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GaelHack recap

And now we have a (wonderfully detailed) guest post from Jon on what we got up to at GaelHack last June.

In January of this year discussion started on the Irish hackerspace mailing list about the feasibility of holding the first hackerspace conference in Ireland. Hacker camps and conferences around the world have become a great way for the community to exchange ideas through talks and workshops, usually over the course of a few days where attendees are encouraged to help create a hacker village through staying overnight within or around the conference, which helps to create a vibrant and fun atmosphere for all.

A few dates and venues were discussed online as well as deciding on a name for the conference. A few names were in the running but eventually the event was named GaelHack and after reconnaissance visits by some hackerspace members to potential venues Mount Melleray Scout centre County Waterford was eventually chosen. This venue checked quite a few boxes for the event. For one thing accommodation was exceptionally cheap both onsite and in the nearby hotel. Also the venue contains numerous rooms and hallways ideal for hosting different workshops. Finally with it being a scouting centre there was of course a campsite right beside it.

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Workshop: Multithreaded servers in Java

This intermediate workshop will focus on teaching people to build a basic multi-threaded server and learning to work with data in a multi-threaded environment. This will be a very hand-on workshop with an open discussion throughout on different server models, sockets & IO, throughput, threads and data-management. The focus of the workshop is get people to build their own server in Java before the end of the session with help and demonstration provided. The workshop will require proficiency in Java and a solid understanding of OO-concepts.

Pre-requisites: The workshop will require proficiency in Java and a solid understanding of OO-concepts. Attendees must also bring a laptop with JDK & Eclipse IDE (optional) set up and configured.

When: Thursday, September 19th. From 7pm till 10pm.

Cost: €8 for non-members, free for members.

Please sign up using the form below. This workshop is kindly taught by Nik. All proceeds go to support Tog (as usual).

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LilyPad Workshop

LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller
LilyPad Arduino Microcontroller
Think about a coat that detects changes in air and body temperature and automatically adjusts to keep you comfortable. How about a sonar based device enabling you to see in the dark? Or always having your music player, video player, radio, and mobile phone with you wherever you go because they are built into your tshirt? eTextiles, electro-craft, wearable electronics; it’s about taking technology and transforming it around your body, creating symbiosis. Whether you’re looking to augment the human condition with technology or you’re more interested in the romantic ethereal glow of twinkly lights, you have to start somewhere.

In this short series of workshops we will provide a quick introduction to the Arduino Lilypad line of wearable electronics. We’ll look at how to tell the micro-controller (the smart component) what to do, and how to use some sensors and actuators*. And then how to put it all together into an actual, wearable, project.

Taking place one evening a week, for three weeks, we hope to introduce you to a new passion that combines electronics, programming, and crafting. Sound scary? The only pre-requisite is that you have a laptop (with USB port) you can bring to the workshops. We’ll help you with all the rest.

*components that do something, e.g. a buzzer makes a sound

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The Open-Social and the Egg-Bot

This coming Saturday 17th August, is TOG’s regular open social. It’s a great opportunity to drop in, hang out and meet some of the members and visitors. The space will be open from afternoon until late. Bring beer, food, gadgets!

eggbot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also have a egg-bot kit. An egg-bot draws on eggs and other similarly shaped objects, such as light bulbs and ping pong balls. We’ll be assembling the kit during the evening and trying to get it running. You can read all about the egg-bot here….. http://egg-bot.com/   Come in and give us a hand!

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Craft Night quilt at MakerFaire2013

Dublin Mini Maker Faire logo Dublin Mini Maker Faire 2013 has come and gone. We’ve been recapping a few of the projects displayed at the event, like the Bubble Bird House, and the Twitter Knitter. The Craft Nighters* got in on the action as well, and contributed squares towards a patchwork quilt. The type of squares is varied, including crochet, hand knit, machine knit, embroidery, blackwork, patchwork (meta), and decorative uses of beads, buttons, and googly eyes. Rather than losing some of the detail by making them conform to a strict patchwork quilt, we instead chose a looser arrangement to better showcase the talent and variety of our dedicated crafters.

Crafters quilt at Maker Faire, with Twitter Knitter

* Craft Night happens every second Tuesday from 7pm. It’s free, and open to all crafts. Simply, people show up and work on their projects. It’s great having others around who can help you out if you get stuck/confused, or just to chat with (and find out the best crafting suppliers). Get in touch and come along!

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