Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

By Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media ReporterSociety & CultureEducationArts
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Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak episodes

  • Virtually Revolutionizing Science Studies


    For many of us, "biology class" and "fun" never used to be synonymous.

    Enter Labster: an award-winning virtual-reality science lab.

    Labster combines scientific expertise with computer-gaming scenarios.  And the result?  Students enjoying science class and seeing, first-hand, how scientific principles apply to the "real world".  They're also learning at an exciting rate, where they "tuned out" before.   This virtual-reality lab is currently part of the curriculum in more thatn 150 colleges and universities, worldwide.  Their clients include Harvard, MIT and the University of Hong Kong.

    Aaron Knox is Labster's Vice President of Customer Development.  He talked about the creation of Labster's award-winning virtual lab simulations, some of the current applications, and the directions in which the team wants to take their revolutionary program in the future.
    On this version of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

    *
    How Labster first came into being;

    *
    What students experience when working with the virtual-reality science lab;

    *
    A surprising study on student outcomes;

    *
    A new educational tool currently in development for the virtual labs;

    *
    Some of the new upcoming digital experiences presently in the works;

    *
    Aaron's own experiences, after he and his family moved from the U.S. to Denmark;

    *
    Plans for future virtual-reality labs and simulations;

    *
    Some of the ways schools can obtain the digital-lab program;

    *
    How the company is expanding in the United States;

    *
    Dates for the team's planned future appearances at conventions in the U.S.


    Labster will be at the 2017 Blackboard World conference, in New Orleans, this summer, from July 25th through 27th.

     

     

     
    21 min
  • Virtually Revolutionizing Science Studies
    (Photograph courtesy of Elisabeth Eriksrud Glomseth, and used with permission.)

    For many of us, "biology class" and "fun" never used to be synonymous.

    Enter Labster: an award-winning virtual-reality science lab.

    Labster combines scientific expertise with computer-gaming scenarios.  And the result?  Students enjoying science class and seeing, first-hand, how scientific principles apply to the "real world".  They're also learning at an exciting rate, where they "tuned out" before.   This virtual-reality lab is currently part of the curriculum in more thatn 150 colleges and universities, worldwide.  Their clients include Harvard, MIT and the University of Hong Kong.

    Aaron Knox is Labster's Vice President of Customer Development.  He talked about the creation of Labster's award-winning virtual lab simulations, some of the current applications, and the directions in which the team wants to take their revolutionary program in the future.
    On this version of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

    *
    How Labster first came into being;

    *
    What students experience when working with the virtual-reality science lab;

    *
    A surprising study on student outcomes;

    *
    A new educational tool currently in development for the virtual labs;

    *
    Some of the new upcoming digital experiences presently in the works;

    *
    Aaron's own experiences, after he and his family moved from the U.S. to Denmark;

    *
    Plans for future virtual-reality labs and simulations;

    *
    Some of the ways schools can obtain the digital-lab program;

    *
    How the company is expanding in the United States;

    *
    Dates for the team's planned future appearances at conventions in the U.S.


    Labster will be at the 2017 Blackboard World conference, in New Orleans, this summer, from July 25th through 27th.

     

     

     
    21 min
  • Innovation: The “Mindfulness” Element

    (Photograph courtesy of Brent Chapman, and used with permission.)
    "Just because something can be connected (to the IOT), doesn't mean it should be," warns Captain Brent Chapman.

    Brent, who serves as Project Manager at the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental,  is a Cyber Operations Officer in the U.S. Army, as well as an avid maker.   He worked on a number of maker initiatives while serving on the faculty of the U.S. Military Academy, according to his website.  And a look at his personal maker site, Brentmore Labs, reveals all kinds of cool projects--involving LED lights, woodworking and 3D printing.

    But, Brent tells fellow makers, be careful.  Innovation can come with a price--which can include unwittingly compromising security.   A hacker or terrorist might be delighted with your latest IOT connection or other creation, for purposes you never intended!

