Lets DOCIRCUITS – the experiential way.  Experience the best experiential and fun beginners course in Electronic Circuits from $30. 

Building Hardware was always cool. Physical things are great. Hardware companies like Apple, Aurduino, etc are disrupting our lives in a big way. If you always wanted to be a hacker but you found the Circuits 101 course – online or classroom based, a tad too theoretical, mathematical, differential and Zzzzz…. ( you get the idea!), try experiencing what we have to offer.

We are offering an experiential course in Circuits which is simply out of this world. Our course comprises of Online Video Courseware, Circuit simulations using DoCircuits ( www.DoCircuits.com ) for prototyping, using virtual instruments like Oscilloscopes and Function generators,  a complete physical component kit for your labs and the coolest test and measurement hardware which can plug into your laptop/PC and then is used as an oscilloscope, waveform generator, spectrum analyzer, etc – all geared towards learning electronics in a fun way, by building some really cool applications that you see in your day to day life.

Sample Course Page to host Video and Simulation part

DoCircuits Simulation Tool ( www.DoCircuits.com )

Component Box for the physical components to do the labs  

Circuit Gear Mini - USB based Test and Measurement Device

How do you use our experiential course?

Step 1: There are 10 modules, each module focused on an application and several concepts.

Step 2: Go serially on each module

Step 3: For each module – watch the learning videos

Step 4 : For each lab, prototype the circuit by simulation using DoCircuits. Measure using virtual test and measurement instruments.

Step 5: Read the DIY Lab manual and rig up the circuit in hardware on the breadboard using the components provided

Step 6: Use the test and measurement device provided to give inputs and test your hardware. If your hardware doesn't work, try debugging it – or drop us an email, and we will help you out.

Step 7: Show off your hardware to friends and family, post on facebook and tweet about it. Share and learn from others.

Step 8: Chill. And move on to the next module.

In every module, you will learn all by your self on what is called – Progressive Learning, i.e., you start by building a simple application and gradually build complex ones, working one step at a time. Lets look at a small example of one of our early modules of Amplifiers.

1. Amplifier -  Initial Experience: Build your own audio amplifier

2. Amplifier - Building you own Audio Mixer

3. Amplifier - Building the graphic equalizer

The modules that we are creating has concepts ranging from Basic currents and voltages using LEDs and resistors, building games to understand voltage / current laws, understanding components like capacitors by building your own power supplies, understanding transistors, amplifiers, digital circuits by building smart calculators and simple board games, communication concepts by building your own FM systems, etc. For all of these modules, you will learn by

-  Watching video content about them

-  Prototyping them using simulation

-  Using virtual test and measurement devices

-  Realizing them in hardware

-  Using real test and measurement hardware to measure signals

-  Sharing your learning and looking at what others have done on our ecosystem

Why are we raising funds ?

We are raising funds so that we can build and deliver this awesome experience to you. Whether you want only part of the course or the complete course and kit, there are myriad options to choose from ( reminds me of a Multiplexor ). The most important thing for us is that you enjoy doing the course as much as we are enjoying building it.

Who are we ?

We are the creators of DoCircuits – world’s favorite Electronics Virtual Labs on the cloud. DoCircuits is being used by users in over 190+ countries. We have a rich technology background in Electronic Design Automation and have worked with companies like Synopsys and Magma. We have multiple patents and papers in Electronic design and we are absolutely passionate at the disruptions that are happening around us today in Electronics. We have worked on integrating our knowledge with partners like IEEE (here is what Dr. Lightner, VP of IEEE Education and ex President of IEEE has to say about us). We recently conducted the first ever online Circuit Design and Simulation contest – CircuitTrek - which had over 300+ teams registering all over the world.

Breakdown of our Budget

We are raising 15000 USD as a first step. With this we will create the video lessons, voiceovers, the lab lessons in simulation ( using DoCircuits ), procure the actual lab components in hardware, create a manual for them, procure USB based test and measurement hardware - CircuitGear Mini, integrate all of them and finally putting the relevant parts on the cloud. Part of the money will be allocated towards procuring the physical components and the test and measurement hardware which will be shipped to you if you opt for the relevant perk. Deliveries will start within 3 months of campaign closure, ie early April 2014.

