PICAXE

If, like me, you're interested in making devices to do things that Should Be Possible but currently aren't, you'll want to put in an order for some of these with the MAIDM acquisitions department (sorry, Karel!)

'PICAXE' is a powerful, low cost, microcontroller programming system designed to simplify educational and hobbyist use of microcontrollers. The unique feature of the PICAXE system is you program it via a direct cable link straight into the microcontroller -- so no expensive programmers or erasers are required. The the 'Programming Editor' software. software to program it is also free.

Programs can be created graphically using flowcharts, or programmatically using a simple BASIC style language. The ultimate result is a chip that does what you want it to.

LINKS to happy PICAXErs:

Happy Hippy:
http://www.hippy.freeserve.co.uk/picaxe.htm
Peter H Anderson:
http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/picaxe.html
Andy Anderson:
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/pd49/pockets/picaxe/picaxe_01.html
Adrian Hill:
http://www.geexa.v-2-1.net/index-page3.html
Andrew Whitehead:
http://axebot.andrew-w.co.uk