Coffee Break #7

Come join us for some “tech-talk” at the Gresham Library! It's been a little while since we last met, and EAST Knowledge is changing our overall format up a bit. We'd like to do more regular, informal gatherings and have talks when the opportunities present themselves.

So with that in mind, we hope you join us in this informal gathering to talk shop, show what we're working on, help each other, and hear from others interested in technology. If you are not yet familiar with our group, this is a nice opportunity to drop by and introduce yourself. We’ll have light refreshments, and some of us may get together for lunch afterwards. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Large Meeting Room at the Gresham Library
	385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am - Noon, Saturday, April 29th, 2017
Why:	Sharing what we know with other tech enthusiasts

Replace Your File Cabinet with Mayan EDMS (Meeting #8 Announcement)

EAST Knowledge is excited to host James Richey for our eighth meeting. Join us for James' talk sharing what he's learned about Mayan EDMS. There will be an interactive demonstration, so bring your laptops! All are welcome!

What:	Replace Your File Cabinet with Mayan EDMS
Who:	James Richey
Where:	Large Meeting Room at the Gresham Library
	385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:30am - Noon, Saturday, June 18th, 2016
Why:	Sharing what we know

Mayan EDMS is a free open source electronic document management system suitable for the home or office. It has powerful search and automatic categorization functionality. If you have you ever been frustrated while trying to locate an important document, been overwhelmed from attempting to organize a large stack of papers, or want to preserve your documents in digital form, you'll want to learn more about Mayan EDMS. James will:

• Give an overview of Mayan EDMS and the problems it solves
• Explain the key concepts such as metadata, document types, and indexes
• Show how to import documents
• Explore ways to quickly locate documents
• Demonstrate Mayan EDMS with a live, interactive demo
• Describe how to install and administer the software

Come and learn something new! We hope to see you there!

Join us for lunch after!

We're going to try something different for this meeting. After the talk, anybody who is interested can join us for lunch at Blondie's Pizza, which is a couple of blocks from the library. The last time I was there, they had a $6 lunch special for a salad and a slice of pizza. Blondie's is next to Jazzy Bagels on 112 N Main Ave (map).

The Joys and Sorrows of 3D Printing! (Meeting #7 Announcement)

EAST Knowledge is excited to host Michael Yurkoski for our seventh meeting. Join us for Michael’s talk describing his experiences with using a 3D printer in the home. All are welcome!

What:	The Joys and Sorrows of 3D Printing!
Who:	Michael Yurkoski
Where:	Large Meeting Room at the Gresham Library
	385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:30am - Noon, Saturday, March 12th, 2016
Why:	Sharing what we know

Michael has been doing an intense dive into the practical side of 3D printing, and he wants to share with our group the lessons he has learned. He intends to:

• Give a brief intro into the history of hobby 3D printing
• Explain why 3D printers are interesting
• Expound on why 3D printers are loathsome
• Explore how 3D printers work
• Demonstrate how he designs a widget
• Show off a printing like a pro (which Michael insists he is not)

We hope to have time for Q&A at the end. If you’ve been curious what all the fuss over 3D printers is about, or would like to commiserate with a fellow 3D printer enthusiast, join us for our meeting. We hope to see you there!

Coffee Break #6

Update: A meeting recap.

Come join us for coffee and “tech-talk” at Cafe Delirium! If you are interested in technology but are not yet familiar with our group, the coffee break is a nice opportunity to drop by and introduce yourself. We have the room in the back reserved. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Cafe Delirium
	308 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am - Noon, Saturday, February 20th, 2016
Why:	Sharing what we know over good coffee

Coffee Break #5

Update: A meeting recap.

