Whether you want to go DIY to aid an ailing pocket book, add some sentimental value to your gift, or create the truly perfect present, here are some projects to satisfy all the techies in your life, both givers and receivers. If the idea of DIY tech gifts gives you shivers of apprehension and shadows of self-doubt, never fear! Some of these projects are chosen specifically for those with a lot of tech enthusiasm but few practical tech skills. Other projects are for those wanting to jump in head first with wiring, soldering irons, needle-nosed pliers, and other accoutrement of the technological trade.
For music aficionados, there’s Pillow Music, a pair of headphones embedded in a pillow for truly easy listening or the Random Music Box, which uses a microprocessor to generate a stream of random but pleasant-sounding music using chord progressions typically found in Western music. If your gift recipient prefers their music on the go, there are the quaint and pocket-sized Altoids Tin speakers or the sturdier Army Surplus iPod Amp. If you’re looking for a gift geared towards those who love making music, there’s the Altoids Tin Guitar or the larger Cigar Box Guitar, two gifts that are both playful and playable.
Minty fresh music
Pet lovers on your gift list might appreciate the Kitty Twitty Cat Toy, a toy that both moves and chirps, or the VCR Cat Feeder, which a cat will love for its practicality and owners will admire for the quirky repurposing of an archaic technological artifact.
Hey, look, internet! Cats!
Anyone struck with a particularly poignant bout of nostalgia this holiday season will appreciate a gift that repurposes a piece of our technological past, like the Nintendo NES DVD Player. The Themed Rubik’s Cube uses images from Gears of War, but really any images could be used to personalize this project for puzzle-loving friends. Floppy Disk Greeting Cards, Floppy Disk USB Drives, and Hot Wheels Flash Drives are all smaller, quicker gifts that still harness the charm of nostalgia.
For the practically minded, there are several clocks and alarms, such as the Illuminated Clock, the Mint Tin Personal Alarm, and the Altoids Clock. For those living in colder climates, there’s also a pair of No-Sew Touchscreen Gloves, which allows wearers to use a touchscreen phone without taking the gloves off, thereby preventing frostbite or at least some general discomfort. If you’re looking for something in the lighting department, there’s the beautiful Papercraft LED Lantern or the more eccentric Wine Bottle LED Gel Lamp. For friends or family that already have an abundance of technology, there’s also the DIY Charging Station, a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution to too many electronics.
If practicality isn’t your first priority, there’s a wide range of gifts that range from fun to downright silly. If you’d like to send a message, there’s the customizable PS/2/You LED Sign or the Keyboard Magnet Gift Set. If neither of those is festive enough to suit your gift-giving taste, there’s the Email Reading Reindeer, whose nose lights up when you’ve received an email, or the Animatronic Talking Christmas Tree, which should explain itself.
When Rudolph's nose doesn't glow, you know no one wants to play reindeer games with you.
For gift-givers worried about the prerequisite skills for DIY technology gifts because they lack the technological expertise, I recommend the No-Sew Touchscreen Gloves, Floppy Disk Greeting Cards, Charging Station, Themed Rubik’s Cube, or the Keyboard Magnet Gift Set. If you’re comfortable with a few minor technological tools, take a look at the Cigar Box Guitar, Hot Wheels Flash Drive, or Floppy Disk USB Drive. No matter which project you choose, best of luck in your DIY endeavors and happy holidays. Let us know if you have any other DIY tech gift ideas you want to share in the comments section.
These, and many other DIY technology projects, can be found on the websites of MAKE Magazine, Unplggd, and Instructables.
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