DojoCon 2013
Saturday 13th April members from Drogheda’s Lightbox Lab and Dublin’s TOG (http://www.tog.ie/) hackerspaces took along some of our projects and ideas to the DojoCon conference held in Slane Castle. It was Jester aka Martin Mitchell from TOG who initially suggested that it would be a great idea to have some representation from the irish hackerspace community at the event. So a after a few emails to Graham at CoderDojo Drogheda who also thought it would be a great idea, we put the wheels in motion to get a stand arranged.
TOG are well used to public events but this was to be Lightbox Lab’s first venture outside of our workshop in Millmount and we all were quite new to planning the logistics, so we naturally wanted it be as successful as possible. A week beforehand we got some of our projects organised and ready for the Saturday. And thanks to Paul Doyle and family we were also well set with flyers, posters, and our new banner.
On the Saturday we picked up Jeffrey and Jester from TOG at Drogheda bus station, got ourselves some breakfast and then made our way to Slane Castle.
We knew there might be issues with getting an internet connection in the exhibition area but we had made sure we had a backup plan to get ourselves a reasonable connection so we set this up first. After that we were pretty much set and we set up a bunch of projects and hands on tutorials for people to play with, this included Jester’s lockpicking tutorial, Paddy’s Arduino projects, Paul’s games emulators running on Raspberry Pi, Cians 3D printer, my own playdough and banana powered makey makey sip phone :-) and of course Jeffrey Roe’s soldering tutorial.
The morning was reasonably quiet but there was a steady stream of CoderDojo delegates, organisers and volunteers visiting the stands and getting stuck into the lockpicking and soldering tutorials. Jeffrey later said that about forty people learned to solder on the day!
However come lunchtime we were pretty much swamped for about an hour and a half, there was a lot of interest in hacker and maker spaces and I was surprised to learn how many people had not heard of the community in Ireland. However I think we all did a good job of explaining that it is a community open to anyone interested in exploring technology and that its not just for people who are well skilled in the area.
It also looks like we could have done with another body on the soldering stand, Jeffrey was flat out especially at lunchtime.
Shortly after lunch it was time to bring things to a close, pack up and then head back to Drogheda for some celebratory drinks.
This was of course the time to relax and go over what went well and what we could do better next time round. It was also great to catch up in the pub with the lads from TOG where we discussed ideas around running hackerspaces and some upcoming irish hacker events, most notably Gaelhack which will be a community run event in Waterford in June. details here ( http://gaelhack.hackerspaces.ie/ )
So a fun first day out for Lightbox Lab overall with thanks to CoderDojo for hosting us and of course to TOG for coming up from down south. And of course we hope to do a lot more over the next year or so.
Jonathan
Security Workshop: dangers of using public wifi
Our next Security Workshop will be held on Saturday 25th May from 11am to 2pm. The focus will be on the dangers of using wifi, free or otherwise in cafes, pubs hotels etc. We will demonstrate the notorious man-in-the-middle attack that when executed can obtain details on another network users authentication and browsing details. We will then demonstrate how a user can secure themselves from such attacks and highlight the dangers of connection to a wireless access point that may not be what it seems. If you are interested in attending the session is free for members and a 5-euro charge for non members. Please send a mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to register for this workshop
Introduction to Joomla 2.5
This is fully booked out now for the first session. If you wish to participate in the next series of tutorials let me know @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll start a new list. When places are filled I'll arrange new dates.
Paul
Lightboxlab are holding a series of tutorials on Joomla CMS starting in April. For those who don't know too much about Joomla take a look at this link to Joomla's site. I've been using Joomla for a while now and have created a few sites using this great open source solution, Lightboxlab's website www.lightboxlab.ie being a real world example. This is more a hobby to me so I don't profess to be an expert by any means but I try to find my way around it. This is open to all and you don't need to an MSCS to attend. (If you do happen to have one though you can give me a hand :0) The only requirements are that you have a laptop, a sense of humor and a fiver if you need it.
Details
The cost to attend is €5 per class. Lightboxlab members have free admittance. Details are below. As this is the first set of tutorials I have no idea on how many sessions this will take as yet. Sessions will be approx 3 hours. If you are interested please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as spaces are limited for the first session.
