We are hosting an open TouchDesigner meetup with demos, hands-on learning, and space to share work with others using the software.
The meetup is part of a series of monthly events in collaboration with @noid_lab typically on the last Wednesday each month in the space, so this month it’s 1st July 7-10pm.
This will be our last meetup for the summer! We are taking a small break for the holiday season, and hope to resume in the Autumn.
Workshop
This month’s event will focus on MIDI integration in TouchDesigner, exploring how MIDI data can be used to control visuals, trigger events, manipulate parameters, and connect external hardware to interactive and audiovisual systems. Through demonstrations, we’ll look at practical workflows for working with MIDI devices.
Format
The session will run for around three hours in a relaxed, hands-on setting.
The event will focus on learning, with a combination of scheduled short and long presentations/demonstrations. The last hour will take a more flattened and open approach, allowing the space for people to chat, share, learn, and explore TouchDesigner.
Expect an informal, community-driven environment where the format adapts to participants. So if you would like to bring your laptop and learn the basics, share your projects, or connect with other using the software, this meetup offers a welcoming and supportive space to do so.
The event is also a great opportunity to meet other creative technologists and artists, and to continue building the growing the digital art community in Ireland.
Contact us at noidlab.collective@gmail.com to share ideas for future sessions or to express interest in presenting your work.
@noid_lab offer thanks to @toghackerspace for use of the space for these events, and Derivative for supporting the project. The meetups are hosted each month by a group of artists and creative technologists.
We are hosting an open TouchDesigner meetup with demos, hands-on learning, and space to share work with others using the software. This is part of a series of monthly events in collaboration with @noid_lab typically on the last Wednesday each month in the space, so this month it’s 29th April, 7-10pm.
In this session we will be hosting two workshops. The first will be run by Pauric Freeman, the class will offer a deep dive into instancing in TouchDesigner, breaking down the core principles behind this technique and demonstrating how it can be used to create complex visuals. The session will also explore the integration of MediaPipe, showing how real-time gesture tracking can be used to control instanced systems.
Following this, Cailean will be working with.. nodes! but not in the traditional TouchDesigner sense. This small workshop will explore how the behaviour of nodes can be controlled through the Network Editor using Python scripts.
Format:
The session will run for around three hours in a relaxed, hands-on setting. With multiple rooms available at TOG Hackerspace, we can host beginner and advanced activities simultaneously, ensuring everyone gets the most out of the evening. The event will focus on learning, with a combination of scheduled short and long presentations/demonstrations. The last hour will take a more flattened and open approach, allowing the space for people to chat, share, learn, and explore TouchDesigner. Expect an informal, community-driven environment where the format adapts to participants. So if you would like to bring your laptop and learn the basics, share your projects, or connect with other using the software, this meetup offers a welcoming and supportive space to do so.
The event is also a great opportunity to meet other creative technologists and artists, and to continue building the growing TouchDesigner community in Ireland.
Contact us at noidlab.collective@gmail.com to share ideas for future sessions or to express interest in presenting your work.
A special thanks to TOG for allowing us to use the space for these events, and Derivative for supporting the project. The meetups are hosted each month by a group of artists and creative technologists:
When you think of fairgrounds or arcades, you often picture the classic “hammer strength” game – swing a mallet, ring the bell, prove your power. For Dublin Maker this year, I wanted to flip that idea on its head – literally. Instead of smashing something down, players pull upwards against a resistance. That’s how the Reverse Hammer Machine was born.
It’s part carnival attraction, part engineering challenge, and part community experiment in building something a little quirky, a little geeky, and a lot of fun.
The Concept
The idea was simple:
Replace the hammer strike with a pulling action.
Use a Bluetooth-enabled crane scale to measure how much weight someone can pull.
Display the results on a big screen so everyone around can see the outcome.
Rather than brute force through a mallet, the machine measures grip and pull strength. It’s surprising how competitive people get once the numbers are up in lights!
How It Works
The machine looks like a cross between a fairground attraction and a maker project gone wild. Here’s what’s inside:
Bluetooth Crane Scales – these are normally used in warehouses or for weighing heavy loads. I hacked one into the system to register the pull force. Aliexpress special
ESP32 Controller – a small but mighty microcontroller that handles the Bluetooth connection, reads the data, and passes it on.
LED Strip – mounted along the board to give a visual indicator of how much force is being applied. The harder you pull, the higher the light climbs.
Display Screen – the live weight reading is shown on a large monitor, complete with a fun duck mascot illustration for a playful touch.
Players grab the rope, pull upwards, and watch their strength measured in real time. The numbers shoot up on screen while the LED strip glows higher and brighter – instant feedback, instant bragging rights.
The Build
I built the frame tall and sturdy, with enough presence to attract attention across the room. The whiteboard-style front not only holds the LED strip but also doubles as a canvas for signatures and doodles from players.
For more photos of the build, check out our gallery.
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Some key features of the build:
Mechanical setup: The rope feeds through a pulley at the top so players can get a good pulling grip.
Electronics box: A control panel with a button and a microcontroller sits neatly to the side.
Data display: The Bluetooth scale readings are processed by custom code and displayed on the big screen with graphics.
The artwork – a cheerful duck in a top hat – was added to keep things light-hearted and tie in with the playful Dublin Maker spirit.
On Show at Dublin Maker
The Reverse Hammer Machine made its public debut at Dublin Maker, where visitors of all ages lined up to test their pulling power.