We had a great meeting last month. For this month, we invite you to join us for coffee at Cafe Delirium. If you haven't made it to one of our talks, the coffee breaks provide a nice opportunity to drop by and introduce yourself. We have the room in the back reserved. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Cafe Delirium
	308 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am - Noon, Saturday, Novemeber 21st, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know over good coffee

Going Back in Time for Some Vintage Howdunit (Meeting #6 Announcement)

Update: A meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is excited to announce it's sixth meeting. Bill Howland will re-introduce us to vacuum tubes and their uses. Come and learn something old!

What:	Going Back in Time for Some Vintage Howdunit
Who:	Bill Howland
Where:	The Meeting Room at the Gresham Library
	385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:30am - Noon, Saturday, October 24th, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know

Bill Howland will:

• Give a summary of the origins of vacuum and gas diodes and related thermionic devices
• Have show-n-tell demonstrations of the earliest and simplest of such devices: The diode

Vacuum tube diodes were put to use in the early days of radio as "detectors", because they were more robust and reliable than crystal, mechanical, and chemical contrivances used for this purpose. With further development, thermionic vacuum and gas diodes advanced to be capable of power rectification with ever greater efficiencies.

Many example devices from the 1930's to 1950's will be available to examine. There will be orange, purple, and blue glows in the demonstrations!

Come and share what you know or just come to learn what other people know! All are welcome!

Bill shares some of his projects on his blog: Evil Science Audio

Coffee Break #4

After taking a break over summer, EAST Knowledge is ramping up again with a coffee break. We invite you to join us for coffee at Cafe Delirium. If you haven't made it to one of our talks, the coffee breaks provide a nice opportunity to drop by and introduce yourself. We have the room in the back reserved. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Cafe Delirium
	308 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am - Noon, Saturday, September 19th, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know over good coffee

Coffee Break #3

Update: A meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's third "Coffee Break"!

We invite you to join us for coffee at Cafe Delirium. If you haven't made it to one of our talks, the coffee breaks provide a nice opportunity to drop by and introduce yourself. We have the room in the back reserved. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Cafe Delirium
	308 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am - Noon, Saturday, May 16th, 2015
Why:	Coffee and sharing what we know

Meeting #5 Announcement - Locating Intrusions Using Fiber Optics

Update: A meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is excited to announce it's fifth meeting. Jim Rulla will be giving a talk about how fiber optics can be used as sensors for locating intrusions. Come and learn something new! Come and share what you know! All are welcome!

What:	Locating Intrusions Using Fiber Optics
Who:	Jim Rulla
Where:	The Story Room at the Gresham Library (map)
When:	10:30am-Noon, Saturday, April 18th, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know

Interferometers measure distances to within fractions of the wavelength of light. Put a couple of these incredibly sensitive devices on the fence around an airport, and you can not merely detect a would-be intruder — you can locate him. Put a pair on a pipeline, and you can not merely detect nearby digging that could damage the pipe — you can locate its source. You might even be able to detect — and perhaps even locate — leaks in the pipe.

The detection and location mechanisms are fascinating examples of clever engineering. I'll explain how these patented systems work and illustrate new algorithms that improve performance.

Coffee Break #2

Update: A meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's second "Coffee Break"!

EAST Knowledge is going to try a repeat of our first "Coffee Break". The first had a lot of great discussions. We invite you to join us for coffee at Cafe Delirium. We have the room in the back reserved. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Cafe Delirium
	308 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am-Noon, Saturday, March 28th, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know and what we're up to

Meeting #4 Announcement - The Evolution of Hardware Design in the Home Lab

Update: a meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's fourth meeting. Pat Nystrom will be giving demonstrations on his efforts to make it easier to prototype electronics at home. All are welcome!

What:	The Evolution of Hardware Design in the Home Lab
Who:	Pat Nystrom
Where:	The Computer Lab at the Gresham Library (map)
When:	10:30am-Noon, Saturday, February 14th, 2015
Why:	Sharing what we know

Pat Nystrom led off our EAST Knowledge series a little over a year ago, and we wanted to bring him back to see what he's been working on. He will be talking about and demonstrating two topics:

• A dry-film soldermask process which makes home-made circuit boards much friendlier to use
• An update on the development of his manual pick-place machine

Come and learn something new!

