Family of Muslim teen arrested for homemade clock files federal lawsuit

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by August

I don't think so. We all know how he is...

...sarcastic

[Cybermat47]

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It looks like a clock to me. A gutted digital clock in a case. He did not make a clock IMO. He gutted one and placed it in the case. So tell me again why a case and gutted digital clock? Science project? He should admitted to MIT free of charge IMO.

It appears to me he took the controlling PCB from a digital clock, and connected it to a much larger after market 7 Seg display module. The transformer may or may not be from the original clock. 7 seg displays are fairly standardized, and can be fairly easily swapped out, as long as the power demands are met.

But hey, it's a kid, and I give him credit for exploring parts of the world that interest him. His next step would have been to learn how to get an arduino board in there and write the (very simple) code to make his own clock. It's just a stepping stone to more inventive things. When your 4 year old brings you a hand drawn picture of what looks like an avocado half way to becoming guacamole, you don't deride them for the errors, you encourage the good parts.

Go check out www.makezine.com, it's full of rebuilds similar to this, where other items are "upcycled" into new and different things. Maybe he wanted a portable clock?

[August]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Go check out www.makezine.com, it's full of rebuilds similar to this, where other items are "upcycled" into new and different things. Maybe he wanted a portable clock?

Yeah because suitcase clocks are all the rage.

[Betonov]

C'mon, give the kid a break.
Maybe he doesn't have the accuracy in his fingers to fiddle around with small components so he made a big clock to show he can think.
I build luxury boats and I can't cut a plank straight, but I know how to think.

[Platapus]

Assuming that this source is correct, I am not happy that the family tried to extort $15 million dollars under the threat of a lawsuit.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...-a6745706.html

It is possible this was all a set up by the family. If so, they did a pretty good job.

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

...
I build luxury boats and I can't cut a plank straight, ...

I'm cancelling my custom boat order right now!...



<O>

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Platapus

It is possible this was all a set up by the family. If so, they did a pretty good job.

Their timing was perfect.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

It appears to me he took the controlling PCB from a digital clock, and connected it to a much larger after market 7 Seg display module. The transformer may or may not be from the original clock. 7 seg displays are fairly standardized, and can be fairly easily swapped out, as long as the power demands are met.

But hey, it's a kid, and I give him credit for exploring parts of the world that interest him. His next step would have been to learn how to get an arduino board in there and write the (very simple) code to make his own clock. It's just a stepping stone to more inventive things. When your 4 year old brings you a hand drawn picture of what looks like an avocado half way to becoming guacamole, you don't deride them for the errors, you encourage the good parts.

Go check out www.makezine.com, it's full of rebuilds similar to this, where other items are "upcycled" into new and different things. Maybe he wanted a portable clock?

Clocks are wall displayed or on a desk/dresser/nightstand. Not suitcases.

Originally Posted by August

Yeah because suitcase clocks are all the rage.

Depends on the country.

Originally Posted by Betonov

C'mon, give the kid a break.
Maybe he doesn't have the accuracy in his fingers to fiddle around with small components so he made a big clock to show he can think.
I build luxury boats and I can't cut a plank straight, but I know how to think.

Such a big clock in a small suitcase, no? Why a suitcase?

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Such a big clock in a small suitcase, no? Why a suitcase?

Why not ??

It was available. It has a handle. It has convenient locking mechanism to prevent the thing from falling out and still be able to open it to show the insides.
He could put it into a pizza box but those arent durable and don't have convenient locking mechanisms.
Maybe a butter buiscit box, but his mother already put sowing gear inside.
Maybe his father bought himself a new Samsonite and gave it to his son instead of throwing it to the trash.

He had options and went with a suitcase.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Clocks are wall displayed or on a desk/dresser/nightstand. Not suitcases.

He brought it to school to show off his skills in wiring together electronic components.
If he wanted it to tell time on a nightstand he'd be peddling it on a market.

[Platapus]

From the articles and reporting, it was a pencil box that looked like a very small suitcase.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Why not ??

It was available. It has a handle. It has convenient locking mechanism to prevent the thing from falling out and still be able to open it to show the insides.
He could put it into a pizza box but those arent durable and don't have convenient locking mechanisms.
Maybe a butter buiscit box, but his mother already put sowing gear inside.
Maybe his father bought himself a new Samsonite and gave it to his son instead of throwing it to the trash.

He had options and went with a suitcase.

Originally Posted by Betonov

He brought it to school to show off his skills in wiring together electronic components.
If he wanted it to tell time on a nightstand he'd be peddling it on a market.

Originally Posted by Platapus

From the articles and reporting, it was a pencil box that looked like a very small suitcase.

Sorry. I don't buy any of this was innocent. There are hundreds of choices in presentation material so one can show off skills in electronics that do not look like suitcases. Pencil box or not. The narrative of the school being irresponsible in the handling of this incident and getting the invite to the White House allows the kids old man to ran with that narrative. Now they are looking to sue. Perhaps his old man should be a part of Jr's mad skills in electronics but crappy choice of presentation. I'm betting a suitcase looking pencil box would not have been chosen.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by August

Yeah because suitcase clocks are all the rage.

So you expect every kid to have a complete, finished, and marketable product from day 1? C'mon, don't be ignorant. You should see my should see my shop. I have dozens of half baked, half finished projects laying around, and only a few complete ones, as most of my finished projects have been deployed or given away.

I have a multi color light desk lamp that was 3d printed, but it's lying in pieces cause the one joint needs redesigned.

I have a mini drill press that's not finished. No reason why, just haven't.

I have a bunch of prototype multi colored night lights laying around, as they are prototypes. There's a few that are complete, but they have been given away as gifts.

There's a currently non functional animatronic eyeball staring right at me.

A home built oscilloscope sitting on a rack, but it's non functioning as there is a blown circuit somewhere and the handbook is in chinese.

A motion activated Thermostat is laying here, 95% complete, but never installed as I've been planning to move for 2 years, and will finally do so in the next couple weeks.

Toys, lots of toys. A couple prototype pieces for a Marble Run; Giant Legos; A multi rocket launch pad and controller; RC boats.

There's another dozen stupid random projects sitting around.

This project wasn't about a finished product, it was about a gifted student taking the first steps down the path of learning and exploring. Hell, Edison had how many lightbulbs before one worked? Steve Jobs had how many products before he released the Ipod?

And yes, there is a market for suitcase style clocks. This would be a great thing for having race timing at things like boat races, cross country races, etc. Places where there is no fixed hardware, and portability with a large view able area is needed.

I'm betting a suitcase looking pencil box would not have been chosen.

When that's all you have laying around, and it's a good fit for your project, then that's what you use. Why go out and spend $10 on a new enclosure when you have one sitting around? Especially one that opens up easily to display your craftsmanship? I use small mason jars for my night lights, as I happened to have a crate of them sitting here. In today's single use world, it's good to see people reusing old stuff.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Platapus

From the articles and reporting, it was a pencil box that looked like a very small suitcase.

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Sorry. I don't buy any of this was innocent.

No disagreement from me.

I think the school and the police were played like a trout and they bit hard on the bait.