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Lessons Learned
As with any maker project, there were a few quirks and challenges along the way:
Bluetooth quirks – the crane scale wasn’t exactly designed to be hacked, so getting stable data required persistence.
User safety – people can pull harder than expected, so making sure the frame was strong enough was a priority.
Showmanship – it’s not just about the electronics, it’s about making it fun and inviting to play and the competition of competing against family and friends.
By the end of the day, the board was covered in names, the LED strip had seen plenty of action, and the duck mascot had overseen countless strength contests.
Why Build It?
The whole point of Dublin Maker is to share creativity, curiosity, and the joy of making. The Reverse Hammer Machine isn’t just about strength – it’s about turning an idea into something physical that makes people smile.
It blends hardware hacking, coding, design, and a touch of carnival silliness into one interactive exhibit. Best of all, it gets people talking, laughing, and competing in the spirit of fun.
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What’s Next?
I’d love to refine the project further:
Add a leaderboard system that stores top scores during the day.
Integrate sound effects for dramatic impact when someone hits a new record.
Maybe even design multiple “difficulty modes” with adjustable resistance.
The great thing about projects like this is they never really finish – there’s always another upgrade waiting to happen.
Bringing It All Together
The Reverse Hammer Machine shows what can happen when you take a familiar idea and twist it. By hacking together a Bluetooth crane scale, some microcontrollers, and a splash of creativity, you end up with something that feels both retro and futuristic.
It’s a reminder that engineering doesn’t have to be serious – sometimes the best projects are the ones that make people grin.
Check out this cool aquarium project by our member Hussam. This is an aquaponics project called ”PIPONIC”. The system can be monitored and controlled remotely. Aquaponics combines fish and plants in one self-sustaining setup. In this case, the fish and plants are goldfish and mint.
The system runs on a Raspberry Pi 3, with a few key components: • A light sensor that turns on LEDs in the dark • A 12V water pump that cycles on/off to keep the water moving; • A MAX31865 sensor that monitors water temperature for the fish (16–24°C); The system logs data to a CSV file and sends it to Hussams website via an API for real-time monitoring. A camera connected to the Pi allows a visual check the water level.
Hussam is currently working on automating the water level and would love to team up with others to explore new ways to expand the system and make it even more sustainable and smart. TOG has been the perfect place to experiment, learn and share creative ideas about projects like this. The aquarium is in our kitchen in the space. You can usually find Hussam at Electronics Night on Mondays. Feel free to drop by if you’d like to chat, share ideas, or collaborate on improving the system!
Join us for an afternoon of retro computing and classic gaming as we celebrate the golden age of vintage systems and consoles! Whether you’re a long-time collector, a retro gaming enthusiast, or just curious about the technology of the past, this event is the perfect opportunity to explore and relive the magic of classic computing and gaming.
What to Expect:
Neo Geo Pocket Color: Experience the vibrant world of SNK’s handheld console, known for its rich library of 2D fighting games and unique clicky thumbstick.
Sega Saturn & Dreamcast: Immerse yourself in the legendary Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, two consoles that pushed the boundaries of gaming with innovative 3D graphics and online capabilities.
Vintage Computing Systems: A variety of classic machines will be available to explore, offering a hands-on look at the evolution of computing and gaming from the 80s and 90s.
Activities:
Hands-on Demonstrations: Get up close with vintage computers and consoles, testing out classic games and software.
Show and Tell: Bring along your own retro systems, share their history, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
Also happening at TOG: Earlier in the day, we’re hosting a Soldering Workshop! If you’re interested in learning or improving your soldering skills, check out the details and register here: https://www.tog.ie/2025/03/soldering-workshop-3/
We had a small break with our hacking challenges Redo. The format of the Meetup required a change, to accommodate for less experienced visitors. And as much as I love the SANS Institute Challenges, they tend to be quite a puzzle, especially later one. So for now, we are going to focus on couple other Hacking Challenges that are available online. And hopefully in December, when new 2022 SANS Hack Challenge starts, we will have a group ready to battle it together 🙂
Let’s start from Over the Wire. There are plenty games there, we will start with the Bandit, as most suitable to get used to the platform. Bandit offers 33 levels to play, it teaches Linux commands and tools. In each level your goal is identical, find a password to the next level, but let’s start from the beginning.
Over the Wire artwork
To play Bandit you will need to establish SSH connection to the Over the Wire lab server, all details of connection are given in Level 0.
So, what is SSH?
Secure Shell, sometimes referred to as Secure Socket Shell, is a protocol which allows you to connect securely to a remote computer or a server by using a text-based interface. When a secure SSH connection is established, a shell session will be started, and you will be able to manipulate the server by typing commands within the client on your local computer. System and network administrators use this protocol the most, as well as anyone who needs to manage a computer remotely in a highly secure manner.
How to use SSH on Windows?
Most common ways of using SSH on Windows is by using one of the clients. Most popular clients are: PuTTY, BitwiseSSH and OpenSSH. Windows 10 users have now the option to use build-in OpenSSH client. Just follow the installation details of your choose client.
How to use SSH on Mac?
Mac’s have build-in Terminal feature, that provides SSH client.
How do we do it on Linux?
That shouldn’t be a problem for any regular Linux users, but in case you are just starting with Linux. Go to your terminal and type:
ssh
This should list all ssh details and commands. If that’s not the case, just use the following command to install OpenSSH:
