{"id":11660,"date":"2015-10-29T11:43:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T00:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ala.asn.au\/?p=11660"},"modified":"2015-11-11T19:02:04","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T08:02:04","slug":"hands-on-at-hawthorn-hackerspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ala.asn.au\/hands-on-at-hawthorn-hackerspace\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands on at Hawthorn Hackerspace"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"page<\/a>Hacker or makerspaces are\u00a0<\/strong>the latest in a long tradition of\u00a0<\/strong>community spaces that offer\u00a0<\/strong>opportunities for informal learning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a dark winter\u2019s night in Melbourne\u2019s Hawthorn, a lime\u00a0green perspex door trimmed with LED lights up a cobbled\u00a0laneway. The Connected Community HackerSpace (CCHS)<\/a> in\u00a0the converted garage welcomes people who want to work\u00a0on DIY technology or artistic projects. Over 50 members\u00a0have access to space, tools, technology and to a community\u00a0of like-minded enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

Inside a handful of members are working together and\u00a0individually on a range of DIY projects. At one table, Tim is\u00a0building a device that uses sensors and internet connectivity\u00a0to send information. If an elderly or frail person carrying the\u00a0device in their pocket has a fall, it can send a message via\u00a0email or social media to alert health professionals or family.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the lathe, Andrew is enjoying learning more traditional machine shop skills that he missed out on at school to make a scribe that can etch plastic, a far better alternative than a permanent marker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Founder Andy Gelme says you don\u2019t need to be a technical\u00a0whizz or a computer nerd to join. Members don\u2019t need any\u00a0qualifications other than the desire to experiment in building\u00a0a solution to a problem. \u2018You need to be a self starter and\u00a0there are always other people in the community who can\u00a0help you over hurdles.\u2019<\/p>\n

Project ideas can be relatively straightforward and offer\u00a0lots of chances to learn new skills. \u2018It might be something\u00a0as simple as \u201cHow can I measure the amount of water in my\u00a0rainwater tank?\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n

Learning by making is a hands-on process. First there\u2019s the\u00a0process of experimenting, seeing what works and what\u00a0doesn\u2019t, adapting your approach and trying again.<\/p>\n

\n

Hackerspaces, sometimes called makerspaces\u00a0or fablabs, are places where people gather to\u00a0invent, create and learn through creative DIY.\u00a0Hackerspaces emerged in the early 1990s and\u00a0today there are over 1200 worldwide, with\u00a0around 20 in Australia.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2018Our goal is to empower people to experiment and figure\u00a0out the way to make the project work within the budget\u00a0they\u2019ve got and the tools available,\u2019 Andy says.<\/p>\n

The range of tools and machinery available is growing all\u00a0the time and includes 3D printers, specialist electronics\u00a0equipment, laser cutters, CNC mills, power tools and lathes.<\/p>\n

The CCHS idea started in Andy\u2019s garage in 2009 and took off\u00a0from there. \u2018Anyone who wants to learn or share knowledge\u00a0is welcome.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Andy<\/a>An ongoing challenge is overcoming the negative\u00a0connotations of the word \u2018hackerspace\u2019. Andy says it\u2019s\u00a0disappointing that the word \u2018hacking\u2019 is so misunderstood.\u00a0Many people think of hackers as cyber criminals breaking\u00a0into computer systems, stealing online passwords and\u00a0breaking into bank accounts. In fact the term also refers to\u00a0creative people who adapt and alter existing technology to\u00a0solve unique problems or adapt a piece of equipment to use\u00a0it in a new way.<\/p>\n

\n

One group project team that included Andy\u00a0Gelme invented LIFX, the first WiFi-enabled\u00a0LED lightbulb controlled via smartphone. After\u00a0a successful Kickstarter campaign the concept\u00a0has since been sold to a US company.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Andy<\/a>
Andy Gelme demonstrating the LIFX lightbulb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether they are working on an individual or a group\u00a0project, each member is there to learn as well as teach.\u00a0Then there\u2019s sharing what you know with others, and in\u00a0group projects, collaborating and communicating to solving\u00a0problems.<\/p>\n

Andy says the diversity of the people who are part of the\u00a0community is amazing. \u2018We have people who know heaps\u00a0about programming but zero about electronics and vice\u00a0versa. We\u2019ve got people who\u2019ve retired from an industry who\u00a0have decades of knowledge and experience and are fantastic\u00a0contributors. So you can come here to work on projects\u00a0with all sorts of people from hobbyists to professionals and\u00a0there\u2019s this real crossover of knowledge and skills between\u00a0everybody.\u2019<\/p>\n

Being a member has its responsibilities. \u2018People make the\u00a0place work. We encourage an expectation that you come\u00a0along to both learn and contribute as much as you can.\u2019<\/p>\n

Hackerspaces like CCHS are open to anyone with an interest\u00a0in modifying, making, improving or inventing things,\u00a0regardless of gender.\u00a0Members differ in age, educational backgrounds and ability\u00a0but women are still underrepresented, Andy says. One\u00a0woman has been an enthusiastic member, combining craft\u00a0with electronics to make high-tech soft toys. \u2018We\u2019d love to\u00a0see more women here. We\u2019re always working on outreach,\u00a0we\u2019re trying to make it a welcoming and comfortable space\u00a0and removing any barriers to entry.\u2019<\/p>\n

Open days and workshops are one way the CCHS promotes itself and recruits new enthusiasts. On family days, NodeBots and Minecraft hacks are popular.<\/p>\n

Hackerspaces have become popular since the internet has made the technology and knowledge for DIY projects more available than it\u2019s ever been. At the same time, especially in cities, the lack of space means fewer people have the room to set up a home workshop.<\/p>\n

Andy says the opportunity to socialise is just as important as access to the technology and tools. \u2018Some people have a much better set up at home but they come here because they feel valued. They feel they can contribute something to others.\u2019<\/p>\n

Preparing their new space also had a bonding effect. Members donated furniture and equipment. \u2018We really worked together on getting the place the way we wanted it and it really built a sense of community.\u2019<\/p>\n

You just have to look around to see that the building itself has been hacked. Members have adapted and shaped it for their needs, from designing and installing the fluorescent plexiglass door to let in light and air to the shelving, benches, 3D printers and security system. A member-built card reader attached to the milling machine only allows the machine to be turned on and operated by members who\u2019ve completed the required safety training.<\/p>\n

More information about\u00a0Connected Community Hackerspace (CCHS)<\/a>\u00a0is available on their website.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hacker or makerspaces are\u00a0the latest in a long tradition of\u00a0community spaces that offer\u00a0opportunities for informal learning. On a dark winter\u2019s night in Melbourne\u2019s Hawthorn, a lime\u00a0green perspex door trimmed with LED lights up a cobbled\u00a0laneway. The Connected Community HackerSpace (CCHS) in\u00a0the converted garage welcomes people who want to work\u00a0on DIY technology or artistic projects. Over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":854,"featured_media":11663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHands on at Hawthorn Hackerspace - Adult Learning Australia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ala.asn.au\/hands-on-at-hawthorn-hackerspace\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hands on at Hawthorn Hackerspace - Adult Learning Australia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hacker or makerspaces are\u00a0the latest in a long tradition of\u00a0community spaces that offer\u00a0opportunities for informal learning. 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