So Much To Do, So Little Time

http://goo.gl/h9a3Q

Looks like we missed another post again :( 

     We really should've planned out a schedule by now for the blogposts for the rest of the year because obviously the system we have now isn't working. Although some things that are working is our class productivity rate. It seems like we've been getting a lot done in our class time. Whether it be working through construction/material problems, conferencing with teachers, or just sending emails, we've been working pretty hard lately.
     At first glance, our project seemed pretty easy. It felt like we just needed to acquire the materials that our previous website source (http://makezine.com/01/magstripe/) listed and then building would be simple. Then, as we did more research, we realized this wasn't going to go quite like we though. The first thing we realized is that we didn't have a computer to hook up our magstripe reader to because the joystick connector we would be building wouldn't attach to a laptop like we wanted. We thought we could hook it up to the Dell computer in the back of the class but it wouldn't fit there either. So then we thought we should get a connector for the joystick and our laptops. But as we researched prices we found that it would cut into a hefty portion of our budget as well. So then we found a new website that showed us how to make a magstripe reader using a USB wire which COULD connect to our laptops. So we decided to go with that.
     After corresponding with Mr. Massad, the department head of Business and Technology, we learned that we could make use of some of the tools in the engineering lab. Except we can't begin working until we get the TTL reader in. The problem with that is that we have to order it online and it could take at least a week to ship. Being high school students with no jobs, paying for it ourselves is not exactly at the top of our wish list; but if we use the school's money it could take even longer to get here because of all the paperwork that has to be approved. The final challenge is that we still need personalized magnetic stripe cards for all the students in our class. Which we might have to order online as well. All in all, we know what we need to do. We just need the tools to do so.