An Introduction to Joomla CMS 2.5
IT Definition (My Definition)
Introduction
Joomla CMS What is it? (What’s it all about anyway)
Real World examples (I like pictures)
Help? Where to look (I’m stuck)
Alternatives to Joomla CMS (I like Apple)
Basics
What is a Web Development Environment? (Let’s get going)
Install a Web Development Environment. Win/MAC/Linux (Seriously let’s get going)
How to install Joomla 2.5 CMS (Finally)
First steps in Joomla navigating the user interface (Now we’re sucking diesel)
Creating a Joomla Website
Installing a web template (techie badge)
Understanding module positions (nerd badge)
Creating Articles (creativity badge)
Menus (yawn, coffee break time)
Modules (yawn more, red bull time)
Plug-ins (prehaps time for a break)
Enhancing Articles. Multimedia, Social media, Pictures (facebook time \0/)
Joomla Extensions - how to manage your extensions (this is cool stuff)
Joomla SEF/SEO or how to be SEEN (not so cool but you need to do this)
Administration
The backend configuration options of Joomla (there be dragons ahead)
Backups (serious face)
Updates (ditto)
Upgrades (ditto ditto)
AOB
Questions (Your delaying everyone leaving)
More Questions (No problem but it's your round)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
GaelHack 2013
The Event
GaelHack is a 3 day convention around the theme of hackerspaces, following the format of other similar events in other countries :
- It's run by volunteers and non-profit.
- No one gets a free ticket.
- The talks/events/workshops are run by those who attend.
- The types of events depend on who attends and what they volunteer to do.
- It is for people with an inquisitive mind and/or an interest in making things: hackers, geeks, scientists, engineers, artists, and crafters.
- The types of things we expect to happen
- Social meet-ups, meet those with shared interests.
- Workshops on soldering, electronic kit building etc.
- Security talks and workshops
- Talks on topics of interest in technology, software, electronics, crafts etc.
- Demonstrations of recent projects and achievements.
The types of things we expect to happen
Social meet-ups, meet those with shared interests.
Workshops on soldering, electronic kit building etc.
Security talks and workshops
Talks on topics of interest in technology, software, electronics, crafts etc.
Demonstrations of recent projects and achievements.
Have a look at the schedule of similar, UK event:
https://www.emfcamp.org/talks
As this is our first year we expect our conference to be smaller.
Our complete schedule of events will only be released a few days before the event.
When
Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of June 2013.
Friday night from about 7pm people will start to arrive.
Talks/Workshops/Events will take place from 10am Saturday until the evening.
Talks/Workshops/Events will take place from 10am Sunday until probably 3 or 4pm.
Full details and registration information is availible on the GAELHACK website.
Membership is go!
Hope you are all well. So we now have our bank account finally sorted. It took a lot longer than we expected (we started the process in November) but its finally set up. And as such we can now put membership in place. As mentioned previously there are two payment options
Option 1
25 euro per month for those who are in full employment through standing order paid before end of each month.
Option 2
15 euro per month for students/unemployed/OAPs through standing order paid before end of each month.
As we want to make this as inclusive as possibly "starving hacker!!" rate will be discussed at next board and member community meeting to be held sometime in February
Membership will give you full access to any equipment that has been shared by other group members or purchased by Lightbox lab (we have a nice growing wishlist) as well as free access to any workshop/classes/tutorials and talks that we hold in the space. Also in time members will be provided with a key to the space, we are currently working on this. Being a member will also allow you to have your say in decisions that Lighbox lab makes including resource management, infrastructure and in what direction the community takes in the future.
Non members can still attend group nights for free but a 5 euro fee will be required to attend workshops, classes etc.
It is still early days and we need to continue to grow and develop Lightbox Lab to help in supporting the maker and hacker community in the Drogheda and Louth/Meath area and beyond. As such if you want to see the space remain open in your area we really need your help to keep if a space open for hackers and makers to come to and work on exciting projects, to learn and to make new contacts/friends that share your interests along the way.
So If you wish to become an official paying member and obtain your membership rights please send a mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can add you to the membership and provide you with the standing order details. Kind donations will of course also be accepted :-)
Software and Networking Night
Want to start your own app/game development project?
Want to learn TCP/IP, UDP, or what "packet sniffing" is all about?
Want to start learning python / perl or another laguage?
From 22nd January we will be running a software and networking group nights for anyone interested in these topics. The space will be open from 7:15-21:45 for these nights. Every two weeks the space will be open for coding projects along with being able to improve upon your networking skills and to perhaps start your own open-source project with other people in the group. Much like the HW and Electronics group night it promises to bring together various skillsets and levels and have fun putting your plans that you've had on the backburner for too long in motion! If you want to get involved please send a mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for contact details and questions. Spread the word!
Network Security Workshop
So after the Christmas lull we are back with some more workshops for the next few months. To start off we will be holding a security workshop on the 26th of January from 11am-4pm. The plan for the day is to allow anyone with an interest in systems and network offense/defense to learn with the group and others some new skills within in this area and to ask and answer questions on the subject. We will set up a small network with a few machines configured with various security holes for testing purposes. We all have various levels of experience in this area so its a good chance to learn something new and a chance to figure out what security flaws your own home/office system may be open to and how to fix them. The idea is also to "learn together" so there will be no fixed agenda for the day. The workshop is free to members and 5 euro for non members. Anyone wishing to attend should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more detailed info with regards to what software/hardware is required . Hope to see you there!