#high voltage software

[nintendumpster]

[itneedsmoregays]

I completely understand it was for story reasons, but kid me was SO pissed that you weren't able to play as all ten aliens in Ben 10: Protector of Earth.

Like, they could've had you take down that giant robot at the beginning by using Grey Matter and messing it up from the inside, included a few more boss battles across the map so you could gradually unlock the other aliens, had an underwater boss that you needed to defeat with Ripjaws. So much potential.

Maybe once you complete the game and get the rest of the Omnitrix crystals back, it would've unlocked some of Ben's additional aliens like Wildvine, Upchuck, Ditto, Eye Guy, etc so you can replay the levels with them.

I'm just saying, do you have ANY idea how badly I wanted to kick ass as Diamondhead, High Voltage Software?!

[dmdarius]

Let's Play Hunter: The Reckoning |12| Carpenter's Rage

After a mad dash through the sewers after recovering from a slight mental breakdown, it's time to look for Arkady in Death Row. But before we do, we get to say hello to Carpenter one last time. Before we chop him up you see.

#hunterthereckoning #retro #horror

[da12thkind]

The Conduit - Episode 8: The Finale

Today on The Conduit, we finish off this Let’s Play!

[hussainrazadigitalmedia]

Academic Blog #8

Transmedia and Ben 10

In this blog, I will be discussing transmedia with the example of one of the most famous show, Ben 10 (2005).

Plot:

Ben 10 is a show that was released on Cartoon Network back in 2005. The show revolves around a kid named Ben Tennyson. He goes to a summer trip with his grandpa Max Tennyson and cousin Gwen Tennyson. On his journey, Ben finds an alien gadget watch, called Omnitrix, that allows him to transform into 10 different aliens. Other alien beings then come to earth to steal the gadget from Ben or take over the world and Ben, along with his grandpa and cousin, stops them throughout the series.

Analysis:

Ben 10 has been around quite a long time. Back when it was coming soon, in 2005, I was in school and would always watch the trailers. However, the show took everything and everyone by storm. It became among the most popular brand in the world.

Now, how does it fit in the context of transmedia. Well, we know that transmedia is “A process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience.” (Jenkins 2011).

Ben 10 started off as a kids show but it became so popular in a few years that it was everywhere. From simple merchandises like school bags, dolls and watch toys to video games, card games and board games. They were very popular not only in the western region, where they were officially released, but even different parts of the globes like Middle East, Southeast Asia.

The Ben 10 hype continued as the show turned into live action movies and video games. Ben 10 then received a new direct sequel, Ben 10 Alien Force. This, again, increased the popularity of the already popular show. Now, there were more merchandises of Ben, Gwen, Kevin, and others. Action figures became popular. There were holographs, VR games etc. Ben 10 Alien Force introduced a new omnitrix and new aliens which made the show fresh. The show also took elements from its prequel, like characters, references, worlds and villains.

After this, till now, Ben 10 is an ongoing series. It now has sequels like Ben 10 Ultimate alien, omniverse and remakes like Ben 10 (2020). New video games and new merchandises are always coming and people enjoy it.

Conclusion:

Transmedia means telling a story or using a story in different mediums for majority of the people to enjoy it. So, if someone is not into shows, they may enjoy video games and the definition is quite vast when you think about it. That is why, transmedia is a one of the most popular ways to reach as many people as possible.

Bibliography:

Jenkins, H. (2011) “Transmedia 202: Further Reflection,” Henry Jenkins Pop Junction, 31 July. Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/blog/2011/08/defining_transmedia_further_re.html

Ben 10 (2005), Created by Man of Action [Show], Cartoon Network.

Ben 10: Alien Force (2008), Created by Man of Action [Show], Cartoon Network Studios.

Ben 10: Ultimate Alien (2010), Created by Man of Action [Show], Cartoon Network Studios.

Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007), Directed by Alex Winter [Film], Alive and Kicking, Inc. and Cartoon Network.

