HACKER Q&A
📣 throwawayqw

I lack imagination for electronics projects


I love to learn about programming, protocols, these or that technical specification, how to make things work, etc.

However, I not only lack imagination of what I could use this for in the real world, I also don't get a kick out of seeing the final thing.

It feels like learning/understanding is more fun than actually seeing the product.

I have dozens of embedded boards that I have used until they lost their novelty, never really put to "good" use.

At work, when people try to show us engineers what cool things users are doing with our stuff, I'm like "meh".

Anyone else like that? I wish I got more excited out of building things. How to fix this? A different perspective?

  👤 JohnFen Accepted Answer ✓
Building things just isn't your bag. That's not a fault to be fixed at all. It's just that everyone has a different set of things that they're excited by and there's no right or wrong about that.

If you're saying that there's nothing in your life that excites you, that's a whole different thing. But I don't think that's what you're saying.

👤 hyperific
I don't think you have anything to fix. Learning is its own reward. Keep doing what you've been doing and know that you're getting out of it exactly what you need.
👤 the__alchemist
You need a practical project, just like with programming. Think of something that should exist, but doesn't, or where the existing solutions are inadequate. Make it happen!

Some patterns to avoid in this domain specifically, based on your concern:

  - Keyboards (I don't know why this has become a meme, but it has)
  - Maker communities
  - E-paper display devices.
Some ideas, if you do plan to do this as more of a learning project:

  - PCB design
  - Getting comfortable programming a variety of MCUs. Get out of your comfort zone
  - IC baby? Try making simple analog circuits just so you're comfortable with them
  - Getting good at integrating firmware design with electronics design
👤 rakejake
Same here. Even in tools that I'm very proficient in, I struggle to think of things I want to build. Like @JohnFen says, it's not a problem in itself although I feel bad sometimes looking at cool stuff other people built - "why couldn't I think of something like that"? But I think I've always been a "Problem Solver" from childhood (puzzles, crosswords, quizzes) and not much of a creative person. So I guess it makes sense.
👤 ferguess_k
Maybe you are more of a research type of people. Honestly, I'm like that, and I'm glad that I'm not alone. I'm interested in learning how things work, and build projects around that learning. But once the learning is done, I barely put up any effort to complete and wrap up the project.

I think maybe people like you and me should tailor projects that are more like researching, hacking and learning, than building actual products. Have you tried looking into hardware hacking or any type of hacking, including lockpicking? I'm going to get into one of those when my kid grows up in a few years.