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Before pixels: Modular industrial dashboards

303 points · 59 comments · leephillips

  1. krige · · focus · HN ↗
    These very distinctly remind me of electric/electronic didactic "toys" from the at least 80s. Plastic cubes, containing a single (usually) circuit component, like switches, resistors, lights, coils, or just wire, with bare metal connectors on relevant sides and a symbol on top. You got a whole bag of them, as well as a gridded board you inserted the cubes into. Could make even usable stuff like simple radios.
    1. MomsAVoxell · · focus · HN ↗
      Denshi blocks:

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Denshi_block" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Denshi_block

      Still got mine, which has a synthesizer module that can be used for interesting experiments.

      In Japan the company made professional versions for students - they were a bit bigger and more robust, but the same basic concept.

      1. krige · · focus · HN ↗
        Not the one I had in mind, but very similar and definitely much cooler looking. The kits like these are still made and sold in various countries.
        1. ceejayoz · · focus · HN ↗
          One of my kiddos loved SnapCircuits. Similar, but more kid friendly.

          <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;elenco.com&#x2F;snapcircuits&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;elenco.com&#x2F;snapcircuits&#x2F;

          1. krige · · focus · HN ↗
            Went around the internets to find the one I thought of and while I can&#x27;t find it - doesn&#x27;t surprise me - it was something very much like a cross between Denshi Block (connectors) and Braun Lectron (aesthetics)

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;de.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Lectron" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;de.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Lectron

            1. jakzurr · · focus · HN ↗
              I like the readability of those.
            2. MomsAVoxell · · focus · HN ↗
              Gakken made Denshi variants, including one that looks a bit like the Lectron for students in Japan:

              <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.petervis.com&#x2F;electronics-lab&#x2F;denshi-block-series&#x2F;denshi-block.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.petervis.com&#x2F;electronics-lab&#x2F;denshi-block-series...

              And:

              <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;axel.as-1.co.jp&#x2F;asone&#x2F;maker&#x2F;MH17083&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;axel.as-1.co.jp&#x2F;asone&#x2F;maker&#x2F;MH17083&#x2F;

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