WIP Lab Update
Discussion:
We will need to get ventilation for the soldering stations. Diana and Jim both had the same suggestion for a small carbon filter. Grant will source.
A projector and projection surface would be very useful for teaching. We hadn’t thought about this. It may be possible to use one of our spare projectors and screens in the meantime? Once the lab is set up we can see what is feasible.
Usage of the lab:
Because we do not have a technician in places, the classes scheduled for the Fall will occur in the South Building as usual.
Jennifer Schuler will be keeping an eye on the embroidery machine as part of her appointment with the sewing centre in the South Building. This is very part time, maybe 1 day a week.
A Directed Studies student will also be using the embroidery machine and will keep an eye on it.
There may be a small amount of money for 1 day a week for a technician. This would be to support grad and faculty work in the space.
Discussion:
Both Diana and Jim would like to have use of the space for their class in the Fall. This will be discussed with curriculum support.
Helene is wondered about access to the embroidery machine. This is possible and would work well with the directed studies. Helene and the Directed Studies student will be connected.
Jim suggested to add “Interactive Products” to the lab name and the name became “Wearable and Interactive Products” or WIP for short. Jim has been named the head of the WIP.
Training
The first training session on the embroidery machine was held on August 14th. It was great but it would be good for the next training session to focus more on the software. Maria has made some enquiries about this possibility and has some tentative leads. Another training session will be scheduled before October. The basics of how to thread the machine and how to embroid a canned pattern can be learned from one of the people that attended the first training session.
There are also training DVDs that we will obtain from SWF that cover the software.
Grant set up a Blog page for the WIP lab (thanks!)
Jim showed us some prototypes objects that were made for an interactive museum experience. The objects were printed using a Dimension printer and embedded with microprocessors and IR transmitters.
A few books have been purchased for the lab:
Please recommend other books and resources.
