nycresistor's soup

Michael Seri will exhibit his LED neon light dress Lock Her&Him Up at the Interactive show this Saturday 6/16! The chain mail dress is fitted with neon-esque LED tube and powered with batteries. Michael writes: “This dress will be worn by a model in different locations in NYC as a means of social justice and expression on the issues that are on the forefront of society.”

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Andrew Katsikas’ Shadowbox is “a Virtual Reality experience inside a box where the walls are made up of shadows that are ever-changing. Shadows are derived from movement/patterns observed in the natural world and distilled down to their essence. Shadows pulse in and out, reacting live to the music that is playing.”

Andrew Katsikas will also exhibit Computer Beach:

Computer Beach challenges and elevates the medium of 360 video by rejecting realism and emphasizing escapism. By combining the aesthetic of VHS-style “glitch” art, Vaporwave/Psychedelic culture and looping footage of a gorgeous beach in Martha’s Vineyard, we cultivate a hypnotic and transformative experience and make it available to everyone.

Come check them out at the Interactive Show this Saturday 6/16!

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Don’t miss DJ Smokey’s performance this weekend at the Interactive Show! If you came to our Halloween/Anniversary party last fall, you already know what it is.

A cinematographer by day, Smokey Nelson will bring the dance beats starting at 11pm with a carb-loaded mix of EDM, hiphop, classic favorites and more.

Halloween party photo by Billie Grace Ward

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Dat Phan will present his origami LED sculpture Photon Molecule at the upcoming Interactive Show on Saturday, July 16.

Photon Molecule is a modular origami piece laced with programmable LEDs. Viewers can interact with the sculpture via a Leap Motion hand-tracking sensor. There’s no meaning behind it; it is just meant to be pretty and fun.

Dat Phan is a recent transplant from San Francisco. While there, he was involved in and drew a lot of influence from the local Art+Tech and Burning Man communities. Although he studied software in school, he loves making tangible work-physical objects that take up space and are part of the environment alongside us. Having developed a love of light via photography, he combines his programming skills and crafting skills to create animated light sculptures. He takes a lot of inspiration from physics and nature and aims to push the aesthetic boundaries of physical lighting effects.

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Announcing a new addition to the Interactive Show lineup! Reckoner+= Matthew will perform live at 9:30pm on 6/16:

Reckoner+= Matthew is a duo that improvises using synthesizers and live coding to create beat music that rests on top of waveforms, probabilities and loop conditions. Reckoner is Sumanth Srinivasan, a guitarist and music producer who makes electronic/sample music. Matthew is Matthew Kaney, a programmer and digital artist creating textures out of analog and programmed synthesizers. Both of us spend our day time making software. We grew as an act in the NYC live coding scene and have performed at Algoraves in the past, which emphasizes on performers typing code on stage to make improvised electronic music. The music, despite its unconventional process, retains elements of dance and pop music and indulges in danceable rhythms.

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Sonia Li will present her video projection piece entitled Movement at the Interactive Show on July 16th. About her piece, Sonia writes:

Movement is inspired by my personal transformation through dance and a spiritual event of meeting my true self. Dance is a language which encourages the brain to spark new cells, interconnecting to form new neuro pathways. The plasticity of the brain constantly adapts to the physical changes in the body, impacting perception, comprehension and memory. I make these visuals after dance sessions to directly tap into the energy of the mind-body connection, reflecting the organic shifts and changes. As my body learns to perform complex movements, the visuals evolve with these changes. Additionally, I listen to Solfeggio frequency, healing sounds to explore the mind’s capacity for spirituality. As a result, these experimental images have scintillating colors, dynamic movements and speeds. The circular motions echo my natural movement inclination and the mandala, Buddhist spiritual symbol. They channel my artistic intuition through scientific research in neurology and psychology, maintaining visual tension, difference and interest to the brain.

She also added a note: “In regards to the carbs theme, the visuals have a lot of carb base foods, I must have been hungry while making these moving images!”

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Randy Sarafan will be exhibiting his Psychedelic Selfie Maker at the upcoming Interactive Show on 6/16. Get more info and pick up your tickets! Randy writes:

The Psychedelic Selfie Maker was initially built to test the sad theory that people would take selfies of themselves taking fractured infinite selfies of themselves. This setup creates infinite video feedback as seen through a teleidoscope. When you stand between the teleidoscope and the rear projection screen, you become part of the infinite feedback and the video gets weird. All of the effects are optical. No special effects processing is done on any of the video.

