Glimps at DIYBIO

Hacklab has been hosting our friends DIYBIO for a while now. And with their presence a great symbiotic relationship has developed between the two groups. DIYBIO has a  bio lab in the Hacklab  space that has grown to a place where they can start running experiments.  The photo gallery below shows one of the experiments recently conducted. For more information on DIYBIO visit their website at DIYBIO.to. As well as visit Hacklab on Tuesdays for our open house to talk to some of the DIYBIO people in person. 

(continue reading…)

During the summer we had two guests stop by on a Tuesday for help with a special project.
To build a Adam West era Bat Phone, which was to be a birthday gift.
So to make sure the gift was not spoiled I was a bit extra cautious and did not post any photos.

Now that the coast is hopefully clear I can post several build photos from the project.
Several HackLab members jumped in on this build aiding with the modification of the phone.
Teaching how to solder and assembling the PCB the guests bought for the project, and
of course quality assurance. Quality assurance in the sense of everyone who was
around once the build was done had to try out the finished build.

Replacing the Bulb with an LED.

Determining how the original guts of the phone are to be reused.

Assembling the sound shield for the Arduino.

Successful installed new LED.

Bat Phone all built and tested.

This years Mini Maker Faire in Toronto is over, but it was a grand success in my eyes.
People from all walks of life and age came out to explore, create, share ideas, and hack.
I believe the community just became a little bit bigger from this weekend, and a lot closer for those already in the community creating new connections and friendships.
I am hard at work combing through the photos, trying to decide what to do with them all.

I hope everyone had a blast this weekend and made memorys.
Here are a few moments I captured that I care to share.

This is the Droid you are looking for.

Lock-Pick Village

RGB LED strip Holds wonder.

This weeks is to be viewed as a bit of a comic strip.
Effect and Cause, Cause and Effect.

What ever is causing such a contemplating look?

Why it is his recent test of his Game of Life program.

What does this room of people all have in common?

Arts and crafts being setup.

Several weeks ago now the Toronto Mini Maker Faire Launch party happened.

You can find more images on the following photo streams; Photo booth shots and more,  Photos by Adam Evenden

Upon entering the launch party and registering attendees where faced with an arts and crafts table, full of hot glue, blank masks, LED’s, Coin battery’s, pipe cleaners, markers,  tape, Glitter, and more.
Click more to see some of the creations.

(continue reading…)

Laser cutter fun.

During one snowy Hacklab open house there was some creative

(continue reading…)

During last week’s python class we got to the part in our wonderful textbook where the concept of recursion is introduced.  My friend Susan posted a witty line to my facebook feed regarding the teaching of recursion:

I normally teach recursion by checking to see whether they understand recursion, and if not, teaching recursion.

Within the class we have a variety of levels of experience with programming in general, and recursion in particular.  I’m curious to hear peoples’ favourite recursion teaching tools, examples, or other witticisms.  What’s your favourite programming problem to solve recursively?

-Leigh