Blended, interdisciplinary, broadly based. Hardware-ish, electro, and minimal code. Delicious mind food, like chocolate milk; fun and nutritious.
Almost everything technical is mechatronic. The last century of technology study and design development was dominated by awareness of disciplines in mechanics, chemistry, and electronics. Mechatronics strives to be more broadly based; a recognition that modern technology has always been blended and interdisciplinary. Everyday examples: copy machines, cars, and washers to name a few.
Copiers: logic controls, digital displays, sensors, and mechanics in the guts while the final output begins and ends with the sciences of electro-chemical and light physics.
Old-style TV: concentrates and shoots accelerated electron beams (physics) at phosphorous (chemistry) based on commands from circuits (electronics) that are controlled by energized dials (electromechanics).
I needed a spot to study logic by working the exercises. Typically, I would have bought a white board. But I did not want a white board staring at me.
So I developed an alternative: the Un-White Board.
Office Depot brown wrapping paper and colored marking pens. Tape the paper up on the wall with masking tape (easy on paint).
Brown Wrapping Paper
Do the work and then recycle the paper.
Better yet, a friend told me about white butcher paper.
Following are San Diego technology incubators described in their own words.
http://www.commnexus.org/incubator/
EvoNexus™ is the business incubator of CommNexus™, a leading non-profit high-tech trade organization based in San Diego. Our mission is to stimulate the growth of new high technology companies in our region.
EvoNexus is San Diego’s only community-supported, fully pro-bono technology incubator. We provide full services – furnished office space, domain experts and mentors, and the opportunity to leverage our wide network of business and VC contacts – to start-up companies striving to achieve sustainability. And unlike many other incubators, we provide these services entirely free of charge. Our incubator companies are under no financial or IP-related obligation to EvoNexus when they graduate.
http://www.sdincubator.org/
The San Diego Technology Incubator is a joint project of the City of San Diego and the San Diego Community College District. Originally funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration, the Incubator is now self-supporting. This 19,000 square foot facility is an element of the Advanced Technology Center, which resides at San Diego City College. The San Diego Technology Incubator supports the economic development of the region by sheltering and supporting new technology ventures.
The Incubator features moderately priced offices, lab and manufacturing facilities, computer network and other support services to help early-stage and emerging companies with the edge they need to succeed during their "incubation period" of from one to three years. Professional assistance offered to resident companies include: guidance in structuring technological links with other businesses, Internet website design/hosting access to manufacturing demonstration labs and making referrals to other regional economic development resources and subject area experts.
I like the following books. They can all be found in older used editions, but I suggest only buying their 2000 or later versions.
Basic Electricity And Electronics by Schuler | Fowler
Why I like it: good basic primer.
Grob Basic Electronics by Grob
Why I like it: comprehensive electronics primer.
Digital Fundamentals by Floyd
Why I like it: good primer on digital and quality of presentation
Digital Systems: Principles And Application by Tocci | Widmer
Why I like it: good primer on digital and quality of presentation
