[sudo-discuss] Someone brought up electronic kits as a funding idea?

[GtwoG PublicOhOne]

YOs-

Speaking of 555 timers and tone generators, there's always the good ol'
Blue Box.  Now that MF signalling has been completely phased out of the
PSTN, blue boxes are no longer illegal to build and possess. 

"Build the classic oldschool phone phreak toy" could also get some
publicity;-)

-G.


=====



On 13-05-16-Thu 11:08 AM, Hol Gaskill wrote:
> Hey Tommy,
>
> I remember writing something on the meeting pad about this.  Components are pretty cheap in bulk and lots of people want to get started with electronics.  I think we could start by having circuit boards made for us with sudo room branding, then eventually gain the capability to make the boards ourselves either by etching or by milling (hint: there is already a mill in sudo room and a few bags of concetrated etchant) but for now let's just say we have them made offsite in bulk.  Or we could just make layout stencils ourselves and come up with an ingenious alternative to protoboards like pre-bent wires for deadbugging https://www.google.com/search?q=dead+bug+circuit+construction&tbm=isch or whatever.  I propose spray-stenciling zip-loc bags for packaging.  My early electronics experiments involved 555 timers and speakers - could make an instrument somewhat easily with a little experimentation on scratch-built keys.
>
> A few kits that come to mind:
> -basic 555-based tone generator
> -basic microcontroller
> -sensor modules with power out (DC or AC) for...anything you want, mix and match
>
> I really think printing bike-mountable lights or sensors or whatever is a good racket...or should i say bracket.
>
> aaaand i'll show myself the door
>
>
> May 16, 2013 10:11:45 AM, tommy.york at gmail.com wrote:
> I can't remember exactly from last week, but maybe you brought this up, Marc?
>> I think this is a really great idea, which could bring in revenue (from the kits), more revenue (from workshops focusing on building the kits, and not necessarily for adults [sudo-kids?]), and members (from people who enjoy the workshops thoroughly).
>> Though it is currently being done: If I remember correctly, I think people in the community - Mitch Altman? - do workshops like this.  And though an internet "competitor" exists - Maker Shed's kits (http://www.makershed.com/) - and I haven't yet done a significant amount of research about the kind of kits that they offer and so forth, I think it'd be really neat to purchase the parts, design really fun, age-appropriate packaging, sell the kits at some kind of minimal markup online, then above and beyond that have donation-suggested workshops where we guide people through the process of assembling whatever the kit is. Even if other hackerspaces / non-hackerspace entities / for-profit corporations are doing a similar concept, we'll have people interested who are geographically proximate to Sudoroom.
>> Also, we have ideas: the lock picking class brought in great PR (in my opinion), and I'm guessing that the listserv would have a bunch of great ideas that are quirky, exciting, feasible, etc.
>> I've always wanted to build a bunch of modular synthesizer modules, but that's kind of a fringe / eccentric interest.
>> It'd be great to use Sudo-fund for this discussion, if people are interested.
>>
> -----------------
>> Thomas Riley York (杨德民) 510.926.0510
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommyyork
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> sudo-discuss mailing list
>> sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org
>> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>>
> _______________________________________________
> sudo-discuss mailing list
> sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org
> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss