[Imc-makerspace] Visit in Feb/March?

Mitch Altman mitch at CornfieldElectronics.com
Tue Feb 14 20:29:52 CST 2012 

Hello,

I got back from Paris last night.  And now I get to get ready to go to 
Urbana!

I'll arrive there on Wednesday night, 22-Feb.  My Unit One residency 
starts on Sunday, the 26th, and goes till Friday 2-March.  And I can 
stay at the Unit One apartment until 6-March.  If there's a place to 
stay in the area after that, then I can stay in Urbana for another day 
or few.

I can do a workshop on Saturday 3-March at MakerSpace.  Since the 
workshop is on a Saturday, how about making it from 2:00pm to 5:00pm?

I can't remember if we chose a workshop topic.  My "Arduino For Total 
Newbies" workshop is always way popular.  It always attracts lots of 
people.  It is 3 hours, and material cost is $30 each (my instruction is 
free, of course).  I can teach up to 50 people at once.  In the 3 hours, 
we cover:
      * intro
      * everything you need to know about electronics
      * learn to solder by making your own Arduino
      * learn to set up your computer (and actually do it, if you bring 
a laptop) for programming Arduino
      * demo of how easy it is to do lots of cool stuff with Arduino
      * learn to read schematics
      * learn to use solderless breadboards
      * make your own TV-B-Gone remote control with your Arduino
      * target practice!
Here's more info from when I taught it at 28C3 in Berlin in December:
http://events.ccc.de/congress/2011/wiki/ArduinoForTotalNewbies
You think this will be a good one for 3-March?  An alternative would be 
for me to bring a few different kits that people could make, with 
material costs between $10 and $30 -- and it also takes about 3 hours.

Here's what we need for a workshop:
   - a room with plenty of light, and a bit of ventilation, big enough 
for everyone
   - tables with 1 chair for each participant
   - soldering iron & stand & sponge  --  ideally 1 per person, but we 
can share if necessary
   - wire cutter  --  ideally 1 per person, but we can share if necessary
   - solder:  60/40 (Sn/Pb), rosin core, 0.031" diameter  --  with lead 
is WAY better than lead-free
   - AC power strips on each table with enough outlets for each 
soldering iron, plus some extras for laptops
   - AC extension cords, if necessary to get AC power to each table
   - extra lighting, if the room isn't very bright
If there is a projector with VGA, that would be very helpful.

We need about an hour (or more, if possible) to set up before the 
workshop, and another hour to clean up after the workshop.

So, start spreading the word about the workshop!  Let's attract lots of 
people so that we get even more excitement around the hackerspace!

Here's a link to an announcement from a workshop I did at NYC Resistor a 
while back (which might be helpful for publicity:
http://www.nycresistor.com/2010/01/15/mitch-altmans-electronics-workshop-129-8pm/
And here's my wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Altman
And a really nice piece/portrait from a French journalist while I was in 
Rennes, France two weeks ago:
http://owni.eu/2012/02/08/mitch-altman-hacker-diy-hackerspace/
(The original French 
<http://owni.fr/2012/02/06/mitch-altman-hacker-qui-bat/> was better, but 
the translation is OK enough.)

Am I still on for an interview with WRFU?  That's Thursday, 1-March, at 8am?

I am also open to give a talk at MakerSpace, if people are interested.

Cheers,
Mitch.