Solder masks are used in electronics manufacturing both to protect copper traces and to keep solder from going where it shouldn't.

Pick and place machines are devices used in electronics manufacturing. They come in various sizes, but they are commonly expensive. Pat is working on something that would be suitable and affordable for enthusiasts or prototype manufacturing.

Coffee Break #1

Update: a meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's first "Coffee Break"!

EAST Knowledge would like to do something a little more relaxed for our next meeting. We invite you to join us for coffee and pastries. We're going to hang out for a couple of hours, so feel free to come by, talk shop, show off what you're working on, ask questions and pick each other's brains. We look forward to seeing you there!
All are welcome!

What:	Coffee Break
Where:	Banaka & Browns Artisan Bakery and Coffee House
	835 N Main Ave, Gresham (map)
When:	10:00am-Noon, Saturday, November 8th, 2014
Why:	Sharing what we know and what we're up to

Meeting #3 Announcement - Introduction to IPython Notebook

Update: a meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's third meeting. Charles Stanhope will be giving a talk on IPython Notebook. All are welcome!

What:	Introduction to IPython Notebook
Who:	Charles Stanhope
Where:	The Computer Lab at the Gresham Library (map)
When:	10:30am-Noon, Saturday, June 14th, 2014
Why:	Sharing what we know

Come and learn about IPython Notebook interactive computing environment! An open source project used and developed by a community of scientists and engineers, IPython Notebook is a powerful tool that can save time and effort, and allows you to:

• Rapidly prototype and explore algorithmic ideas
• Easily share results
• Replicate work
• Freely collaborate
• Leverage a large body of existing libraries

Charles will introduce and demonstrate IPython Notebook. He hopes to have a live system that can be used by the audience. All you will need is WiFi, a web browser, and some curiosity. So bring a laptop!

EAST Knowledge at East Gresham Community Information Fair

EAST Knowledge will have tech enthusiasts and demonstrations at a table at the 7th annual East Gresham Community Information Fair,

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

6:00 P.M. — 8:00 P.M.

The fair is hosted by 3 of Gresham's Neighborhood Associations and will be held at:

Greater Gresham Baptist Church

3848 NE Division St.

(Just East of Kane/257th)

(google map)

Please drop by to meet other tech enthusiasts, see what we've been up to, and find out more about our group!

The information fair is family-friendly, with exhibitors chock-full of information about — and opportunities in — our east-side community. To see a full list of exhibitors and other useful information, go to:

http://greshamoregon.gov/neighborhoods

and click on

East Gresham Community Information Fair

(last of the 4 links immediately under the "Neighborhood Associations" heading).

Meeting #2 Announcement - "Don't Touch That Data!"

Update: a meeting recap.

EAST Knowledge is pleased to announce it's second meeting. Jim Rulla will be giving a talk entitled "Don't Touch That Data!". All are welcome!

What:	Don't Touch That Data!
Who:	Jim Rulla
Where:	The Computer Lab at the Gresham Library (map)
When:	10:30am-Noon, Saturday, March 8, 2014
Why:	Sharing what we know

There's a serious problem: the hardware is spewing out data, but the answer is wrong. It's too late to redesign, and besides, the product ought to work. Another filter and some ad hoc software will have to suffice — until new problems arise.

Sound familiar? If the textbook analysis doesn't apply to your problem, no filter and no software hack will help. The only reliable way to fix the problem is to model it correctly, then solve the model problem.

I will show how incorrect modeling sets back — and in some cases, destroys — product development. The examples:

• are real,
• are simple (when solved correctly), and
• illustrate techniques you can apply to your projects.

The examples include applications from audio, optical, and communications engineering.

The right model is almost always simpler to understand and easier to solve than the wrong models. Come see how you can simplify your project!