Tag Archives: Python

CCS811 indoor air quality sensor on a micro:bit

I was clearing out my toolbox of gubbins the other day and discovered an inexpensive CCS811 air quality sensor I’d bought ages ago and never done anything with. These are small sensors that measure Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and can … Continue reading

Posted in microbit | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Simple machine learning abstraction for kids

Update: this also works on a BBC micro:bit, scroll down to find out more! There are some great resources for teaching machine learning to kids, but I’ve noticed a lot of them rely on some magic happening in the cloud, … Continue reading

Posted in computers, education, microbit | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The distraction of distraction-free word processors

I’m currently not writing at least three books. At least one of them, I am convinced, is an amazingly good idea. I’ve written a dozen chapters, at least one of which doesn’t make me cringe when I read it back, … Continue reading

Posted in computers, literature, lowendmac, Raspberry Pi | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Make a simple calculator with guizero & Python

Making your own apps, even simple ones, with a GUI still seems to be surprisingly tricky, and this makes it hard to teach, especially if you want to build an app that will run standalone, or near-standalone, on a real … Continue reading

Posted in computers | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Read a PS/2 keyboard on a BBC micro:bit

What you’ll learn That computer keyboards aren’t just switches – they need power to make them work They comprise a matrix of buttons connected in rows and columns Computers don’t read your keypresses directly – the keyboard contains a circuit … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments