Reading Tom Igoe’s Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits (and Misses) really opened my eyes to how creative physical computing can be. I liked how he talked about different project themes that keep coming up, like theremin-style instruments, gloves, or meditation helpers, but still manage to feel fresh every time. What stood out to me was his point that even if an idea has been done before, there’s always room for originality. It’s not about being the first person to come up with something, but about how you make it your own. That made me see creativity in a new way; it’s more about exploring, experimenting, and putting a bit of yourself into the project.
I also liked how Igoe focused on the human side of physical computing. He reminds readers that the goal isn’t just to build machines that move or light up, but to design interactions that mean something. It made me realize that technology can be emotional and expressive, not just functional. Overall, the reading made me appreciate how physical computing connects people and ideas, and how much space there is to create something personal, even within familiar themes.