re:Eek by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 01:56 · Score: -1, Offtopic

sent invite - enjoy!
Re:I'm in the wrong line of work. by precogpunk · 2004-09-08 01:57 · Score: 0, Offtopic

Last I heard she worked for Microsoft, but who knows if she got in early enough to make a million on stock options.
Re:Eek by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 02:02 · Score: -1, Offtopic

please send invite - brad@munich.com
gentoo by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 02:06 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Just a quick community service announcement for anyone thinking about "trying" gentoo. My name is Alan. I first tried gentoo about 2 weeks ago. Over these past 2 weeks I've noticed that I have developed a steadily growing attraction towards men, and giving fellatio. I want to be free of this but now i can't stop, thanks gentoo!
Re:Eek by Rogue+Pat · 2004-09-08 02:40 · Score: 0, Offtopic

and invite patrickhendriks@hotmail.com
Frosyt Xpist by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 03:03 · Score: -1, Offtopic

of a 5olid Vdose
This FP, Lfor GNAA by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-08 04:44 · Score: -1, Offtopic

is 7he ultimate its readers and