RSSBilly Hoffman
Billy says he is too curious for his own good. "I like to take things apart, see how they work see their shortcomings, and try to make them better." Living in Atlanta gives him plenty of time to pursue outdoor activitues as well as seek input from his friends about possible technological advances he's working on. Some of Billy's current projects include a self-destructing, some radio-frequency ID stuff, blogging technology, and spyware-cracking software. He's graduating this spring from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a computer science degree - anyone hiring?
Author of these Magazine Articles
Magnetic Stripe Reader
Have you ever wondered what information is stored on the magnetic-striped cards in your wallet? Now you can find out. This project shows you how to make a magstripe reader for less than $40.
From MAKE:
01: Make Premiere page 106
MAKE: Online Extras
Adding Multi-Track Capability to Your Magnetic Stripe Reader
I paid $30 for a Omron V3A-4, which is a single-track reader. But you can modify it to read all three standard magstripe tracks, for free!
by Billy Hoffman;
April 25, 2005
Explore More in Make Magazine
Search the pages of MAKE
Raves for MAKE!
“Now we've got geek DIY (do it yourself) porn. Just as would-be Emerils pore over lushly illustrated cookbooks with recipes involving hard-to-find morels and complicated instructions for roux, Tom Swift wanna-bes are devouring MAKE.”
— Steven Levy, Newsweek
“...O'Reilly Media recently launched what has already become the bible of this new movement, a magazine called MAKE.”
— Daniel Roth, FORTUNE
“If you're the type who views the warnings not to pry open your computer as more a challenge than admonition, MAKE is for you.”
— Rolling Stone
“One of the most innovative magazines I've seen in a long time.”
— Steve Riggio, CEO Barnes & Noble
“The kind of magazine that would impress MacGyver”
— Marcus Chan, San Francisco Chronicle