    Brent, who is a frequent speaker at Maker Faires, talked about his background as a maker, some of the safeguards makers can take against having their inventions misused, and one of his own latest cool "hacks", for his young future maker-in-residence.
    UPDATE: Since this podcast was recorded, Brent has confirmed that he will be speaking at the 2017 Maker Faire Bay Area in San Mateo.  Come join him in Zone 2 of MAKE, Live at noon on Saturday, May 20th, as he participates in the "Every Marine a Maker" discussion panel.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

    *
    How Brent first became a maker during his growing-up years;

    *
    The pitfalls he sees in the "maker mindset" that could compromise security;

    *
    The challenges of creating safeguards fof the Internet or other innovations in a connected world;

    *
    What considerations makers might want to keep in mind, when connecting to the Internet of Things;

    *
    The security safeguards Brent uses in his own home;

    *
    One of his most fun recent maker projects, for his young son;

    *
    Some of Brent's favorite maker resources

    *
    How Brent's organization is encouraging applications to work with them on national defense.

    *
    Some cautionary considerations about wearables and security of data.



    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, MAKER RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
     

    MAKE Magazine

    Ars Technica

    Slashdot

    Adafruit

    Defense Innovation Unit Experimental

    And, of course, here is Brent's maker website, Brentmore Labs.

     
    This weekend is it--the Maker Faire Bay Area!   Friday, May 19th, is Special Preview Day, with hours from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.  Then, doors open at 10 am, Saturday, May 20th.  Hours are 10 am - 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, May 20th and 21st, at San Mateo Event Center, 2495 South Delaware Street, near East 25th Avenue.  Happy Anniversary to Maker Faire, as they celebrate 12 years in the Bay Area!
     
    22 min
  • Innovation: The “Mindfulness” Element

    (Photograph courtesy of Brent Chapman, and used with permission.)
    "Just because something can be connected (to the IOT), doesn't mean it should be," warns Captain Brent Chapman.

    Brent, who serves as Project Manager at the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental,  is a Cyber Operations Officer in the U.S. Army, as well as an avid maker.   He worked on a number of maker initiatives while serving on the faculty of the U.S. Military Academy, according to his website.  And a look at his personal maker site, Brentmore Labs, reveals all kinds of cool projects--involving LED lights, woodworking and 3D printing.

    But, Brent tells fellow makers, be careful.  Innovation can come with a price--which can include unwittingly compromising security.   A hacker or terrorist might be delighted with your latest IOT connection or other creation, for purposes you never intended!

    Brent, who is a frequent speaker at Maker Faires, talked about his background as a maker, some of the safeguards makers can take against having their inventions misused, and one of his own latest cool "hacks", for his young future maker-in-residence.
    UPDATE: Since this podcast was recorded, Brent has confirmed that he will be speaking at the 2017 Maker Faire Bay Area in San Mateo.  Come join him in Zone 2 of MAKE, Live at noon on Saturday, May 20th, as he participates in the "Every Marine a Maker" discussion panel.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

    *
    How Brent first became a maker during his growing-up years;

    *
    The pitfalls he sees in the "maker mindset" that could compromise security;

    *
    The challenges of creating safeguards fof the Internet or other innovations in a connected world;

    *
    What considerations makers might want to keep in mind, when connecting to the Internet of Things;

    *
    The security safeguards Brent uses in his own home;

    *
    One of his most fun recent maker projects, for his young son;

    *
    Some of Brent's favorite maker resources

    *
    How Brent's organization is encouraging applications to work with them on national defense.

    *
    Some cautionary considerations about wearables and security of data.



    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, MAKER RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
     

    MAKE Magazine

    Ars Technica

    Slashdot

    Adafruit

    Defense Innovation Unit Experimental

    And, of course, here is Brent's maker website, Brentmore Labs.

