Grand Idea Studio

Robot Magazine

Joe Grand — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:46:30 +0000

The transformation from geeky to cool - from pocket protectors to an actual fan base - has resulted in opportunities for engineers.

Unofficial Propeller Expo West 2009

Joe Grand — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Joe Grand will present “The Projects of Prototype This” and share his experiences as a co-host of Discovery Channel’s Prototype This TV show.

SC Magazine

Joe Grand — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:58:46 +0000

People typically park their car, put money in the meter, and walk away – without ever thinking about the potential financial risks or social implications if there was a security breach against the parking meter, Grand said.

InternetNews.com

Joe Grand — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:57:21 +0000

For IT security researchers, anything that is connected to a network is a potential target for research – even the lowly parking meter. Security researcher Joe Grand has taken a particular interest in the new generation of smart parking meters. He sees various angles where the parking meters could potentially be at risk from security issues and he wants to help make the system better for everyone.

Black Hat 2009 Sneak Peek Webcast

Joe Grand — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:12:23 +0000

Joe Grand joins with several other speakers to preview some of the hottest topics being presented at Black Hat USA 2009. He will give a sneak peek of his upcoming “‘Smart’ Parking Meter Implementations, Globalism, and You” session, which is a look into flaws of fare collection infrastructure.

theexpiredmeter.com

Joe Grand — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:35:48 +0000

It’s been nearly a week since Chicago’s “Massive Meter Meltdown” last Wednesday. Yet, the cause is still shrouded in mystery.

CBS2 Chicago

Joe Grand — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:31:18 +0000

Day 5 and counting for the investigation into the great meter meltdown. And still no explanation from the new parking company. Computer experts tell CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine that sabotage is a definite possibility.

The Jewish Museum

Joe Grand — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:49:06 +0000

The exhibition maps the 21st century avant-garde expressions of design in Jewish ritual objects, and art about Jewish ritual.

Design Patent Granted for chumby

Joe Grand — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Joe Grand of Grand Idea Studio along with Steve Adler, Andrew “bunnie” Huang, Duane Maxwell, Ken Steele, Steve Tomlin, and Thomas Meyerhoffer have been granted patent #D592,678 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent describes an ornamental design for chumby, an Internet media player.

Circuit Board Artwork

Joe Grand — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:56:08 +0000

The Circuit Board Artwork pieces were created during a series of experiments in precision circuit board fabrication using a T-Tech Quick Circuit 5000 Prototyping System. The original drawings were processed and routed onto single- or double-sided copper clad 0.062 inch FR4 with milling bits ranging in width from 0.010-inch to 0.031-inch. Sizes of the pieces vary from 1 inch by 4 inches up to 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches. Rights to all artwork are controlled by their respective owners.

Grand Idea Studio Logo:

Kingpin Sketch ( Eddie Mize ):

Joe Grand Caricature ( Jason Dube ):

DEFCON 17 Cyborg ( Neil Kronenberg ):

Monkey ( Phillip Torrone ):

The pieces are not for sale.

Stealing the Network: The Complete Series (Collector’s Edition)

Joe Grand — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:54:37 +0000

Now you can get all of the best selling books in the Stealing the Network series in one comprehensive bible of computer security fiction. This edition contains the four complete works, How to Own the Box, How to Own a Continent, How to Own an Identity, and How to Own a Shadow, along with the much-anticipated final chapter and DVD containing behind-the-scenes interviews with the authors.

Joe Grand was a contributing author. His chapters include:

Hardcover: 1082 pages
Dimensions (in inches): 1.90 x 9.30 x 7.50
Publisher: Syngress; (May 2009)
ISBN: 1-59749-299-X

Available at Amazon.com

‘09 Black Hat Europe Briefings and Training

Joe Grand — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Joe Grand presents his two-day training course Hands-On Hardware Hacking and Reverse Engineering Techniques: Black Hat Edition.

Prototype This Extras

Joe Grand — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:39:29 +0000

Other Prototype This information that doesn’t fit anywhere else.

Presentations:

• The Projects of Prototype This

Designing and building projects is hard. Designing and building projects of things that have never been done before is harder. Designing and building projects of things that have never been done before with the financial and time constraints of television is verging on ridiculous.

• Turning Science into Soundbites: Lessons from ‘Prototype This’

This presentation looks at the necessary elements to consider when trying to convey technical information to a non-technical audience.

Articles and Papers:

• Engineered Reality: Prototyping Inventions for Television

Get a behind-the-scenes view of engineers hacking hardware and software to create new prototypes within time and budgetary constraints for a new TV show.

Published by IEEE Pervasive Computing: Special Issue on The Hacking Tradition, 7(3):24-31, July-September, 2008.

Videos:

• Behind-the-scenes clips (YouTube)

Taken by Joe Grand during the filming of Prototype This.

MAKE: Online

Joe Grand — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:08:59 +0000

Joe Grand is always getting into something interesting. He’s been a contributor to the pages of MAKE since our very first issue. The man lives the MAKE ethos for sure.

Episode 13: Robo Dog Sitter

Joe Grand — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:18:15 +0000

The team of inventors attempts to engineer the world’s first robotic dog sitter, a system designed to allow an owner to remotely interact, play, and communicate with his dog.

