Dorkbot Adelaide Workshop #1 Wrapup

Today was the first Dorkbot Adelaide workshop, which focused primarily on physical computing and Arduino. Software materials (code and patches) can be found here. The workshop was a success, as I felt that participants both enjoyed themselves and got something out of it too. Thanks to everyone for coming along. Many thanks to the University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium, the Electronic Music Unit, Christian Haines and Peter Sansom for the venue and the resources - it would have been impossible without this help.

Dorkbot Adelaide has a forum!

Please feel free to join the Dorkbot Adelaide online forum, to discuss upcoming meetings, collaborative projects, suggest workshops and more!

http://www.createforum.com/dorkbotadelaide/

Dorkbot Adelaide Workshop Materials

Here are the basic materials in terms of Max/MSP patches and Arduino files for some of the basic things we will be looking at for the Dorkbot Adelaide physical computing workshop today.

This covers:

• Digital input for a single button
• Digital input for multiple buttons
• Digital output for a single output (LED etc)
• Digital output for multiple outputs (LEDs etc)
• Analog input for a single device (potentiometer, LDR etc)
• Low-res analog input for multiple devices (potentiometers, LDRs etc)
• MIDI output on a software level
• PWM output
• Sample trigger from an analog input threshold via MIDI on a software level
  

Dorkbot ADL Meeting #5 Wrapup

The fifth meeting of Dorkbot Adelaide was an interesting one, and included presentations by sound artist Tristan Louth-Robins (a Masters student at the Electronic Music Unit) and visual effects artist Dan Thompson (of Rising Sun Productions).

Tristan spoke about his work in the area of minimal sound composition and work, and included a discussion of field recordings, technology and nostalgia. More information about Tristan's work can be found here.






Dan spoke about the background and demonstrated his approach to creating a DIY camera motion control setup as well as his ongoing efforts in the field of real-time physical control via the 3D animation package Maya. More information about Dan's work can be found here.

Announcement: Dorkbot Adelaide Arduino Workshop!

Dorkbot Adelaide presents:
PHYSICAL COMPUTING AND YOU:
AN INTRODUCTION TO ARDUINO

Dorkbot Adelaide presents an introductory workshop to physical computing, which is the field of controlling and responding to the real world using computers. This exciting area allows anyone to easily add interactivity and complexity to a variety of digital projects.

In this hands-on, practical workshop, participants will learn about the basics of using the Arduino platform. Topics covered include an introduction to Arduino programming; digital and analog inputs and outputs; how to connect a variety of components to Arduino; and how to integrate the hardware into popular software packages.

The workshop will be held on Sunday, 28th June from 11am onwards at the Electronic Music Unit, University of Adelaide. The cost is $15 per person. No prior knowledge is required. As numbers are strictly limited, bookings are essential. To book, simply email seb.tomczak@gmail.com or phone Seb on 0430 213 700.

More information about the very popular Arduino hardware platform can be found here: http://arduino.cc/

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Dorkbot Adelaide - "People doing strange things with electricity"
Web: http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34974297336

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Reminder: Dorkbot Adelaide Meeting #5 Tomorrow

Dorkbot Adelaide is upon us once again! Of course, you don't need to know anything about electronics or technology to come along.

Tristan Louth-Robins will present an exiting array of his sound art installations and works, whilst Daniel Thompson will blow us away with his contributions to openMoco in the form of physical interfaces for animation and video.

Be there AND be square.


Website: http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/

When: Sunday, May 24, 2009
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Level 5, Schultz Building, University of Adelaide, off Kintore Ave.

Dorkbot Adelaide Meeting #5 - May 24th!

Dorkbot Adelaide is upon us once again! Of course, you don't need to know anything about electronics or technology to come along.

Tristan Louth-Robins will present an exiting array of his sound art installations and works, whilst Daniel Thompson will blow us away with his contributions to openMoco in the form of physical interfaces for animation and video.

Be there AND be square.


Website: http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/

When: Sunday, May 24, 2009
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Level 5, Schultz Building, University of Adelaide, off Kintore Ave.

Robert Hart: HardHack

Fellow Adelaide Dorkbot co-founder Robert Hart has recently started a new website, HardHack.org.au.

""Hardware Hacking" is a term referring to either the modification, cannibalization or combination of new and/or old technologies to create something different, in order to solve a problem, convey an idea, art, experiment, or just for the fun."

The site covers many of Robert's most recent project, including his amazing DIY Cosmic Ray Detector, so go check it out!

Adelaide Dorkbot #4 Wrap Up

Last Sunday's Dorkbot Adelaide meet up was quite successful in the sense that the 10 or 11 people that came were very interested in the main presentation - the analog modeling synthesiser by Ben Davey.

Although there were some technical problems with the device at first - and we had to rely on a YouTube video in lieu of a real-life demonstration - Ben did some troubleshooting during the coffee break and was able to let the audience play around with his synthesiser. The synth GUI seemed a touch sluggish. However, I really liked it and I though it suited the touch interface really well.

Learn more about Ben's synth project here: http://synthesia.sourceforge.net/

Adelaide Dorkbot #4

After an elongated Christmas break Dorkbot is back and set to be even bigger and better in 2009 as we slowly find our feet and crank into gear for another season of electric oddity. This year we'll be holding meetings on Sunday evenings so you never have to dash from work again, and we'll be holding them quarterly so you'll always have something to look forward to.

