nLab packages a portable electronics lab for independent learners
nLab grew out of a problem in university electronics classes: students had to share bulky equipment when they wanted to experiment with circuits. Its answer is a portable instrument packaged with parts and lessons for people who want to learn on their own.
A lab small enough for individual practice
The device combines three tools: an oscilloscope, which displays electrical signals; a function generator, which produces signals; and a power supply. It plugs into a breadboard, a reusable board for assembling circuits, and connects to a laptop.
The starter kit adds more than 200 components and 12 guided projects, including a heartbeat monitor and a climate sensor. Combining the instrument with parts and instruction gives an individual a way to start experimenting without assembling a separate lab setup.
From university classrooms to individual buyers
Kellogg School of Management reported that Northwestern professor Nick Marchuk and teaching assistant David Meyer created an early version in 2014. Devices were subsequently shipped to other universities for classroom use.
The company traces nLab to nScope, whose Kickstarter campaign ran in 2015. Co-founder and CEO Angie Mercurio is now leading the push to reach individual learners as well as university purchasers.
