Soldering Workshop

2008-08-20T09:31:03Z

Mtbf0: /* Expressions of Interest */

Mitch wants to teach a soldering workshop

== Overview ==

You can learn to solder! Soldering is a basic skill for just about all electronics projects. If you've never soldered before, this workshop will give you the confidence to solder in about two hours. If you want to learn how to solder better, this workshop will show you how. If you have soldered before, this workshop will teach you to solder surface mount parts with confidence.

Learn by doing!
I will have fun kits to learn with. For total newbies (and those interested), I will have kits for
[http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_mfaire.php Trippy RGB Lights] a trippy mood light using Red, Green, and Blue LEDs (scroll down from the link for more info). For more experienced people I will have a surface mount project (yet TBD -- but it will be fun!). You will be able to take your completed project home with you. If you prefer, feel free to bring your own soldering project.

== Cost ==

My teaching time is free of charge, but the kits cost $20 each. Feel free to bring your own soldering project if you prefer (no charge for this).

== Time and Place ==

TBD -- sometime in September

== Expressions of Interest ==

Add your name to the list here if you'd be interested in participating! Don't worry — we won't hold you to it.

* [[User:maltman23|Mitch Altman]] (instructor)
* [[User:Endenizen|Brian Ferrell]]
* [[User:Mindwarp|mindwarp]]
* [[User:rachel|rachel]] - I also have a technique I worked out for soldering crimping beads to SMD parts to let them be sew-able... happy to show this off if there is interest.
* [[nila]]
* [[User:scmurray|Scott Murray]]
* [[User:mtbf0|bobby]]

Processing Workshop

2008-08-15T05:10:44Z

Mtbf0: /* Expressions of Interest */

Scott wants to teach a workshop sometime in September 2008 on [http://processing.org Processing], a free, open-source programming environment for artists, designers, and anyone interested in getting the computer to do work for you. Right now, he's gauging the level of interest in such a workshop, and working out how to structure it. If this sounds interesting to you, please add your name to the [[#Expressions of Interest]] section, or [[Special:Emailuser/scmurray|contact Scott directly]].

== Overview ==

Do you remember the triangular "turtle" from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo_%28programming_language%29 Logo]? "Pen down, move forward, turn right..." It was an early, easy way to tell a computer how to draw something on the screen. Processing is just like a modern, really buff version of that turtle. Think of it as being like Flash, only less flashy. If you've ever had a vision of something you wish you could make on a computer screen, you can probably make it in Processing. Well, maybe. This workshop will get you started, anyway, even if you've never typed a line of programming code in your life.

This workshop is intended as an introduction for complete beginners. No programming is experience necessary, although you should be generally familiar with how to use your computer, download files, install programs, and so on. Computers will not be provided, so you should probably bring your own laptop to work on, or you could share with someone else. A wireless card isn't necessary, but may help. (Processing works on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, so any kind of computer should work fine.)

Also, while the emphasis of this workshop will be on ''visual'' expressions of code, the concepts learned here can be extended to get Processing to generate audio, talk to microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino boards, MAKE boards, OSC devices), and generally interface with all kinds of other neat stuff.

== Resources ==

'''General Resources'''

* [http://processing.org Processing.org]
* [http://processing.org/learning/ Processing.org Learning Resources]

'''Neat Stuff People Are Doing With Processing'''

* [http://www.processingblogs.org Processing Blogs]
* [http://www.vimeo.com/tag:processing Videos on Vimeo]
* [http://www.flight404.com/blog/ Flight 404]

'''Courses and Workshops'''

* [http://www.shiffman.net/teaching/workshop/ Processing Workshop] — taught by Dan Shiffman
* [http://people.csail.mit.edu/bmcutler/gaudi/assignment1.html Programming in Processing] — class assignment
* [http://labs.noisepages.com/2008/04/06/massaging-media-processing-workshop/ Code Examples] — by Peter Kirn
* [http://www.shiffman.net/teaching/a2z/ Programming from A to Z] — more advanced programming beyond Processing

== Open Items ==

Some things we're still thinking about -- all still TBD.

== Curriculum ==

'''Introduction to Processing'''
* What is Processing?
* What can you do with it?
* Examples/demos

'''Basics'''
* Opening the application
* Counting pixels (the coordinates system)
* Basic syntax (how to talk to Processing)
* Drawing a line
* Drawing a box
* Making it bigger
* Changing the color
* Variables

'''Motion'''
* setup() and draw()
* Mouse input
* Translation
* Rotation
* ...more...

'''Open Workshop'''
* Less-structured time for you to pursue your own vision, with help from others as-needed

== Materials ==

* Example code to get you started (provided in class)
* Recommended books:
** ''[http://processing.org/learning/books/ Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists]''
** ''[http://www.learningprocessing.com/ Learning Processing: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Images, Animation, and Interaction]''

== Practical Matters ==

'''Schedule'''
* One day-long session, possibly on a Saturday
* Two day-long sessions, possibly on two consecutive Saturdays
* Several 3-hour sessions, once a week, on weeknight evenings or Saturday afternoons

'''Participants'''
* How many are interested?
* How many can/should we accommodate?
* Maybe cap participation at 10-20 people max, at least for initial offering?
* Will be expected to bring their own computers to work on

'''Space Needs'''
* Space large enough for 10-20 people, plus projector set up
* Chairs and table space for 10-20 people

'''Technology Needs'''
* AC power, with lots of power strips for participants to plug into
* Projector and screen (or flat, white wall)
* Wireless Internet access

== Expressions of Interest ==

Add your name to the list here if you'd be interested in participating! Don't worry — we won't hold you to it.

* [[User:Scmurray|Scott Murray]] (instructor)
* [[User:maltman23|Mitch Altman]] (though I'll be out of town all August)
* [[User:Endenizen|Brian Ferrell]] (I'll bring a webcam to demonstrate video input)
* [[User:Adi|Andy]] (I'll bring a 720p projector)
* [[User:BuddhaHacker]] (Jonas) (not sure where I am)
* [[User:Rachel|Rachel]] If we don't have a space by the time you're ready to give this, Scott, I will volunteer my house which is reasonably arranged for such a thing.
* DavidMolnar (August is not good, but most of the Fall should be fine)
* [[User:Daniela Steinsapir ]] I hope to make it
* [[User:mtbf0]] i want some o' that, but i works most saturdays

Noisebridge - User contributions [en]

Soldering Workshop

Processing Workshop