The 9th Annual Interactive Show: Self Driving Carbs

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be announced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

NYC Resistor’s Interactive Show returns for its 9th incarnation. Our annual party and fundraiser invites hackers from around the region to show off their cool interactive projects with free beats and beers provided. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

This year’s theme is Self-Driving Carbs. Biscuit swarms! A giant edible house! Posters you can chomp on! More projects to be annouced soon. Keep checking the Resistor Blog for previews! And don’t worry there will be a gluten-free dance zone.

Grab your tickets now and get ready for a delicious evening of tech and tastiness!

Interested in showing off your work at the show? Drop us a line to submit your projects! Projects don’t necessarily have to be on theme, just something you want to show off at a party.

Come join us for a class! Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Get your tickets on Eventbrite.

Come join us for a class! Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Want to get started with physical computing?

Learn to program an Arduino and interact with the physical world! In this class, we’ll cover an introduction to Arduino and learn how to manipulate outputs based on sensor inputs.

Topics covered

• What is Arduino?
• Software setup (IDE, how to program it, the Serial monitor)
• Reading schematics and wiring diagrams
• Basics of breadboarding
• Controlling output (blinking/fading an LED)
• Reading sensor input (with a pushbutton, potentiometer and light sensor)
• Combining input and output

Materials

All students will receive a basic electronics starter kit, which contains a starter pack of electronics components and sensors, including a breadboard, wires, light sensor, tilt sensor, LEDs, a motor, and more. Students will also receive an Arduino UNO.

Students should bring their own laptop and install some free software ahead of time:

• The Arduino IDE
• FTDI drivers (Mac / Windows / Linux)

Who should take this class?

Basic computer knowledge is assumed, and we’ll refresh a few concepts from high school physics and math. No previous experience with coding or circuits is required.

OK, awesome, I want to join!

Please be ready to start at 1pm!  We find that you will need this time to get through the whole class. Our classes tend to sell out about a week in advance so if you’re interested, you may want to sign up early.

This class will be taught by NYC Resistor members Miria Grunick.  As with all NYC Resistor events, this class is 18+ and governed by our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct, as well as accessibility information, can be found at www.nycresistor.com/participate/.

Get your tickets on Eventbrite.

Come join us for a class! Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Get your tickets on Eventbrite.

Come join us for a class! Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

This is not your typical craft class. Make-Along is a self-guided craft workshop where participants learn new skills, explore new materials, and make great things!

Aprils’s Topic: Altered Wind–Up Toys! (or Robot Cosmetic Mods)

Have you always wanted to literally make a new friend? Do toys that move delight you? Come and we’ll teach you how to modify a wind–up toy to give it a unique personality. So no matter your skill level or approach, you’ll bring home a one-of-a-kind re-styled toy! If you have a robot that could use a makeover, this would also be an excellent time to glam it up.

Are you a beginner? We’ll provide a wind–up toy, paints, glues, googly eyes, accessories, and lots of inspiration!

Are you a master? Show off your skills and inspire others! Bring a project, use our materials, and hang out in a great space while doing what you love.

This class will be taught by NYC Resistor member Kari Love. As with all NYC Resistor events, this class is 18+ and governed by our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct, as well as accessibility information, can be found at www.nycresistor.com/participate/.

Please note that refunds must be requested 72 hours in advance. If you have any questions, please email classes@nycresistor.com.

Get your tickets on Eventbrite.

[ATTENTION!  THE DATE HAS CHANGED TO JUNE 16th]

It’s time for another Interactive Show! This year’s theme is Self Driving Carbs. That’s not a typo right?  No?  OK let’s roll with it.

It’s about some time for some smart digital comfort food.   An Uber for doughnuts, a Facebook for foodies.  Have those empty calories of content algorithmically delivered into you consciousness.

So save the date for June 16th and drop us a line to submit your projects! Projects don’t necessarily have to be on theme, just something you want to show off at a party.