---------------
On 1/31/2012 4:36 PM, Stewart Dickson wrote:
> Hi, Mitch,
>
> Regular Open Hours at the MakerSpace normally overlap with your Unit 
> One Program
> Tuesday-Thursday from 7-9PM.   We can arrange to have the Space open 
> at other times
> to accommodate your program.   After our last General Membership 
> meeting, I was
> thinking that it would be good to have a member's "Show & Tell" 
> event.   Like a micro-mini
> Maker Faire.
>
> During our last meeting, it was said that you should probably do your 
> workshop on
> Saturday, February 3rd and promote it at Unit One during the week.  
> That reminds me
> that I should probably reserve space upstairs in case it looks like 
> we'll overflow Studio 16
> (The MakerSpace).
>
> I can't speak for the FabLab -- Jonathan Manton might have ideas about 
> that.
>
> Cheers,
>
> -Stewart
>
> On 1/31/12 5:14 PM, Mitch Altman wrote:
>> Hi Stewart,
>>
>> I actually don't have anything in particular in mind.  I just wanted 
>> to see if it was a possibility.  There are probably people who will 
>> come to a session at Unit One who may not know of either FabLab or 
>> MakerSpace, and everyone may benefit by more motivated people coming 
>> to visit.
>>
>> Does anything come to mind for you?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mitch.
>>
>>
>> --------------------
>> On 1/29/2012 5:52 PM, Stewart Dickson wrote:
>>> Hi, Mitch,
>>>
>>> When you say, "You think it might be cool for me to bring Unit One 
>>> people to MakerSpace, and/or also to the FabLab?"   What exactly do 
>>> you have in mind?   A tour of the MakerSpace?
>>> Some other kind of event?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> -Stewart
>>>
>>>
>>> On 1/27/12 12:14 PM, Mitch Altman wrote:
>>>> Hi Stewart,
>>>>
>>>> I have no idea what the schedule is like while I'm in Unit One.  I 
>>>> need to talk to Laura.
>>>>
>>>> But I will be in Urbana for a couple days before and a couple days 
>>>> after Unit One.  So, we could arrange for something in the 
>>>> non-Unit-One days.
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Mitch.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------
>>>> On 1/26/2012 7:30 PM, Stewart Dickson wrote:
>>>>> Hi, Mitch,
>>>>>
>>>>> I assume that the time for a workshop or talk is during the days 
>>>>> Sun, Feb 26-Thurs, Mar 1,
>>>>> because you're pretty well committed to Unit One Allen Hall in the 
>>>>> evenings,  correct?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> -Stewart
>>>>>
>>>>> On 1/23/12 12:44 AM, Mitch Altman wrote:
>>>>>> Hi Stewart,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'd love to do a workshop at MakerSpace Urbana.  Maybe my Arduino 
>>>>>> For Total Newbies workshop?  That one is 3 hours long.  I can 
>>>>>> teach up to 50 at once (if there are 50 soldering irons and 50 
>>>>>> wire cutters).  And it always fills up.  Teaching is free, 
>>>>>> materials are $35.
>>>>>> *     Itinerary for workshop:*
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     * We will start by learning to solder. Don't let this scare
>>>>>>     you! I've taught well over 33,500 people to solder, many of
>>>>>>     whom have never made anything before in their lives. It is
>>>>>>     actually a very easy skill to learn. It is also very useful.
>>>>>>     * Very short lesson to learn everything you need to know
>>>>>>     about electronics!
>>>>>>     * Then we will each make our own Arduino clone from a kit
>>>>>>     made by Ladyada: BoArduino
>>>>>>     <http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=72>
>>>>>>     * Now that we each have our own Arduino, we will set up the
>>>>>>     free and open-source software on our laptops (if you bring
>>>>>>     one) -- Windows, MacOS, or Linux are all fine!
>>>>>>     * And then its time to make something and learn how easy it
>>>>>>     is to use Aruino! I'll (very easily!) show you how to read
>>>>>>     schematic diagrams, and you'll put together your own
>>>>>>     TV-B-Gone remote control using your BoArduino. We will use a
>>>>>>     solderless breadboard. These are really useful, and provide a
>>>>>>     fast, and very easy way to put circuits together without
>>>>>>     needing to solder.
>>>>>>     * Target practice!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Here's more info on it:
>>>>>> http://www.tvbgone.com/downloads/tvbg_arduino/tvbg_arduino_workshop.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If 3 hours is too long for folks, then I could bring a few 
>>>>>> different kits for people to choose from to make, and I can do a 
>>>>>> "Learn to Solder, and Learn to Make Cool Things" workshop.  
>>>>>> Teaching is free, kits are anywhere between $10 and $30.  Here's 
>>>>>> kits I can bring:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>   * /*TV-B-Gone*/ (turn off TVs in public places!)
>>>>>>   * /*Brain Machine*/ (Meditate, Hallucinate, and Trip Out!)
>>>>>>   * /*Mignonette Game*/ (play fun games!)
>>>>>>   * /*Trippy RGB Waves*/ (interactive blinky lights!)
>>>>>>   * /*LEDcube*/ (animated 3D cube!)
>>>>>>   * /*MiniPOV*/ (more cool blinky lights!)
>>>>>>   * /*MintyBoost*/ (charge your USB enabled gadgets!)
>>>>>>   * /*microcontroller programmers*/ (program all your AVR family
>>>>>>     chips!)
>>>>>>   * /*Arduino clones*/ (make just about anything!)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I can also give a talk, if folks are interested.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've been emailing with Jonathan Manton, who works with UofI, and 
>>>>>> who seems to know MakerSpace folks.  He said he can scare up some 
>>>>>> soldering irons and wire cutters.  You have some too?  You think 
>>>>>> I could borrow them for Unit One people to use?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You think it might be cool for me to bring Unit One people to 
