dorkbot-boston 200905 - wooden pong, latte printer, mbta search tool, makerbot May 26, 2009

Dorkbot-boston is a monthly gathering of people doing strange things with electricity. Bring your projects, in whatever state they are in, and bring 10 friends!

Thank you Microsoft Cambridge (http://microsoftcambridge.com) for opening up their venue to us this month and for supporting local makers and user groups!

This month's presenters:

* Michael Soroka (http://michaelsoroka.com/), inventor of the Electro-mechanical Pong Table, is a Research Engineer at the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Laboratory at MIT’s Sea Grant College Program (http://seagrant.mit.edu/). Among his many projects at MIT is the Sea Perch, an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that teachers and students can build to learn about robotics, physics, and water sampling. When he's not building autonomous subs, he can be found designing and building furniture, wooden puzzles, tesla coils and other mechatronics (see http://mikesoroka.squarespace.com/mechatronics/)

* (*rescheduled from Feb*) Oleksiy Pikalo (http://opikalo.wordpress.com/) is an independent inventor and artist who created a machine that can print intricate designs on lattes or other foamy beverages. At dorkbot, he will talk about the design process and technical challenges for building this artwork and demonstrate the device on tasty drinks. He’s turned this idea into a business (http://onlatte.com) and he will talk about how that process has been going.

* W. Aaron Waychoff is a network engineer and software developer and inventor of the iSrch Rndmzr 3000(tm), (http://subvertedindustries.com/) a speculative object that explores the social implications of "random" MBTA searches of riders. He will be talking about the project, and will share some tips on how to take an idea from a breadboard prototype to an object that actually looks great.* W. Aaron Waychoff is a network engineer and software developer and inventor of the iSrch Rndmzr 3000(tm), (http://subvertedindustries.com/) a speculative object that explores the social implications of "random" MBTA searches of riders. He will be talking about the project and will share some tips on how to take an idea from a breadboard prototype to an object that actually looks great.

* Jimmie Rodgers (http://blog.jimmieprodgers.com/) designs toys and electronics kits and is the organizer for Noise Night (http://www.noisenight.com), a bi-monthly gathering of people enthusiastic about electronic music and circuit bending. At the May dorkbot, he will give the group an update (and, fingers crossed, a demo) on the recent Makerbot acquisition and build.

* OpenDork - Everyone is encouraged to bring your own recently completed or projects-in-progress for OpenDork, a lightning round-the-room session of peer-review and general showing-off. Art and technology projects at all stages (sketchbook to polished) and of all levels of complexity are welcomed. This is the perfect chance to say, “Hey, I’m trying to do something interesting… here is what I’ve got so far. Can anyone offer suggestions to move forward?”

Official Website: http://www.dorkbotboston.com