The first meeting of 2009 is coming up very soon! Engineering student Benjamin Davey and his team will be presenting their Synthesia analog modeling synthesiser and of course there will be an open discussion / soapbox where anyone can bring along any ideas, problems or questions they are having with any projects. So come along for some free coffee and tim-tams, and hang out with people doing strange things with electricity!


Date: Sunday, February 22nd, 7.30 PM
Venue: Electronic Music Unit, Level 5 Schulz Building, Adelaide University


So make sure you mark it in the calendars, and we look forward to seeing you all there!

If you have something you'd like to present at Dorkbot 09, be sure to contact us - we want to hear what you're all doing, and are keen to take submissions and ideas for presentations, panels, workshops and discussions!

Your friendly Dorkbot team,

Robert, Seb, Christian & Lauren

Adelaide Dorkbot #3 Wrap Up

Vinny Bhagat and Martin Victory spoke at the last Adelaide Dorkbot meeting. It was actually a surprisingly successful night - not from the content, because I knew that that was going to be interesting, of course - but because the turnout was the best for any of the Adelaide Dorkbot meetups so far.

Vinny Bhagat presented a network presentation with himself on laptop, computer and motorised percussion (localised), Kym Gluyas on saxaphone (localised), Chris Martin on piano (elsewhere in Adelaide) and Maria Fava on the generation of real-time visuals (located in Italy). The performance was quite engaging and was almost engulfing at times with its swirling masses of sound and visuals. Vinny then spoke about his experiences with network performances and about his upcoming work in the field of sound art and electronic arts in India over the coming quarter.

Martin Victory presented and demonstrated his work on network-based sonification. I am always very impressed with Martin's work, and he delivered this time. The audience was captivated by the ideas and possibilities through his work. His focus in network sonification has been mostly on creative mapping and interfacing - a very interesting subject indeed, which brings up questions about what a creative outcome can be, what a performance and a musical work can be and also the lateral use of technological systems (all of which, if you read this blog with any kind of regularity, you would know interests me greatly).

Thanks to everyone (especially the presenters and performers) for coming along and making it a successful night. The next meeting is scheduled for December (exact date is still to be announced).

Vinny and Kym perform with Chris in a network performance.

Real-time visuals as generated by Maria (whose location was in Italy).

Martin presents about his explorations in network sonification.

Part of Martin's presentation.

Adelaide Dorbot #3: Netbot

Adelaide Dorkbot #3 is this Wednesday. Come along! It will be fun. Coffee and snacks provided.

DORKBOT ADELAIDE presents !!NETBOT!!

Presentations by:
Vinny Bhagat - networks FOR music
Martin Victory - networks AS music

Discussions by:
Hidden Village (brief Electrofringe report)
You! - if you have any ideas/ projects please feel free to bring them along to show the group or discuss them over a coffee and tim tam or two!

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2008 (THIS WEDNESDAY!!!)
Time: 7:30 - 9:30
Location: Schulz Building, University of Adelaide (off Kintore Avenue)
Its Free

See you there! and feel free to pass the information along.

Web: http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/
Email: dorkbotadelaide@dorkbot.org

Mailing List: http://dorkbot.org/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotadelaide‐blabber
RSS: feed://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/?feed=rss2

Adelaide Dorbot #3: Netbot

When: 15th October
Time: 7.30PM onwards
Where: Level 5, Shulz Building, University of Adelaide
Enter via Kintore Avenue

DORKBOT ADELAIDE presents !!NETBOT!!

Vinny Bhagat - networks for music
Martin Victory - networks as music

More presenters TBA

"Be there and be square"

Dorkbot ADL Meeting #2

"The second Dorkbot meeting is upon us! So get your electronic thinking caps out, your coffee cups ready, and come along for some strange inspiration of the electric kind.

Feel free to share your ideas and projects and meet other locals that are doing strange things with electricity, or simply sit back and listen to the presentations and get inspired."

Date:	Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Time:	7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	EMU, Schulz Building, Level 5, University of Adelaide

Dorkbot Adelaide Meeting #1 was last night

Robert Hart and myself presented at yesterday's first Dorkbot Adelaide meeting. But i think the highlight of the evening was chatting to people over coffee and juice afterwards. The evening went relatively well considering it was the first meeting, and I really look forward to the future of Dorkbot Adelaide.

It was an inspiring evening for me, and I strongly encourage anyone with any sort of interest in electricity and electronics and associated arts and technology practices to attend the next meeting.

Many thanks to all those who made the time to come out on a cold Sunday evening.

Dorkbot Adelaide Facebook Group

Can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34974297336

Dorkbot Adelaide this Sunday

We are holding the first ever Dorkbot Adelaide meeting this Sunday! How exciting. Robert Hart from Air Stream is presenting as well as myself.

Please, come along. I am sure there will be fun to be had.

When: 7:00PM Sunday, 29 June
Where: Schulz Building, Level 5, Room 5.06 (EMU Space)
Who: Anyone with an interest.
Cost of entry: Free

What is Dorkbot? Well...

"Each dorkbot is different and is driven by the needs and interests of people in the local community. But generally, the main goals of dorkbot are: to create an informal, friendly environment in which people can talk about the work they're doing and to foster discussion about that work; to help bring together people from different backgrounds who are interested in similar things; to give us all an opportunity to see the strange things our neighbors are doing with electricity. dorkbot isn't really a forum for formal artist talks or lectures, but rather a chance for diverse people to have friendly conversations about interesting ideas. " (from http://dorkbot.org/startadorkbot/)



You can visit the Adelaide Dorkbot page here:
http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotadelaide/