#hardware-engineering
164 episodes · Page 5 of 7
#2786: The Hidden Engineering of AI Data Centers
How data centers retrofit for GPUs, from liquid cooling to immersion tanks. The physics behind 100kW racks.
#2764: Weatherproofing Electronics: Beyond the IP Rating Trap
How to run Ethernet outdoors without destroying your gear. Cable types, conduit tricks, and the condensation trap.
#2707: Foot Pedals vs USB Buttons: The Ergonomics of Dictation
Foot pedals, USB buttons, and under-desk macro pads for voice dictation — a deep dive into the hardware that makes AI dictation work.
#2670: When Your Projector's App Store Dies
Brightness, screens, and software longevity — what to look for when buying a portable projector.
#2594: The Hierarchy of Immutable Code
From mask ROM to e-fuses: how hardware enforces a hierarchy of mutability in every computing device.
#2592: The Market That Never Went Away
From IBM terminals to Stream Decks — how macro keyboards evolved under the radar for decades.
#2585: The Pristine Key Namespace Nobody Uses
How unused keyboard keys, custom firmware, and layered macros can transform your workflow.
#2568: When Does Your House Need Three-Phase Power?
Why industrial machines need different electricity — and when your home AI rig might too.
#2566: Why Your RGBW Bulbs Get Dim in Color Mode
Cheap bulbs aren't the whole story — physics limits how bright color LEDs can get. Here's what to buy instead.
#2556: The Weird Myths of Solid-State Storage
No moving parts, no sound waves — just electrons trapped in silicon. How solid-state drives actually work.
#2553: The Hidden Elegance of the Zipper
A deep dive into the Y-shaped tunnel, the bump-and-hollow geometry, and the silent history of the zip.
#2542: The Best Permanent Markers That Actually Last
From ink chemistry to top brands: which markers hold up on plastic, metal, and in the sun.
#2497: Tracing One Python Print Through 6 Abstraction Layers
What actually happens when you print "Hello" in Python? Six layers, 562 system calls, and a hardware-enforced kernel boundary.
#2446: Why Airport Flight Displays Still Run Windows XP
The surprising tech stack behind airport departure boards, Times Square screens, and the Windows XP systems still running them.
#2432: The Hidden Cost of Flexibility in Chip Design
The economics and engineering of ASICs vs. CPUs and GPUs, from transistor placement to hyperscaler strategy.
#2364: The $1000 Military Clock You Can Build for $30
Learn how to build a precise dual-timezone clock using an ESP32 microcontroller, LCD displays, and USB-C power.
#2363: The Chasm Between Breadboard and Pacemaker
How do tiny computers power everything from hobbyist projects to life-saving medical implants? The engineering constraints are worlds apart.
#2358: ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi: The Microcontroller Mindshift
Why your smart thermostat doesn’t run Linux—and why that’s a feature. The surprising differences between microcontrollers and single-board computers.
#2295: Why Taiwan's Automation Strategy Leaves the West Behind
Asus has achieved 85% automation in motherboard production—how did they outpace Western competitors?
#2270: How Your Laptop Charger Conquered the World
The heavy travel transformer is extinct, thanks to a clever engineering revolution inside every power brick. We explain the tech and which devices ...
#2268: The Universal Power Cord's Quiet Masterpiece
A deep dive into the humble IEC power cable—the C13 and C14 connectors. We explore the history, physics, and surprising engineering that makes this...
#2256: The One-Charger Dream: Specs, Trade-offs, and Reality
Drowning in chargers? We break down the specs for a single, powerful desktop charging station that can handle laptops, phones, and more—and where t...
#2193: Running Claude in Your Apartment (The Physics Says No)
Building a local AI inference server to rival Claude Code sounds great until you do the math on heat, noise, and neighbor relations.
#2106: The Hidden Language of Circuit Boards
AI is hoarding all the chips, and your smart toaster is stuck in line. Here’s why the hardware supply chain is breaking down.