High Voltage Software (2007), Ben 10: Protector of Earth [Video game], High Voltage Software.

[pinkyjulien]

Valentin & Mitch | 645/?? | Lifepath AUs 🌵🌆💻 ▶ Lifepath template by @arcandoria 🧡

[retrocgads]

UK 1998

[recallsdirect]

Vehicle Recall: Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupes & Sedans:

[nasa]

Athletes Go for the Gold with NASA Spinoffs

NASA technology tends to find its way into the sporting world more often than you’d expect. Fitness is important to the space program because astronauts must undergo the extreme g-forces of getting into space and endure the long-term effects of weightlessness on the human body. The agency’s engineering expertise also means that items like shoes and swimsuits can be improved with NASA know-how.

As the 2024 Olympics are in full swing in Paris, here are some of the many NASA-derived technologies that have helped competitive athletes train for the games and made sure they’re properly equipped to win.

The LZR Racer reduces skin friction drag by covering more skin than traditional swimsuits. Multiple pieces of the water-resistant and extremely lightweight LZR Pulse fabric connect at ultrasonically welded seams and incorporate extremely low-profile zippers to keep viscous drag to a minimum.

Swimsuits That Don’t Drag

When the swimsuit manufacturer Speedo wanted its LZR Racer suit to have as little drag as possible, the company turned to the experts at Langley Research Center to test its materials and design. The end result was that the new suit reduced drag by 24 percent compared to the prior generation of Speedo racing suit and broke 13 world records in 2008. While the original LZR Racer is no longer used in competition due to the advantage it gave wearers, its legacy lives on in derivatives still produced to this day.

Trilion Quality Systems worked with NASA’s Glenn Research Center to adapt existing stereo photogrammetry software to work with high-speed cameras. Now the company sells the package widely, and it is used to analyze stress and strain in everything from knee implants to running shoes and more.

High-Speed Cameras for High-Speed Shoes

After space shuttle Columbia, investigators needed to see how materials reacted during recreation tests with high-speed cameras, which involved working with industry to create a system that could analyze footage filmed at 30,000 frames per second. Engineers at Adidas used this system to analyze the behavior of Olympic marathoners' feet as they hit the ground and adjusted the design of the company’s high-performance footwear based on these observations.

Martial artist Barry French holds an Impax Body Shield while former European middle-weight kickboxing champion Daryl Tyler delivers an explosive jump side kick; the force of the impact is registered precisely and shown on the display panel of the electronic box French is wearing on his belt.

One-Thousandth-of-an-Inch Punch

In the 1980s, Olympic martial artists needed a way to measure the impact of their strikes to improve training for competition. Impulse Technology reached out to Glenn Research Center to create the Impax sensor, an ultra-thin film sensor which creates a small amount of voltage when struck. The more force applied, the more voltage it generates, enabling a computerized display to show how powerful a punch or kick was.

Astronaut Sunita Williams poses while using the Interim Resistive Exercise Device on the ISS. The cylinders at the base of each side house the SpiraFlex FlexPacks that inventor Paul Francis honed under NASA contracts. They would go on to power the Bowflex Revolution and other commercial exercise equipment.

Weight Training Without the Weight

Astronauts spending long periods of time in space needed a way to maintain muscle mass without the effect of gravity, but lifting free weights doesn’t work when you’re practically weightless. An exercise machine that uses elastic resistance to provide the same benefits as weightlifting went to the space station in the year 2000. That resistance technology was commercialized into the Bowflex Revolution home exercise equipment shortly afterwards.

Want to learn more about technologies made for space and used on Earth? Check out NASA Spinoff to find products and services that wouldn’t exist without space exploration.   

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[voidmetal-alloy]

Rock’s AU design is finished, he's got a profile under the cut :)

Rock Light / Mega Man:

Construction Purpose: Rock was built for housework and lab assistance after Light was severely injured in the 28/XX incident. After the first Wily Takeover, his fabricator was altered for combat, and his house duties fell to Roll.

