The first is a spring-controller circuit that exploits the fact that, although the spring provides energy at a fixed rate, a radio needs less power when it runs at low volume.

ECONOMIST: Clockwork technology

The spring is wound for half a minute, and then unwinds over six minutes, charging a battery in the process, and providing enough energy to run the radio for an hour. (This means the radio's spring-controller circuit is no longer necessary.) Thus, Freeplay has switched from making solely spring-powered devices to making battery-powered devices that are equipped with a clockwork mechanism for recharging and emergency use.

ECONOMIST: Clockwork technology

It also offers the ability to support a chip-on-flex configuration, in which the chip is directly mounted and electronically connected to a flexible circuit, eliminating the need for a controller.

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For the first mod, Ben increases mobility during game play by using ribbon cable and a replicated version of the original circuit board to sync a full-size, left hand controller with a half-size, right hand controller.

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