Tech savvy connecting at Hackerspace – Nelson Star

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Brad Pommen

Members of the Nelson Tech Club

It just might be the fastest growing club in town.

Nelson Tech Club started out in the back room of a local computer store and as word spread – almost in a rumour-like fashion, more and more new people came to check it out, said club president Brad Pommen.

“It seemed every week someone new would come through the doors,” he said. “We almost had to keep it under wraps sometimes because we knew if we had another influx of people, we’d have nowhere to put them.”

Read the full story from the Nelson Star here:
http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/187472001.html

 

 

Posted in Stuff, Updates | Leave a comment

TED – We Are Makers

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Brad Pommen

North America was built by makers — curious, enthusiastic amateur inventors whose tinkering habit sparked whole new industries. At TED@MotorCity, MAKE magazine publisher Dale Dougherty says we’re all makers at heart, and shows cool new tools to tinker with, like Arduinos, affordable 3D printers, even DIY satellites.

See more great videos at TED.com

Happy Holidays from the NTC!

Posted in Stuff | Leave a comment

NTC in the Kootenay Express News – Boy Scouts Visit

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Brad Pommen

Boy Scouts at NTC Dec 2012Courtesy of the Kootenay Express News
Friday, December 21st, 2012 (page 3)

Nelson Scouts recently visited the local technology “hackerspace” at the Nelson Tech Club (NTC) and were given a tour which included demonstration of a 3D Plastic Printer and a Laser Cutter. The NTC offer’s a public meeting every Wednesday night at Selkirk College Tenth Street Campus – Annex Building in which members of all ages and skill levels learn about computer programming, electronics and robotics. The local scouts group experienced first-hand how the two pieces of equipment allow students to turn digital designs into real-world objects. Jason Taylor, Chair – School of the Arts and Brad Pommen, President of the NTC were on hand to demonstrate the technology offered by the tech club and the college audience.

Posted in Events | Leave a comment

NTC Awarded Grant for Youth Boot Camp

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Brad Pommen

Arduino UnoThe Nelson Tech Club (NTC) was awarded a Columbia Basin Trust – Youth Grant to hold “Arduino Boot Camps” at the local college hackerspace. Sponsoring organization, Selkirk College, backs the NTC with the physical space where they hold their weekly “hackerspace” meetings which are open to the public. The Arduino “Uno” is a small computer about the size of a pack of gum which lets you connect sensors, control motors, buttons, LED’s and you can program it from any computer. Students find it a fun and easy way to understand and to learn about electronics and computer programming.  The investment will go towards the expansion of the club’s computer resources. The NTC President, Brad Pommen, will host the boot camp events in early 2013, utilizing laptop workstations for each participant. Through the club’s motto: “Build, Learn, Share” the NTC provides a face in the community and establishes itself as an innovative leader in the areas of science and technology. For more information, please visit www.nelson-tech-club.info.

 

Posted in Arduino, Updates | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Nelson Boy Scouts visit NTC

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Brad Pommen
Boy Scouts at NTC Dec 2012

Nelson Boy Scouts visiting the Nelson Tech Club

1st Nelson Scouts toured the Nelson Tech Club during our regular Wednesday meeting. Checking out our hackerspace, the group was dazzled by the NTC’s 3D Printer and the Laser Cutter at Selkirk College in Nelson.

Posted in Events, Stuff | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

RoboGames Video

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Brad Pommen

ROBOGAMES in Nelson, B.C. from KAST on Vimeo.

Posted in Updates | Leave a comment

NTC 2nd Aniversary Party – Dec 19th

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Brad Pommen

Come out for Pizza, wings and refreshments at our 2nd anniversary party.

Event will take place during our regular weekly public hackerspace.

Wednesday, December 19th @ 6 – 8pm

Posted in Events | Leave a comment

NTC in the Kootenay Express News

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Brad Pommen
Brad Pommen, Nelson Tech Club President, at the RoboGames held at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC

Brad Pommen, Nelson Tech Club President, at the RoboGames held at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC

Courtesy of the Kootenay Express News – Friday, November 30th, 2012 (page 8)

Robogames 2012 saw 24 youth, ranging from grade 6 – 11 participating as part of a program offered by the Nelson Tech Club. The club plans on hosting a RoboGames 2013, with more events and more age categories. They will also be offering Arduino Boot Camps early in the New Year (the Arduino is the computer brain of the robots used in the RoboGames competition) as well as a host of robotics, programming and electronics courses. The Nelson Tech Club offers a drop-in, public hackerspace every Wednesday 6-8 PM at Selkirk College Annex Building.

Posted in Events | Leave a comment

NTC on Kootenay Co-op Radio

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Brad Pommen
Kootenay Co-op Radio

Kootenay Co-op Radio

Brad Pommen, President of the Nelson Tech Club talking about the NTC, hackerspaces and the tech scene within the Kootenay Boundary. Kootenay Morning guest host, Bradley Roulston discusses, “What is a hackerspace?” and “What does the NTC do?”

Kootenay Morning Podcast (MP3) on Kootenay Co-op Radio (93.5FM Nelson)
Interview from 01:00 – 14:00 (13 minutes)

Posted in Events | Leave a comment

RoboGames 2012 Winners

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Brad Pommen
RoboGames - Group Shot - Photo courtesy of Hayfire Media

RoboGames – Group Shot – Photo courtesy of Hayfire Media

Congratulations to first place winners, team R.T.F from Rossland Secondary school! They each took home an Arduino Controlled Rover at the RoboGames 2012. The NTC is proud to support the youth of Nelson, BC and the surrounding areas in science and technology.

Read: RoboGames 2012 – Circuits and Coding and MindStorms, oh my!

The Nelson Tech Club is comprised of over 140 Nelson area locals who have partaken in one of our Wednesday night hackerspaces. Our membership includes all ages, all abilities – encompassing everyone from enthusiast to seasoned professional. The RoboGames exhibited the collective talent and skill of the NTC membership mentoring 24 enthusiastic youth from Nelson, Trail, Rossland and New Denver. Using the Arduino micro-controller and Lego Mindstorms robotic bases, 6 teams competed in the Main event. Through 14 hours of NTC lead workshops, the youth learned the basics of computer programming, electric circuits and robot building. See our resources for more info.

Our goal at the NTC is to capture the essence of the technology home brew clubs of past decades in a new form called a hackerspace. One of over 1000 active hackerspaces world-wide, they are also known as maker spaces or meeting spaces. Our club’s motto is: Build, Learn, Share. We provide a place for technology enthusiasts to meet, collaborate and share ideas. We support projects with resources and offer a shoulder-surfing education – kind of a technology show-and-tell with the encouragement to be hands on and take part.

We encourage anyone interested to check out our weekly hackerspace meetings. Bring your projects, your ideas and your enthusiasm. Cheers.

Brad Pommen
Nelson Tech Club President

 

 

Posted in Events, Resources | Leave a comment