Schedule and pre-reg form
Jonathan Oxer
With time pressing I've made a few executive decisions.
Draft schedule
--------------
A couple of speakers haven't yet confirmed but at least we now have the
basic structure as a starting point and we can adjust as necessary.
The very high-level structure is:
1. Hardware assembly tutorial (using the Pebble).
2. Basic Arduino stuff using the Pebble for examples.
3. More advanced talks.
You'll notice that the first two talks (which I envisage will probably
actually end up rolled into one) don't have a presenter associated with
them. I'm hoping that someone from this group will put their hand up to
do it.
Pre-registrations for hardware assembly
---------------------------------------
Unfortunately we can't just turn up with a bunch of hardware and hope it
all works out: we need to know in advance who will be attending so that
we can arrange the correct amount of hardware and reserve spots for
those people. To do that we're going to need some kind of registration
form and (ideally) to collect money from them in advance. To work out
what we need to include I've thrown together a form that collects
information (not money) that can be accessed directly at:
http://jon.oxer.com.au/amc2010
Personally I'd prefer not to have us purchasing Arduinos and USB cables
for people: it adds financial risk and requires capital up-front,
especially considering that Andy and I have already forked out a not
insignificant amount of money between us for Pebble parts and PCBs. If
attendees expect us to act as Arduino retailers as well it's just more
work we have to do, and I'd rather provide people a list of retailers
and tell them they need to organise their own.
Andy has already provided some feedback on the form privately and I've
started to incorporate his suggestions, but other comments are welcome.
I want to go public with pre-reg by the weekend so we can start to get a
sense of how many people we'll have for the hardware session.
Cheers :-)
--
Jonathan Oxer
Ph +61 4 3851 6600
* Internet Vision Technologies (www.ivt.com.au)
* Practical Arduino (www.practicalarduino.com)
* SuperHouse Automation (www.superhouse.tv)
* Geek My Ride! (www.geekmyride.org)
Mitch Davis
>
> started to incorporate his suggestions, but other comments are welcome.
Well these are just my suggestions. My mileage varies.
* Add text that says "If you want to partipate in the miniconf, you
<i>must</i> pre-register". I think it would be a good idea to make it
clear that places in the miniconf are allocated on the basis of that
information.
* Add text to the top which says "We'll be organising attendees into
pairs. We suggest that one pair works on one Arduino/Pebble".
* On the form choice "Expert: able to solder SMD with garden tools",
put a link to your excellent blog article :-)
* Re the hardware checkboxes, can we turn some of them on, to make the
sensible and least-worst options the default?
Also, as well as the section heading of "Required Hardware", can I
suggest another line underneath that says "You <i>need</i> a Pebble
<i>and</i> an Arduino for this miniconf".
* Before the Pebble board radio buttons, say "We can supply these
items (and will contact you about it soon).
* For the fully assembled board, say "no soldering, no regrets" :-)
* Before the Other hardware check boxes, say "You have to source these
yourself (suppliers <a href="suppliers.html">here</a>)"
* In the Other hardware, do we need to put a laptop, so they can run the IDE?
* In the handler for the form (ie, on the next page), if they ticked
any of the "other hardware", remind them they have to source those
parts themselves. If they didn't tick them, remind them that they
need to bring them.
Mitch.
Jonathan Oxer
cover both an introduction to Arduino and also use of various Pebble
subsystems. I've also added brief talk descriptions and *very* brief
bios (invented by me so certainly subject to correction / improvement)
for the speakers who have confirmed that they will be available.
http://groups.google.com/group/arduino-miniconf-2010/web/program
Andy Gelme
Thanks Jon for taking the lead on getting this all across-the-line ...
Jonathan Oxer wrote:
> 2. Basic Arduino stuff using the Pebble for examples.
>
> You'll notice that the first two talks (which I envisage will probably
> actually end up rolled into one) don't have a presenter associated with
> them. I'm hoping that someone from this group will put their hand up to
> do it.
I'm happy to put my hand up to (preferably) co-present (and share the
joy) or go solo (but, surely others will be interested in contributing
as well ?).
I'm currently finishing off the Arduino (Aiko) code for fully supporting
all the Pebble hardware. I'll also do a simple code fragment for each
of the Pebble hardware sub-systems, so that attendees don't have to
absorb it all at once (they can focus on a given sensor / actuator /
display / inputs).
> Pre-registrations for hardware assembly
> ---------------------------------------
> Unfortunately we can't just turn up with a bunch of hardware and hope it
> all works out: we need to know in advance who will be attending so that
> we can arrange the correct amount of hardware and reserve spots for
> those people. To do that we're going to need some kind of registration
> form and (ideally) to collect money from them in advance.
