Intel's fabrication plants can churn out hundreds of
thousands of processor chips a day. But what does it take to handcraft
a single 8-bit CPU and a computer?
Give or take 18 months, about $1,000 and
1,253 pieces of wire. Steve Chamberlin, a Belmont,
California, videogame developer by day, set out on a quest to custom
design and build his own 8-bit computer. The homebrew CPU would be
called Big Mess of Wires or BMOW. Despite its name, it is a
painstakingly created work of art. The 8-bit CPU and computer will be
on display doing an interactive chess demo at the fourth annual Maker
Faire in San Mateo, California, this weekend, May 30-31. It will be one
of 600 exhibits of do-it-yourself technology, hacks, mods and just
plain strange hobby projects at the faire, which is expected to draw
80,000 attendees.
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