Autumn brings cooler winds and longer nights. The long autumn nights are the perfect season to experience new technology and enjoy small crafts. Here are some fun ways to use Raspberry Pi, a palm-sized ultra-compact PC, to make the most of your time at home.

1. Make a nostalgic retro game console Simply install a free OS called “RetroPie” and your Raspberry Pi will instantly turn into a versatile retro game console. By connecting a USB controller and outputting to a TV, you can enjoy nostalgic arcade games and home games on the big screen (*To play, you will need legal game ROM data that you downloaded yourself). Why not take the time to replay that game you were obsessed with as a child on an autumn night?

2. DNS server with ad blocking function (Pi-hole) With the introduction of Pi-hole, the Raspberry Pi acts as a “black hole” that blocks advertisements across the network. It powerfully blocks not only PC and smartphone browsers, but also in-app ads, making web browsing dramatically more comfortable. It is a very practical project that is easy to implement.

3. Create a comfortable room with temperature and humidity sensors If you are interested in electronic work, try connecting a temperature and humidity sensor (such as BME280) to the Raspberry Pi and creating a system to monitor the room environment. It is also possible to write a simple program in Python, graph the acquired data, or link it to something like ``send a notification to LINE when the humidity drops.''

Raspberry Pi is a magical board with endless possibilities depending on your ideas. This fall, why not grab a soldering iron or keyboard and try your hand at making your own useful gadgets?