Author: Neyva Hernandez

Punch Your Lights “On”

Brainstorming and Design

When we were first assigned this project, I knew I wanted to have a play on words. Since the assignment required that we not use our hands to activate the light, my first idea was to have a pair of handcuffs used in order to complete the circuit and light the LED, but I thought that idea was too simple. (I also could not procure a pair of handcuffs in time for the assignment)

And so my next idea sprung from the phrase “Punch your lights out.” I figured I could do a play on words by activating an LED light by doing a punching motion.

And so my idea was born.

Above you can see my sketches for the design. It was a bit Spiderman inspired, as I knew I wanted a gadget specifically on the wrist that would activate the light by doing a punching motion; this is similar to Spiderman’s flicking motion in order to make web shoot out.

Building Process

The final product should be placed on a strap to wear and then it is complete.
Completed Circuit

Final Product

Here you can see a completed product being used in order to light the LED.

IM Punch Light

There are No Electrons; Only Green Men

Excerpt from the reading. I chose this quote because I believe it accurately describes Amdahl’s intention in writing this book.

Little Green men called “Greenies” were something I did not think I would read about when it comes to electricity in a university setting. I found this reading to be a pleasant surprise, as the information about electricity was conveyed to me in a genuinely interesting manner.

There were no boring statements in the text, as it was full of imagery and metaphors. I even shared some excerpts of the texts with friends, as I found them to be so whimsical but accurate of the things they were describing.

Not only that, but this text helped clear up a lot of the basics of electricity for me. In class I have used Ohm’s Law before, and calculated resistance in a circuit but I had never had some of these basic concepts defined for me. Things like static electricity and voltage; and not only were they defined for me, but were given to me with entertaining and memorable imagery.

Kenn Amdahl succeeded in his intent to make a non-dull, understandable book on electricity, because I truly want to read more.