You can submit a project via this form

or email us: ishow AT nycresistor.com

or visit us on Facebook

OR join us on our public Slack:

via GIPHY

Photo by Huck Magazine

Now that Brooklyn is no longer buried under snow, Hacks/Hackers will be bringing a digital security installfest to NYC Resistor on April 4th, 6:30PM. Hacks/Hackers brings journalists (hacks) and technologists (hackers) together to explore how to use technology to find and tell new stories and how to filter and visualize all the information around us everyday.

Our Hacks/Hackers hosts will introduce the special security challenges facing journalists, then we’ll break up into workshop tables with volunteers to cover specific tools and topics such as:

• How to prevent doxing via social media best practices and data removal
• Password managers
• Different kinds of two-factor authentication and how to choose the right one for you
• Signal, WhatsApp and other alternatives to phone calls and regular text messaging
• Plus other topics based on the interest of attendees

NOTE: Although this even is open to the public, you must RSVP ($12.24) to attend. Light dinner included.

If you’ve never been to Resistor before, check our Participate page for more info, including the Code of Conduct. If you’ve never been a CryptoParty-like event before, you can find out more on the CryptoParty Guiding Principles page.

Price:

$12.24 RSVP here.

When:

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018 6:30PM – 9:00PM

Where:

NYC Resistor (between Bergen and Dean)
87 3rd Ave. Floor 4 (use this OSM link if you’re Richard Stallman)
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Image credit: Matt Joyce (CC-BY-2.0)

*** UPDATE: Snowpocalypse 2018 will temporarily bury Brooklyn in snow, so this event will be postponed to a later date. Stay tuned to find out when! ***

Hacks/Hackers will be bringing a digital security installfest to NYC Resistor on March 21. Hacks/Hackers brings journalists (hacks) and technologists (hackers) together to explore how to use technology to find and tell new stories and how to filter and visualize all the information around us everyday.

Our Hacks/Hackers hosts will introduce the special security challenges facing journalists, then we’ll break up into workshop tables with volunteers to cover specific tools and topics such as:

• How to prevent doxing via social media best practices and data removal
• Password managers
• Different kinds of two-factor authentication and how to choose the right one for you
• Signal, WhatsApp and other alternatives to phone calls and regular text messaging
• Plus other topics based on the interest of attendees

NOTE: Although this even is open to the public, you must RSVP ($12.24) to attend. Light dinner included.

If you’ve never been to Resistor before, check our Participate page for more info, including the Code of Conduct. If you’ve never been a CryptoParty-like event before, you can find out more on the CryptoParty Guiding Principles page.

Price:

$12.24 RSVP here.

When:

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018 6:30PM – 9:00PM

Where:

NYC Resistor (between Bergen and Dean)
87 3rd Ave. Floor 4 (use this OSM link if you’re Richard Stallman)
Brooklyn, NY 11217

So today was the Crochet Make-Along 101 class, aka let’s make cute monsters.  It’s part of a series of classes: once a month, we have a Make-Along class (March is how to make egg dioramas).

I sat knitting quietly in the corner (aka unpicking lots of rows and swearing gently under my breath) as about 15 people, all absolute beginners, giggled and wowed their way through making these:

They were all beginners.  It took me forever to learn how to crochet last month; this class learnt crochet stitches, used them (“magic circles!”) and created these monsters in less than 3 hours.  Well done class!

Favourite quotes: “Let’s pick up the poop one”, “He’s so cute”, “it went great”.

Here are all the NYC Resistor classes (soft and otherwise).  NYC Resistor also has a public slack group (contact widget@nycresistor.com to be invited), including a knitting and crochet channel (#pkptransistor).

Come join us for a class! Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Get your tickets on Eventbrite.

We’ve still got room in Sunday’s 3D Printing class! You’ll learn how to use our Makerbot printers, how to design your own 3D models and use others’ models, and what to worry about when buying your own 3D printer. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Your instructor will take you through key concepts of 3D printing, demo the technology on our printers, and lead the class through the design process of creating a model and preparing it to print. We’ll talk about creating functional objects, creative objects, available materials, print reliability, and compare various printer models and features. Get tickets while there’s still room!

I recently published two guides for new electronics projects around tracking your social media stats. The first is a YouTube subscriber counter that resembles a Play Button Award and shows your subscriber count across two seven segment displays behind the framed paper.

The second is very similar but tracks multiple stats with the same board, and has more displays connected.

Both projects use the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller and LED backpacks from Adafruit.