It would really help to get advance payment. The less messing around
(with foreign currency) on the morning of the mini-conference, the
better. On the day, we really need to get under-way on the hardware
assembly as quickly as possible (right after the keynote speech).
In addition, it's easy for half-interested people to register and then
not turn up. If we get 40 or 45 pre-registered people ... and start
having to turn people away (or put them in a queue), then we could be
turning away really committed people, due to uncommitted early
registering people.
> Personally I'd prefer not to have us purchasing Arduinos and USB cables
> for people: it adds financial risk and requires capital up-front
Perhaps the form should have a tick-box labelled "[ ] I have (or will
have) an Arduino, USB cable and laptop with the IDE installed ... and
I'll be bringing them along".
The form has the Arduino and USB cable as "Other hardware" ... it should
be clearer that they are "Required hardware" ... and that the Zigbee
module is "Optional hardware".
> ... I'd rather provide people a list of retailers
> and tell them they need to organise their own.
Sure ... so should the list of retailers (NZ, OZ and US) be put on the
form, with the recommended part numbers or direct URL to the products ?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Feedback on the form (as it currently stands 2009-12-17 19:00) ...
- Put a picture of the completed Pebble (with a brief description) at
the top of the page, so that people know what they are getting. The
form needs a stronger "sales pitch" (sorry, no offensive intended !) to
get people excited about committing to attending.
- Since we'll have people's email address, we can always immediately
follow-up in a personal email to determine their true commitment ... and
assist them to prepare for the mini-conference.
- Is the attendence number "15 pairs" ... or "20 pairs" for the hardware
assemble session ? We are currently planning on having 20
half-assembled boards and 25 fully-assembled boards and whatever
left-over PCBs there are.
= Regarding Zigbee. On the day of the mini-conference, there will be
enough Zigbee hardware around, that attendees will only need a single
Zigbee module to join in the fun (plugged into their Pebble). However,
once the mini-conference is over ... they only have half of an
end-to-end wireless connection. Attendees will require 2 Zigbee modules
and a Zigbee break-out board (or a second Pebble :) so that they can
continue to play with Zigbee after the mini-conference by themselves.
--
-O- cheers = /\ /\/ /) `/ =
--O -- http://www.geekscape.org --
OOO -- an...@geekscape.org -- http://twitter.com/geekscape --
Jonathan Oxer
> I'm happy to put my hand up to (preferably) co-present (and share the
> joy) or go solo (but, surely others will be interested in contributing
> as well ?).
That's a great offer. I've been talking to Philip Lindsay privately
about having him nominally lead the hardware assembly session, but of
course with the assistance of other people including yourself. Right now
it's still unknown whether Philip will be able to get there at all
though.
> I'm currently finishing off the Arduino (Aiko) code for fully supporting
> all the Pebble hardware. I'll also do a simple code fragment for each
> of the Pebble hardware sub-systems, so that attendees don't have to
> absorb it all at once
Brilliant!
> It would really help to get advance payment. The less messing around
> (with foreign currency) on the morning of the mini-conference, the
> better.
Absolutely. I think we should make it mandatory. Not for attending, of
course (it just occurred to me that people on this list may think we're
going down the path of charging to attend the miniconf - that's not the
case, it's just for a kit of hardware to use during the soldering /
assembly tutorial) but for anyone who wants hardware they really need to
pay first for all the reasons you stated.
> Perhaps the form should have a tick-box labelled "[ ] I have (or will
> have) an Arduino, USB cable and laptop with the IDE installed ... and
> I'll be bringing them along".
>
> The form has the Arduino and USB cable as "Other hardware" ... it should
> be clearer that they are "Required hardware" ... and that the Zigbee
> module is "Optional hardware".
Good idea.
> Sure ... so should the list of retailers (NZ, OZ and US) be put on the
> form, with the recommended part numbers or direct URL to the products ?
Yes.
> - Put a picture of the completed Pebble (with a brief description) at
> the top of the page, so that people know what they are getting. The
> form needs a stronger "sales pitch"
(Head-slap myself)
Obvious in retrospect, and you're absolutely correct. I'm so familiar
with the Pebble that it didn't even occur to me that we'd need to
explain what it is and why people should build one.
> - Since we'll have people's email address, we can always immediately
> follow-up in a personal email to determine their true commitment ... and
> assist them to prepare for the mini-conference.
Yes.
> - Is the attendence number "15 pairs" ... or "20 pairs" for the hardware
> assemble session ? We are currently planning on having 20
> half-assembled boards and 25 fully-assembled boards and whatever
> left-over PCBs there are.
The number we've discussed recently is 20 pairs, but I hadn't updated
the blurb yet. I'll do that.