What to get for Christmas?

[FTL]

Hey, my parents want to know what I want for Christmas and I can't really think of anything. The only thing that came to mind is a book called "How to prove it: A Structured Approach" so do you guys have any ideas along those lines. I'm a high school senior and my interests are in Computers, Quantum mechanics, and Artificial intelligence. I was also thinking about asking for a mechanical keyboard so recommendations on that would be great.

[elementcollector1]

A Raspberry Pi or Arduino?

[Endy0816]

Book looks like it would be decent. You might also find project kits to be of interest. Little Bits and Arduino come to mind though there are a number of different types out there.

 

Mental Note: Take less time to type...

Edited December 6, 2014 by Endy0816

[FTL]

Totally forgot about the Raspberry Pi and Arduino. I've been wanting one of those for awhile.

[StringJunky]

Das mechanical keyboards. Not cheap though.

 

http://www.daskeyboard.com/products/index.php?filter=.keyboard

Edited December 6, 2014 by StringJunky

[FTL]

Das mechanical keyboards. Not cheap though.

 

http://www.daskeyboard.com/products/index.php?filter=.keyboard

Wow those are awesome. Certainly not cheap though however I'll be upgrading all my computer equipment so I think I'll hold off and buy one of these at a later time.

[Sensei]

Hey, my parents want to know what I want for Christmas and I can't really think of anything. The only thing that came to mind is a book called "How to prove it: A Structured Approach" so do you guys have any ideas along those lines. I'm a high school senior and my interests are in Computers, Quantum mechanics, and Artificial intelligence. I was also thinking about asking for a mechanical keyboard so recommendations on that would be great.

1) digital camera Full HD with tripod, spare memory cards, and AC->DC charger to perform experiments and record them on video.

f.e. place voltmeter, ampere meter, watt-meter, thermometer etc. etc. on screen, and pass current, read current and energy from measuring devices, read temperature increase etc. etc.

Thanks to recording everything, you don't need to read values during experiment - you will do it later, watching video, and entering them to SpreadSheet/Excel to make graph.

I am using for this purpose Nikon S6600 http://www.nikon.com/news/2013/0806_cpx_01.htm

(tripod & AC charger must have, to be able record long experiments)

 

2) device that has something to do with physics, like Cockcroft-Walton generator (so you will be able to make plasma, ionize gas and analyze spectral lines by yourself),

Van Der Graaf generator (http://www.eduvis.pl/oferta/fizyka-pomoce-dydaktyczne/zestaw-nr-164-generator-van-de-graaffa-detail )

Wimshurst machine (http://www.eduvis.pl/oferta/fizyka-pomoce-dydaktyczne/zestaw-nr-50-maszyna-elektrostatyczna-wimshursta-detail ) just $150.

Stirling engine (http://www.eduvis.pl/oferta/fizyka-pomoce-dydaktyczne/zestaw-nr-113-silnik-stirlinga-detail ) just $180

Lasers (three colors R,G,B) and setups for them (polarization filters, diffraction grating, young's double slit etc. etc.)

 

3) telescope for watching stars.

 

4) microscope for watching microorganisms. (better both with USB adapters so you will be able to record it by computer and send instantly).

 

5) chemical compounds model kit, if you're interested in chemistry ( http://www.eduvis.pl/oferta/chemia-pomoce-dydaktyczne/chemiczny-zestaw-nr-27-modele-kulkowe-detail) $140 but there are one for 20-30$ with smaller quantity of atoms.