Biggest Strength: He knows exactly what he fights for, and why.

Biggest Flaw: He tends to lose sight of himself in battle, focusing solely on his motivations regardless of what happens to him.

Weaknesses: His armour is built to withstand a variety of situations, but his Helper Unit origin makes him particularly susceptible to high voltage attacks.

Battle Style: Rock tries to be diplomatic and tactical about fighting, trying to talk his opponent down until the last possible moment. If talking isn’t an option, he likes to get things done as quickly and painlessly as he can. After all the battles he's fought, he's gotten quite good at spotting the weaknesses of Wily's robots.

Misc Notes:

Due to a malfunction in his colour changing software, the bottom of Rock’s hair has permanently turned blue-black.

He’s a very avid scrap-booker.

He stopped attending school in person after becoming Mega Man. Too much attention.

After Light became more self sufficient again, Rock started helping design the Robot Master’s cosmetics instead of helping to build them.

He gets along well with all the Light Numbers, but he’s closest with Cut Man.

The rollerblades aren’t retractable. He’s just that good on skates.

Despite insisting he doesn’t see any of the Wily bots as rivals, he actually does. It’s Top Man.

Even though he doesn’t really enjoy being Mega Man, he does like that people see him as a hero.

----

Rush Notes:

Roll built him, technically as a birthday present for Rock.

He’s a based on a border collie.

He was built from the broken pieces of item 1, 2 and 3, whilst Rock was recovering from his battles with Wily’s first numbers.

His serial number stands for Light Companion Number.

[techav]

On Bodging Silly Mistakes

After a few weeks of rest and working on non-homebrew-related projects since getting my 68030 stack running 8-user BASIC, I've circled back around to the project. My goal is to have it ready to exhibit for VCF Southwest 2025 in June.

The first thing to do when picking up an old project is to make sure it still works to begin with.

It did not.

The computer would start up, go through its boot process, and start the user programs. The supervisor terminal would accept and execute commands, but none of the user terminals would accept input.

I could tell the serial data was making it to the machine, because my 8-port serial card has indicator LEDs on the Transmit & Receive signals and they were working as expected. If I held down a key as the system booted, it would print that character a few times before stopping and then no longer accept any more data. So it really looked like the hardware was working. Nothing had changed in software so that wasn't likely to be the issue.

It reminded me of the problems I encountered with reading from disk when CPU cache was preventing the updated disk status bit from being read. The serial card supports asserting the CPU's Cache Inhibit signal, but perhaps that circuit wasn't functioning. There was no change with it connected or not. Time to break out the oscilloscope. The Cache Inhibit signal was always low — always asserted. Cache wasn't the problem because cache was effectively always disabled.

Out of ideas, it was time to break out the logic analyzer. The I/O Read & Write signals on the serial card were working as expected, and it was properly addressing the card & its individual ports. So next thing was to check was the actual data being read from the UARTs.

Letting the logic analyzer run and watching the data fly through, the problem finally made itself known — the UARTs were not setting bit 0 of the status byte to indicate that they had received data. The data was getting to the UART, it just wasn't acknowledged.

But why? And why did it work initially on restart and then stop? And why did it work without issue a few weeks ago? What is different?

What is different, indeed. I have made one change to the hardware since I last ran it — I added a proper watchdog/power-on-reset controller. If the power supply drops below 4.7 volts, it will reset the computer. The power supply I had been using was marginal and was getting caught by the watchdog, so I switched to a proper power PC supply.

So what's different since last time I ran the system is my reset circuit is more effective and the system voltage should be much more stable 5V.

And that's when I realized a mistake I made in the design for my 8-port serial card. The 68k reset signal is active-low and the 16C55x UART reset signal is active-high. I was trying to minimize part count, and didn't have an inverter for the reset signal, so I used what I had on hand — a buffer with an active-low enable signal.

