When Makers Get Stumped
While alot of this site is dedicated toward posting new and interesting technologies, the core of Zerosign is about making things. Whether it’s a new hardware hack or a simple application tweak, I really enjoy making and modifying software, gadgets and the like. However, there are times when I just hit a wall. I’ve been working on a project now for a few weeks, and I just cannot seem to figure out how to move on to the next step. I’d like to keep the details of my project vague, but let’s just say that in the process of reverse engineering something, you are suppose to figure out how all the components that you want to exploit function. In this particular case, I have spent several hours examining the device and frankly am no closer to learning how exactly this device works on the hardware level. From here I can only see two options.
1)Press on. Keep playing and experimenting with the device until finally something will ‘click’.
2)Move on. Place the project aside and begin working on something else.
Honestly, I have tried to do the latter, but I have put so much time into this project I just can’t seem to let it go.
Now I want to use a lifeline and “Ask the Audience”. What do you do if you have reached the end of your ideas and still are no closer in completing your project, whatever it may be? Also, if anyone has any advanced knowledge of the hardware side of mouse scroll wheels, I’d love to chat with you.
when that sort of thing happens to me I usually try to ignore it and get on with other stuff and return to it a little later when my mind is clear that does help me alot
Comment by spoot-smeg — June 2, 2006 @
yeah, that’s probably what I should do. It’s just once I get an idea, it’s hard to let it go.
Comment by Brandon — June 3, 2006 @
Typically I try to find a project that is related or that uses a similar but simpler design to give me a different perspective of the problem at hand. As for the scroll wheel the hardware basically just sends button events (buttons 4 and 5 I believe) with each click. The exact switch and hardware depends on what mouse you are modifying though.
Comment by c0ffee — June 3, 2006 @
Bring another person into the project. They really will see things from a different perspective. If the first person cant help, get someone else. (I’m assuming you don’t want to make the project public. Coz if you did then the simple answer would seem to be, let everyone in on the project)
I’m not volenteering. Just giving my ideas. (you did ask)
Comment by Paul Geering — June 3, 2006 @
Thanks all for the comments. I suppose I could release a little more info about the problem I am having without giving too much away.
For more info, please see the more recent post.
Comment by leadingzero — June 5, 2006 @