[hackerspaces] Creating a hackerspace...

[markus järve]

There is huge problem of paying to engineers playing industry workers. That
will make it very costly. Also it will start to resemble just a factory
very soon, because of extra expenses and needed professional workforce.

Name: Cmc // Markus Järve
Web:   http://cmc.tech-thing.org/wordpress/




On Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Matthew Dumas <
matthew.dumas at ripplecomputing.com> wrote:

> So, I've been thinking a lot recently about how to get hackerspaces to
> people without them.
>
> It seems to me that the current model should be viable, but isn't due to
> the large spread of hackers, and the fact that most are not within an easy
> drive of the spaces. I, personally, have wanted to be a part of one for
> quite a while now, but the nearest one is over an hour away, and I've got
> better equipment in my bedroom.
>
> While thinking about this, I think I might have stumbled upon a solution.
> I would like to create a virtual hackerspace with access to real equipment.
> The idea is that there would be a website that provides access to project
> management tools, software configuration management, hardware configuration
> management (a slightly different system.. I've got ideas), a
> videoconference server with recording capability, and a learning management
> system for actual courses. I've always had a passion for teaching, so I'd
> love to bring the LMS up to snuff, and from the beginning, I'll be using
> the ABET guide so we can have accredited courses in the future. In addition
> to all of that, I'd like to provide a web store with "Home Laboratory
> Kits." As I've said before, I've got a lot of equipment, and have been
> making myself metal-cased portable laboratories for quite a while, I think
> it would be easy to source and sell these kits.
>
> On the physical side, I'd like to provide access to a tech fab shop which
> will be open only for online use, at first. The idea would be that you've
> paid for membership, now you just pay for materials (at whatever markup is
> needed to fund the shop), upload your design, and have it made by a
> professional engineer. In order to do this right, you'd have to upload your
> firmware to a specialized CM repo for integration with the programmers, and
> your hardware designs to two different hardware CM systems (one for
> casings-- 3d printing, one for boards-- 2 sided milling). If it is popular
> enough, and people wanted full scale manufacturing, I'd love to provide
> that level of complexity to hackers, but for starting out, I think it would
> be better to limit the manufacturing to prototypes that could be taken to
> other full manufacturing plants for product runs.
>
> What do you guys think about this, is it worth pursuing? Obviously, unless
> some angel investor is reading this, and wants to give me lots of money, I
> won't be able to start big, I'll have to pick something and start with
> that. So, I will start with the LMS since I have a lot of experience in
> teaching and with a particular LMS, and while that's being developed, I'll
> work on the config management modification for hardware.
>
> If there's any support, I'll start getting plans ready for building a
> kickstarter page to finance the development of the first course.The first
> course that I think would be best is a hands-on arduino course. It will
> consist of a software and a hardware track. I'll be happy to give you more
> information if you're interested.
>
> All comments welcome, along with suggestions, ideas, counterpoints, and
> anything else that might be of value!
> -M
>
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>
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