Anyone well-versed in electronics may already see the problem.

When the CPU-RESET# signal is asserted (low), the buffer will set its output, IO-RESET to match its input, VCC (high). That's great, we get a high signal on the output whenever the CPU Reset signal is low.

Except ... what happens when the CPU Reset signal is not asserted? The buffer goes open-collector and doesn't pull the IO-RESET signal one way or the other; it's just left floating.

Floating signals are bad news for digital circuits. Their behavior is unpredictable and subject to environmental noise, power fluctuations, etc. For my IO-RESET signal to function properly, something needs to pull it low whenever the 74'125 buffer is not actively driving it high. A good-sized pull-down resistor should do the job just fine, so I dug through my stock and found a 3.65k surface-mount resistor and bodged it onto the back side of the board.

And sure enough, that fixed the problem!

It is possible that when I was running the system on that marginal power supply previously, the IO-RESET signal was able to stay just low enough to not trigger reset on the UARTs. Or it could have just been different environmental factors.

I'm glad I took the time to test the machine today, and I'm glad this bug came up. It's the kind of bug that could easily have come up when running in a new environment for the first time — such as on the show floor at VCFSW. Far better to run into a bug like this at home with access to all of the tools (and time) to figure it out.

Now that things are up and running again I can continue my testing and setup for VCFSW.

[altaqwaelectric]

From Design to Deployment: How Switchgear Systems Are Built

In the modern world of electrical engineering, switchgear systems play a critical role in ensuring the safe distribution and control of electrical power. From substations and factories to commercial buildings and critical infrastructure, switchgear is the silent guardian that protects equipment, ensures safety, and minimizes power failures.

But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, from the idea to the actual installation? Let’s dive into the full journey — from design to deployment — of how a switchgear system is built.

Step 1: Requirement Analysis and Load Study

Every switchgear project begins with requirement analysis. This includes:

Understanding the electrical load requirements

Calculating voltage levels, short-circuit ratings, and operating current

Identifying environmental conditions: indoor, outdoor, temperature, humidity

Reviewing applicable industry standards like IEC, ANSI, or DEWA regulations (especially in UAE)

This stage helps engineers determine whether the project needs low voltage (LV), medium voltage (MV), or high voltage (HV) switchgear.

Step 2: Conceptual Design & Engineering

Once the requirements are clear, the conceptual design begins.

Selection of switchgear type (air insulated, gas insulated, metal-enclosed, metal-clad, etc.)

Deciding on protection devices: MCCBs, ACBs, relays, CTs, VTs, and fuses

Creating single-line diagrams (SLDs) and layout drawings

Choosing the busbar material (copper or aluminum), insulation type, and earthing arrangements

Software like AutoCAD, EPLAN, and ETAP are commonly used for precise engineering drawings and simulations.

Step 3: Manufacturing & Fabrication

This is where the physical structure comes to life.

Sheet metal is cut, punched, and bent to form the panel enclosures

Powder coating or galvanizing is done for corrosion protection

Assembly of circuit breakers, contactors, protection relays, meters, etc.

Internal wiring is installed according to the schematic

Every switchgear panel is built with precision and must undergo quality control checks at each stage.

Step 4: Factory Testing (FAT)

Before deployment, every switchgear unit undergoes Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) to ensure it meets technical and safety standards.

Typical FAT includes:

High-voltage insulation testing

Continuity and phase sequence testing

Functionality check of all protection relays and interlocks

Mechanical operations of breakers and switches

Thermal imaging to detect hotspots

Only after passing FAT, the switchgear is cleared for shipping.

Step 5: Transportation & Site Installation

Transportation must be handled with care to avoid damage to components. At the site:

Panels are unloaded and moved to their final location

Cabling and bus duct connections are established

Earthing systems are connected

Environmental sealing is done if installed outdoors or in dusty environments

Step 6: Commissioning & Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)

This final stage ensures the switchgear is ready for live operation.

