Topic: Hardware Hacking
Comp Sci Education Week - Build a micro:bit Mini Crane
December 9, 2019 at 5:00pm
Are you interested in robotics or do you enjoy messing around with electronics? In this workshop, you’ll assemble both the hardware and software needed to create a miniature crane controlled by the micro:bit microcontroller.
Join us as we kick off Computer Science Education Week with this hands on workshop. We are limited to 10 spots, so act fast!
What is a micro:bit?
The micro:bit is a small, compact computer based on a 43 mm × 52 mm circuit board. The board is easy to program and has several cool hardware features such as a processor, radio and Bluetooth antenna, 25 LED lights, two buttons, a compass, an accelerometer, and, the best feature, an edge connector used to power a wide variety of external hardware.
Programming Hardware with Python
May 4, 2019 at 12:30pm
Have you ever wanted to know how to make code interact with the real world? In this introductory workshop to Python programming, you’ll learn the vital stepping stones to controlling hardware using the Circuit Playground microcontroller (microcomputer) with one of the most robust, versatile, and popular programming languages.
What is a Circuit Playground?
The Circuit Playground is a microcontroller, or a tiny computer. This computer can easily be programmed to interact with hardware that you connect to it. Not only that, but the Circuit Playground comes equipped with various electronics and other hardware already built into it. It has multiple sensors (motion sensors, temperature sensors, sound sensors, etc), an infrared receiver/transmitter, push buttons, a speaker, input/output pins (by which you would attach external hardware to), a micro USB port, and several LEDs all on a 5 cm in diameter circuit board!
Alexander Petkov
Alexander Petkov is a high school student who attends Horton High School and is one of the co-founders of Spark West Network, a non-profit organization that aims to pull together the diverse organizations, events, and opportunities present in the Annapolis Valley. He is also the Chief Marketing Officer for Refresh Annapolis Valley.
Teaching a Computer To See
June 16, 2018 at 12:30pm
Machine’s can learning amazing things when we train them. In this Hoist workshop, teens will will explore Artificial Intelligence by learning how to build a program that can guess what it sees in a picture. No coding experience? No worries. This fun introductory workshop is meant for the beginner. Using cutting edge machine learning tools, participants will learn how software is being used to create amazing programs that learn along the way.
Hacking Hardware - Programming The Physical World
May 19, 2018 at 12:30pm
Interactive jewelry, DIY laser tag, robots you design and build. In this Hoist workshop, teens will explore electronics by learning how to build and program robots . No coding or electronics experience? No worries. This fun introductory workshop is meant for the beginner. Using the Circuit Playground, participants will learn how coding and circuits are being used to create amazing creations. This workshop is for teens with no prior experience with programming required.
f5://imagination
December 17, 2017 at 10:00am
f5://imagination is a pop up exhibit focused on digital creativity. This one day temporary exhibit features work from digital artists, makers, scratchers, computer scientists, engineers and pretendgineer, hardware hackers, lego robotics warriors, indy game developers, new media innovators, VR and AR pioneers… digital builders of all shapes, sizes, and credentials.
Schedule
- 10 AM to 12:30 PM
- 1 PM to 4:00 PM
- Screening & discussion of Hidden Figures: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. Hosted by Dr. Randy Newman (Professor of Psychology, Acadia University.
Women in Science and Engineering at Acadia University
). An area of Dr. Newman's work is in understanding factors responsible for the gender gap that persists in some areas of science, notably computer science and engineering. Limited Space: get your free ticket to secure your spot.
- f5://imagination reception. Artists will be in attendance, light refreshments served.
Submissions are being accepted until midnight December 13. To submit, fill out the below form (bottom of the page).
Maker Meetup
February 21, 2017 at 7:00pm
Calling all makers, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs, tinkerers, and the like. Join Refresh Annapolis Valley and Annapolis Valley STEAMspace for what we hope will be a regular meetup for the Valley maker community to gather, share ideas, and build community.
Projects galore to explore!
- Ian McKay will be demoing a magic cauldron, CNC stuff and a possible new product.
- Max Caplan will show off a homebrew handheld gaming console.
And you…?
Ian McKay
“Creative Technician”…what the heck is that?
I see my role, primarily, as that of a possibilitist. I listen closely to your ideas, what you hope to create, the problem you are working and then share with you the possibilities technology may offer. My years of immersion in Maker culture, joyfully exploring new and unusual uses for the wonders of emerging and age-old tech, provide me with a deep pool of possible solutions to your creative problems. While I am happy to help suggest solutions and inform you of the possibilities and challenges, I always keep in mind that the piece is YOUR work and will strive to help YOUR vision come to fruition. In those cases where a more collaborative model is what you are seeking, I would love to work with you to make our ideas a reality.