>>>>>> MakerSpace, and/or also to the FabLab?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm excited to be there!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>> Mitch.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----------------------
>>>>>> On 1/22/2012 3:04 PM, Stewart Dickson wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi, Mitch,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A month and four days until you're in-residence at Allen Hall, 
>>>>>>> UIUC.
>>>>>>> Any thoughts about specific events at the MakerSpace?  Any 
>>>>>>> preparations
>>>>>>> you'd like us to make in advance?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Stewart
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 12/13/11 6:01 PM, Mitch Altman wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hello Everyone,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm cc-ing everyone on the two separate email threads here, after
>>>>>>>> originally emailing Makerspace Urbana and UC Mini Maker Faire.  
>>>>>>>> But, if
>>>>>>>> course, everyone knows each other.  :)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I am way into being on TechKnowledge.  Just let me know when.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I am also happy to give a talk for the space, as well as a 
>>>>>>>> workshop, or
>>>>>>>> whatevre folks there would like.  We can use whatever we do to 
>>>>>>>> attract
>>>>>>>> attention to Makerspace Urbana, and hopefully attract some new 
>>>>>>>> members.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Maybe bringing in Unit One people for a visit would also be good?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Here's my cell phone, in case anyone wants to call:
>>>>>>>>       415-377-599e
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>> Mitch.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----------
>>>>>>>>> Hello, Mitch,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> End of February/Beginning of March is about one month ahead the
>>>>>>>>> Champaign Mini Maker Faire,
>>>>>>>>> which will be hosted by the MakerSpace-Urbana at the 
>>>>>>>>> Independent Media
>>>>>>>>> Center in mid-April.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What did you have in mind for a workshop?   They are few and 
>>>>>>>>> far between
>>>>>>>>> enough here that I'm sure it will be welcome.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Can I entice you into joining me for an hour on 
>>>>>>>>> "TechKnowLedge" on
>>>>>>>>> WRFU-LP FM 104.5 from 8-9 Thursday morning?  :)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> -Stewart, http://us.imdb.com/Name?Stewart+Dickson
>>>>>>>>> http://www.wrfu.net/node/1417
>>>>>>>>> http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/10/vedic_math_machines_and_3d_zoetrope.html 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://www.ucimc.org/content/makerspace-urbana-will-bring-tech-knowledge-uc 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://boingboing.net/2011/06/17/jeff-bezos-co-to-bui.html
>>>>>>>>> http://longnow.org/clock/prototype1
>>>>>>>>> http://emsh.calarts.edu/~mathart/Clock_Cam.html
>>>>>>>>> http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/author.html?author=Stewart+Dickson 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 12/12/11 8:50 PM, MakerSpace Urbana wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Dude!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> This is awesome!  I think that Becky Stern hinted that you 
>>>>>>>>>> were coming
>>>>>>>>>> down the pike as she was leaving.
>>>>>>>>>> Didn't expect to hear from you so soon!  When Gareth Branwyn 
>>>>>>>>>> was here,
>>>>>>>>>> he gave a "Polka-Dot-Bag" lunchtime lecture at the School for
>>>>>>>>>> Designing a Society.   I'm sure everyone would love to hear 
>>>>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>>>> Hackerspaces in Africa!
>>>>>>>>>> (For example...)   I, for one would not miss your visit.   I 
>>>>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>>>>> that I can guarantee at least a handful of dedicated
>>>>>>>>>> MakerSpace members will be on-hand as well.  So looking 
>>>>>>>>>> forward to it!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> -Stewart
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Dec 11, 2011 at 3:38 PM, Mitch Altman
>>>>>>>>>> <mitch at cornfieldelectronics.com
>>>>>>>>>> <mailto:mitch at cornfieldelectronics.com>>  wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      Hello,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      I'm going to be a Unit One resident at the end of 
>>>>>>>>>> February and
>>>>>>>>>>      beginning of March, and would love to visit Urbana 
>>>>>>>>>> Makerspace
>>>>>>>>>>      while I'm in town.  Maybe I could do a workshop there, 
>>>>>>>>>> too, if you
>>>>>>>>>>      think that'd be helpful.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      Please let me know if people will be around.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      Best,
>>>>>>>>>>      Mitch.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      --
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>      Mitch Altman, inventor of TV-B-Gone universal remote 
>>>>>>>>>> controls
>>>>>>>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Altman
>>>>>>>>>>      415-377-5993<tel:415-377-5993>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> Imc-makerspace mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> Imc-makerspace at lists.chambana.net
>>>>>>>>>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/imc-makerspace
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Imc-makerspace mailing list
>>>> Imc-makerspace at lists.chambana.net
>>>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/imc-makerspace
>>>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/imc-makerspace/attachments/20120214/f4315cd4/attachment-0001.html>

More information about the Imc-makerspace mailing list