Final checks and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) are performed

System integration is tested with other components like transformers, UPS, and generators

Load tests and trial runs are conducted

Commissioning report is generated, and documentation is handed over to the client

Conclusion

From idea to execution, the journey of building a switchgear system is highly technical, safety-driven, and precision-based. Whether you’re in power generation, industrial automation, or commercial construction, understanding this process ensures you choose the right system for your needs.

[nihilnovisubsole]

i think i followed you Back In The Day, seven years and seven blogs ago, for something related to mass effect (zaeed? maybe? who could say) and it's wild to come back to this site years later and find you thriving, surviving, growing-- playing ffxiv! love that game. curious how you'll feel about some side characters in shadowbringers, but i won't spoil which ones.

i do have real questions, though; writing tools. not pens or software, but personal structure tools and/or guidance. what does a beat sheet look like, for you? do you have a favored way of outlining or note-taking on your own thoughts when putting a story together?

and... i'm really curious how you hold a big story together in your head while you work on it in pieces, especially for something like dangerous crowns. there's this larger story i've been chasing around for a while, and I can't quite wrap my head around how to write the political/espionage plot for it without feeling like i've actually written a children's pantomime. the best i've got so far is "research real life events and use those as my outline" but after a point it becomes hard to keep track of all the variables of who knows what about whom, who is planning x when y, etc, etc. the characters don't need to know all that-- and may never know some things-- but i feel like /I/ need to understand what's happening on the macro level so i can move the world around them appropriately.

short version: how do YOU wrap your head around writing complex plots?

hey, anon! i started endwalker this week after a long... uh... glamour detour, so don't worry about spoiling things. i spoil myself for a lot of stories on purpose anyway. let's just say i've been attached to one too many characters who got killed.

anyway. writing. i've always handled plots the same way: clear documentation. if i don't note it down, i'm not going to remember it. i've used the same table outline since around 2014. it varies in detail for different projects, but the core format stays. i know it's kicking around in my blog archive somewhere, but it's worth reposting once in a while because people like to ask about it. here's what it looks like, featuring plot points cribbed from an endeavour episode:

i used this format for an outline at work a while back, and the team found it easy to follow, which was a big day for my ego. keeping track of plot structure is even more chaotic at work because we have multiple writers who all need to stay on the same page. we have very meticulous notes on what the player should know at which point, when we're introducing new information, and what we know, but shouldn't tell. we're also not above leaving notes like "this character has to convey X," "this character has to learn Y here," or "this is a clue that they're planning Z." it can be super on-the-nose. all that matters is that it makes sense to you. because you're right - if you get too lost, you can write yourself into logic holes of tremendous proportions. ask me how i know!

[as a sidenote, researching real-life events as a starting point has really grown on me in the past few years. my lead on coh3 had me do it. he said we were dealing with real people's history, so we couldn't be cheap or play fastball - we had to be accurate to pay it respect. even if you're not writing historical fiction, it just gives you insight into how people behave.]

i would argue that the plot of dangerous crowns is actually not that complicated, maybe to its detriment. there's kind of a genre struggle going on. at voltage, we were taught romance fans came for the relationship beats and valued them above all else. in fact, leadership told us players got irritated - which meant less sales - when the plot was too complex and took time away from the making out. political thriller fans, by contrast, expect relentless twists, high stakes, and harsh consequences, and sometimes see the relationships as superfluous.

but whatever. the point is, when you look at dangerous crowns' structure, it's a pearl necklace: a chain of anchoring events. the "pearl" scenes are where Big Plot happens. they're the reason you want to write the story, and probably the ones you have the most vivid daydreams about. the scenes in between are the string. not flashy, but important because they connect the pearls. they build tension and add logic, cohesion, and context. take the opera and hector's failed assassination. those are pearl scenes. that's a burst of drama i really wanted the story to build up to. i also had other flashbulb visions. livia by the fountain questioning herself, marcus' macbeth moment, the temple riot, things like that. so the question was, how could i believably travel between these pearl scenes? how could i make these big showcase moments connect smoothly?

