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Forrest Mimms Has Done Much More Than Most Engineers Know (hackaday.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the seeing-the-forrest-for-the-trees dept.

szczys writes: If you've been anywhere near the field of electronic design, the name Forrest Mimms (the 3rd) is familiar. He wrote the book on electronics, and is heavily associated with the publications found in every Radio Shack. His entire life has been one prolific science experiment after another, which is why the title of Citizen Scientist fits so perfectly. For example, he invented and has used on a daily basis a device to measure ozone in the atmosphere. It worked so well he discovered and reported a calibration error in NASA's measurements, which are made with satellites.

5 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Not that Radio Shack, the OTHER Radio Shack... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Radio Shack that the summary is referring to is your granddaddy's Radio Shack, where overpriced electronic parts, kits and tools were available just around the corner. If you had a battery card, you could pick up a free 9-volt battery every month for your transistor radio.

    1. Re:Not that Radio Shack, the OTHER Radio Shack... by p51d007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Last winter, we had need for a replacement electrolytic cap for the driver board on a hall effect motor on a gear drive assembly, since the old one had a bad design. I walked into a RS store (city population around 200,000). I told him I needed a 100uf 25v electrolytic capacitor. The teenage looking (to me) genius looked back at me, like I was talking a different language. "Back in the day" (early 70's), say the same thing in an RS, and they would walk you right to it, probably ask you what you were using it for, discuss circuits, talk about electronics, ham radio (since I am one), SW radio and all sorts of things. Now, the only thing they know are phones, phone cases and the like.

    2. Re:Not that Radio Shack, the OTHER Radio Shack... by Dog-Cow · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd stare too, if a ham radio entered my store and asked me a question.

  2. I consider Mims a mentor by srone · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was introduced to Forrest Mim's books, by browsing through a Radio Shack about 1974. I was into model rocketry and trying to learn basic electronics at the time and found his material very instructive. I consider him a gift to anyone trying to gain insight in electronics, from the level of a hobbyist all the way to a professional.

    --
    "Endeavour to persevere"
  3. Re:It is Mims, not Mimms by lowen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Whether or not you believe in young-earth creationism or intelligent design has nothing to do with your aptitude in non-biology sciences and in engineering. I know a number of rather bright electronics and computer folk who are also YE creationists.