http://gigaom.com/2012/03/16/xbox-chumby-hacker-designs-open-source-geiger-counter/ Fri, 24 May 2013 20:27:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://gigaom.com/2012/03/16/xbox-chumby-hacker-designs-open-source-geiger-counter/#comment-820449 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 06:39:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=499979#comment-820449 That is pretty cool. I wonder what they are using for the sensor? A Halogen filled Geiger-Müller tube? Knowing how to interpret what you are reading is also important. You can shield yourself pretty easily from alpha particle radiation. Less easily from beta particles. Much less easily from x-rays and not at all from gamma rays. Cesium 137 is the most likely dangerous by product of radioactive decay and that emits beta and gamma particles so it should be possible to at least know when food or water is contaminated and to know when you are in an area with emitters. Gamma particles have a really long range though so knowing what is safe and what isn’t is where I think a lot of users would want training. Otherwise they might get unjustly freaked out the moment they turn it on and it’s already clicking.

]]> http://gigaom.com/2012/03/16/xbox-chumby-hacker-designs-open-source-geiger-counter/#comment-820234 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:28:50 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=499979#comment-820234 @Hammertime18. Couple thoughts on your comment. The Geiger counter is for daily use far after a nuclear problem has occurred, so it’s for adapting to trying to have a normal life in a the post-nuclear problem zone. Not a product for immediate survival. The fact that it looks more like a consumer electronics gadget than an industrial device I think can lead to more productive use of it. I dont think the device is supposed to look unusually “sexy” or “stylish” but just like a normal gadget a Japanese person would keep in their bag. Also, Japanese gadgets have a far higher bar in terms of design and style than gadgets used in the U.S.

]]> http://gigaom.com/2012/03/16/xbox-chumby-hacker-designs-open-source-geiger-counter/#comment-820224 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:54:38 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=499979#comment-820224 Is it just me or will others not be too concerned about how “stylish” the Geiger counter is when a nuclear meltdown occurs?

]]> http://gigaom.com/2012/03/16/xbox-chumby-hacker-designs-open-source-geiger-counter/#comment-820185 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:05:26 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=499979#comment-820185 Reblogged this on sucamxxx and commented:
Wow this is neat, a hand held opensource Geiger counter. Now we can all be ready for when we get nuked lol

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