How is this project different than other kits in the market ?

Most kits today give you a set of components ( resistors, capacitors, wires, etc ) and a printed lab manual with a set of projects. We believe that there is more to getting started in Electronics than that. So, we give you an entire workflow, which is pedagogically proven. We give you

-  Well defined courseware which is video format and interactive

-  Clear outcomes for each module with progressive learning

-  Real like simulation to create circuits for prototyping

-  Use of Virtual Test and Measurement Devices

-  Curated set of Components, selected specifically to do the apps

-  Real Test and Measurement Devices which are USB based and plu directly in your laptop/PC, so that you can do better labs and projects more effectively

-  Lab Manuals

-  Online help and support

How can you help ?

We have a list of exciting perks – tailor made just for you.  We have conceptualized this to be really affordable, starting from $25 and going upto $300.  All this for a price less than a regular oscilloscope ! Please support the project by pledging on the perks. Tweet  and post about us if you like the project.

What’s next ?

Some very exciting things are on the anvil.Our focus is to create and nurture more value and support the HACKER community as we go ahead. We will be working on

- Building more experiential learning courses for Beginners as as well as Advanced Level enthusiasts in the same pedagogy.

- Adding more interesting features to DoCircuits including a HTML5 interface, backend integration with SPICE simulation which can work on massively parallel cores.

- Integrating the USB based measurement devices to DoCircuits so that users can compare simulation data with real hardware data and also provide inputs to the hardware circuit from DoCircuits.

Perks offered

1.  Video Course Material  - $30

The online course comprising of 10 modules of 20 hours, with your name on the credits. You can watch the video course material any number of times, for as long as you want. 

2.  Video Course Material + DoCircuits GEEK - $60

The online course comprising of 10 modules of 20 hours, with your name on the credits and a super discounted license for using DoCircuits simulation tool to simulate the apps both online and offline – GEEK plan -  for one whole year ( www.docircuits.com/pricing ). This perk will allow you to create and simulate the apps online and offline.

3.  Video Course Material + DoCircuits GEEK + Components Box - $100

The online course comprising of 10 modules of 20 hours, with your name on the credits and a super discounted license for using DoCircuits simulation tool to simulate the apps both online and offline – GEEK plan -  for one whole year, and a box of components especially created for you, which will help you rig up the apps. Wires, ICs, resistors, LEDs, battery holder, breadboard all included. A specially curated set for you to do the apps. Shipping costs included. This perk will help you simulate as well as rig up the app on a breadboard.

4.  Full Kit : Video Course Material + DoCircuits GEEK + Components Box + 1 CircuitGear Mini - $250

The online course comprising of 10 modules of 20 hours, with your name on the credits and a super discounted license for using DoCircuits simulation tool to simulate the apps both online and offline – GEEK plan -  for one whole year, and a box of components especially created for you, which will help you rig up the apps. This along with CircuitGear Mini, which has a USB Oscilloscope / Waveform Generator/ Digital Input Output / Vector Network Analyzer / Spectrum Analyzer. Shipping costs included. This perk will help you simulate,  rig up the app on a breadboard and use USB based devices to provide waveforms and measure them using your laptop.

5.  Full Kit + Cables : Video Course Material + DoCircuits GEEK + Components Box + 1 CircuitGear Mini  + Probes / Cables - $300

The online course comprising of 10 modules of 20 hours, with your name on the credits and a super discounted license for using DoCircuits simulation tool to simulate the apps both online and offline – GEEK plan -  for one whole year, and a box of components especially created for you, which will help you rig up the apps. This along with CircuitGear Mini, which has a USB Oscilloscope / Waveform Generator/ Digital Input Output / Vector Network Analyzer / Spectrum Analyzer. Cables related to CircuitGear Mini such as oscilloscope probes, BNC to Alligator Clip Lead and Rear Panel Rainbow color Ribbon harness will also be provided and other cables for circuits. Shipping costs included.