Documentation:

Development Notes
Source Code: Doggy Door Receiver/Controller (BASIC Stamp 2)

This information is for educational purposes only, cannot be used for any commercial endeavor without prior approval from Grand Idea Studio, and is unsupported.

Episode 12: Gecko Superhero Suit

Joe Grand — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:33:31 +0000

It’s time for some superhero adventure with San Francisco’s own “Fantastic Four.” Inspired by the superhuman abilities of the gecko and cutting edge research at Stanford University, the team attempts to create a real-life superhero: Geckoman.

Documentation:

None available.

Network World

Joe Grand — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:06:04 +0000

Joe Grand, a hardware hacker and host of Discovery’s Prototype This! TV show, offers advice on how IT can share information with non-technical colleagues.

Episode 11: Flying Lifeguard

Joe Grand — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:23:18 +0000

The team attempts to prototype two different flying lifeguard systems to save swimmers in danger on unguarded beaches.

Documentation:

Development Notes
Source Code: Cannon Targeting System (BASIC Stamp 2)
Source Code: Wristband GPS Transmitter (BASIC Stamp 2)
Schematics: Wristband GPS Transmitter (PDF)
PCB: Wristband GPS Transmitter (PDF)

This information is for educational purposes only, cannot be used for any commercial endeavor without prior approval from Grand Idea Studio, and is unsupported.

SOURCE Boston 2009

Joe Grand — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Joe Grand presents “Turning Science into Sound Bites: Lessons from Prototype This,” a look at creatively sharing technical information with a non-technical audience.

Product Design & Development

Joe Grand — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:16:20 +0000

The recent poor economy has strengthened the DIY ethos and seems to have led to a shift in commerce. Many consumers seem to be eschewing the latest and greatest innovative products in favor of a lesser model than can be used to just ‘get by’ or be modified to perform the desired task.

‘09 Black Hat DC Briefings and Training

Joe Grand — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Joe Grand presents his two-day training course Hands-On Hardware Hacking and Reverse Engineering Techniques: Black Hat Edition.

SolidWorks World 2009

Joe Grand — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:57:14 +0000

Joe Grand of Grand Idea Studio and Mike North, both co-hosts of Discovery Channel’s Prototype This, make a surprise appearance at the conference’s final General Session.

Joe Grand Nominated for Honorary Degree

Joe Grand — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:25:25 +0000

Joe Grand of Grand Idea Studio has been nominated for a degree of Doctor of Technology (Hon) from the University of Advancing Technology. Each year, the University seeks to award an honorary doctorate to an individual whose life work emulates the kind of technology innovations found in their institutional mission. Joe has served as an adjunct professor and has spoken multiple times at the University and fully supports their progressive learning environment. The University’s Board of Directors will review all nominees and announce the recipients in February 2010.

Business with Passion TV

Joe Grand — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:21:08 +0000

This television series features interviews with people who have successfully transformed their long-term passion into a successful business. Episodes air on Marin County Comcast Cable Channel 26 starting March 9, 2009 and are also available for viewing online.

Hirado.hu

Joe Grand — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:04:01 +0000

This web site uses characters that may not display properly in all browsers.

dorkbot sf

Joe Grand — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:25:15 +0000

Joe Grand presents “The Projects of Prototype This,” an inside look at designing and building projects for Discovery Channel’s Prototype This TV show while under extreme time and financial pressure.

Episode 10: Virtual Sea Adventure

Joe Grand — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:37:27 +0000

The team of engineers attempts to invent the future of deep sea diving with a virtual sea adventure that will allow you to SCUBA any reef in the world from your local swimming pool.

Documentation:

Development Notes
Schematics: Sea Cave Control Unit (PDF)
Schematics: Sea Cave Thumb Sticks (PDF)
Source Code: Sea Cave Control Unit (BASIC Stamp 2)
Source Code: Etch-a-Sketch Demo (BASIC Stamp 2)
PCB: Sea Cave Control Unit (PDF)

This information is for educational purposes only, cannot be used for any commercial endeavor without prior approval from Grand Idea Studio, and is unsupported.

Episode 9: Wearable Airbag

Joe Grand — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:28:33 +0000

The engineers attempt to invent an airbag designed to protect workers from falls greater than thirty feet. This wearable airbag must sense freefall and deploy within a second, but can the team make it work in only two weeks?

Documentation:

Development Notes
Schematics: Wearable Airbag (PDF)
Source Code: Wearable Airbag (Freescale MC9S08QG8)
PCB: Wearable Airbag (PDF)

This information is for educational purposes only, cannot be used for any commercial endeavor without prior approval from Grand Idea Studio, and is unsupported.

Sacramento News & Review

Joe Grand — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:49:22 +0000

Since he was a kid, Joe Grand has been a well-known hacker and electrical engineer. Now, the CEO of Grand Idea Studio can add TV-show host to his impressive résumé.

Episode 8: Automated Pizza Delivery

Joe Grand — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:19:42 +0000

The team of engineers attempts to bring pizza delivery into the 21st century via an assortment of robots, blimps and a self-driving car that must cross the Bay Bridge.

Documentation:

Development Notes
Schematics: Pizza Pie Pack (PDF)
Source Code: Pizza Pie Pack (BASIC Stamp 2p)

This information is for educational purposes only, cannot be used for any commercial endeavor without prior approval from Grand Idea Studio, and is unsupported.