# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• A user proposed a 20x20 pin pad forearm implant that would send electrical signals matching on-screen characters, with the goal of enabling typing through training the system to recognize repeated electrical patterns.

• Participants discussed DIY microfluidics solutions, highlighting the extreme cost difference between commercial syringe pumps ($1,500-4,000) and potential DIY alternatives using basic components like stepper motors and threads.

• Kanzure described work on a microfluidic DNA synthesizer project, exploring fabrication methods including laser cutting, photolithography with masks, and digital photolithography using micromirror arrays.

• Users discussed using DSLR camera optics with a RepRap to achieve micrometer-scale precision for semiconductor masking and microfluidics applications, suggesting that projecting lithographic masks through camera optics could significantly improve precision.

• The conversation included technical details about DNA synthesis techniques using short oligonucleotides, with debate about the efficiency of 6-mer versus 8-mer libraries and optimization of DNA ligase positioning during synthesis reactions.

• Participants shared resources on microfluidics including a bootcamp document and a collection of papers at http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/microfluidics/, as well as research on scientific productivity at http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/profile-azoulay-0229.html.