Monday Feb 6 was the next ASC (#6), and the event was over the top in a number of ways. Previously, the highest level of grant was $500-$600 (with an upper limit of $1,000 if enough judges participated); this time extra funds from corporate groups raised it to $3,500. As well, the judging was two-phased; the initial ten (of which eight actually appeared) were winnowed down to a top three on Monday, and on Thursday the final three make a … Continue reading
Here is the first prototype of the first Braille Display device, named ‘Audrey’, after my mother… Continue reading
This Saturday was a chance to take my prototype out on the town – the Victoria Olio Cooperative had an under $20 crafts fair. I helped man the Makerspace booth (read: banquet table), and found it a great opportunity to discuss the benefits of Makerspace, and also discuss my first Makerspace project, the Open Source Braille Display. In fact, I even joined the Olio group, since they had a special rate (regularly $30/year, it was $20, as befits the event’s … Continue reading
This month has been busy with planning for my Really Important Project. As part of it, I needed quick prototyping with fast turnaround (cheap would be nice, too!) In scouring Victoria BC and environs for 3D printing services (hint: give up and go to Vancouver!), I came across a local group – MakerSpace – a local ‘chapter’ of the HackerSpace movement. Wondering what a HackerSpace is? Imagine a big room or two with band saw, sander, many, many more power … Continue reading