if you're having trouble holding the story together in your head, i would ask, "what are your pearls?" what are the anchor points? outline those. it might not look like a necklace yet, but you'll sort of see it taking shape. and then, once you can see where your heart's-desire milestones are, you'll have a clearer idea of what can't fire until you set it up first. two other neat things can happen here. you could find the rhythm of your pacing, or realize you have a lot more plot meat than you thought you did. even if you don't, you have some road. and if you can't think of the string, sometimes you just have to start writing the pearls and see what comes to you.

good luck!!

[dmdarius]

Let's Play Hunter: The Reckoning |13| The True Villain | FINALE

After all this time, cleaving through rots left and rot, dying a billion times, the restarts, the BS thrown at us. We finally find Arkady and see about closing the gate. Only he's not the one to start all this in the first place.

#hunterthereckoning #retro #horror

[da12thkind]

The Conduit - Episode 7: A Bro's Last Bro-quest

Today on The Conduit, we blast our way through the Trust base and find our bro!

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

Is it still possible to leave the car headlights on accidentally on a Tesla and drain all the batteries?

Yes, it is technically possible but highly unlikely under normal circumstances due to Tesla’s built-in safeguards. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Tesla manages headlights and battery drain:

1. Automatic Headlight Shut-Off Features Tesla vehicles are designed with auto-off functionality for headlights to prevent accidental battery drain:

Default auto settings: Headlights automatically turn off after the vehicle is parked and locked, even if manually activated. This aligns with modern automotive safety standards .

Energy-saving protocols: If lights are left on unintentionally, Tesla’s software will shut them off after a short period (e.g., 10–15 minutes) to conserve battery power .

2. Scenarios Where Battery Drain Could Occur While rare, battery drain from headlights may happen in edge cases:

Manual override: If a driver deliberately disables the auto-off feature via the touchscreen (e.g., turning off "Auto Headlights" in settings) and forgets to turn lights off manually .

Software glitches: Rare firmware bugs could disrupt automatic shut-off protocols, though Tesla’s over-the-air updates typically resolve such issues .

Parasitic drain: Faulty wiring or third-party modifications (e.g., aftermarket lighting) might bypass Tesla’s safeguards, causing unintended power draw .

3. Comparative Battery Impact Even if headlights remain on, their impact on Tesla’s high-voltage battery is minimal compared to other systems:

LED efficiency: Tesla uses energy-efficient LED headlights (≈10–30W total), which drain far less power than traditional halogen bulbs. For context, 24 hours of continuous use would consume ≈0.7–2 kWh, or <2% of a Long Range Model 3’s 75 kWh battery .

Larger drains: Features like Sentry Mode (≈250W) or Cabin Overheat Protection (≈500W) consume significantly more energy .

4. Safeguards and Mitigations Tesla employs multiple layers of protection against battery depletion:

Low-battery alerts: The Tesla app sends notifications if the battery drops below 20%, prompting action .

Deep Sleep Mode: After prolonged inactivity, the vehicle enters a low-power state, disabling non-essential systems .

12V battery backup: The 12V auxiliary battery powers critical systems (e.g., door locks) independently, preventing total failure .

5. Best Practices for Tesla Owners To avoid accidental drain:

Keep auto-headlights enabled (default setting).

Avoid manual overrides unless necessary.

Monitor the app for battery alerts.

Update software regularly to ensure optimal battery management .

Key Takeaway While Tesla’s design minimizes risks, vigilance is still advised when manually adjusting lighting settings. The primary battery threats remain energy-intensive features like Sentry Mode, not headlights . For most users, Tesla’s automated systems provide robust protection against accidental drain.