     
    This weekend is it--the Maker Faire Bay Area!   Friday, May 19th, is Special Preview Day, with hours from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.  Then, doors open at 10 am, Saturday, May 20th.  Hours are 10 am - 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, May 20th and 21st, at San Mateo Event Center, 2495 South Delaware Street, near East 25th Avenue.  Happy Anniversary to Maker Faire, as they celebrate 12 years in the Bay Area!
     
    22 min
  • Creating Change Through 3D Printing


    "The last thing the world needs is more plastic trinkets," says Brookwood 3D Design Problem Bank founder and Innovation Coordinator Rich Lehrer.

    Consequently, if his students think they'll be 3D printing their names or plastic mascots, they're in for a--possibly world-changing--surprise.

    Rich and his 8th-grade STEM students at Brookwood School, in the Boston, Massachusetts were one of the first student groups to 3D print a prosthetic hand device, in 2013.



    Rich's then-three-year-old son, Max, was the recipient--and the students were able to see the results of their engineering work immediately.

    The success of this project was just the beginning.  Rich, who has served as an education coordinator for nonprofit e-Nable, in addition to his current work as a teacher trainer through the Buck Institute, was inspired to incorporate real-world problem-solving into his students' future lessons.

    Following closely thereafter was the beginning of the 3D Design Problem Bank.  In the Problem Bank, community members submit problems which they believe 3D printing could solve.  Then, the students choose a problem and get to work, designing.

    And in an exciting STEM offshoot, the Problem Bank also sparked "Dezign Girlz" in 2016.  This was a girls-only, week-long STEM workshop that paired sixth-grade girls with residents of a local senior community.  Once they'd identified problems the senior citizens encountered in daily life, the students went to work designing adaptive 3D printed devices as solutions.

    Rich talked about his background as an educator, some of the STEM projects his students have done, how he came to implement the 3D Design Problem Bank, and shared his vision for a global "3D Design Problem Bank", along with some resources.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Rich first began teaching STEM projects as his eighth-grade science curriculum;

    *
    His experiences leading his students as they built a prosthetic hand device, in 2013;

    *
    How that experience started him using 3D printing in a problem-solving context, for his students'  learning experiences;

    *
    How Brookwood came to implement the 3D Design Problem Bank, and how it works;

    *
    Rich's vision for expanding the Problem Bank to be a global educational tool;

    *
    The ways in which similar Problem Banks might be customized to deal with certain types of design challenges;

    *
    How Rich and a colleague connected sixth-grade girls with senior citizens in the local community, through the "Dezign Girlz" pilot project;

    *
    The resources Rich recommends for fellow STEM innovators (he has a free curriculum available on his website!)
    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, STEM EDUCATION AND MAKER RESOURCES:


    Brookwood's 3D Design Problem Bank Project

    Ultimaker Education Pioneers

    Rich's website

    MIT's D-Lab

    e-NABLE Community- open-source community for 3D printed prosthetics

    LimbForge-nonprofit that provides tools and training for clinicians to provide pathients with 3D printed prosthetics

    Buck Institute for Education

     
    32 min
  • Creating Change Through 3D Printing
    (Photo by Andrew Luman, and used with permission.)

    "The last thing the world needs is more plastic trinkets," says Brookwood 3D Design Problem Bank founder and Innovation Coordinator Rich Lehrer.

    Consequently, if his students think they'll be 3D printing their names or plastic mascots, they're in for a--possibly world-changing--surprise.

    Rich and his 8th-grade STEM students at Brookwood School, in the Boston, Massachusetts were one of the first student groups to 3D print a prosthetic hand device, in 2013.

    Max Lehrer (r) with 3D printing student and bat-gripping device. Photo courtesy of Rich Lehrer, and used with permission.)

    Rich's then-three-year-old son, Max, was the recipient--and the students were able to see the results of their engineering work immediately.

    The success of this project was just the beginning.  Rich, who has served as an education coordinator for nonprofit e-Nable, in addition to his current work as a teacher trainer through the Buck Institute, was inspired to incorporate real-world problem-solving into his students' future lessons.

    Following closely thereafter was the beginning of the 3D Design Problem Bank.  In the Problem Bank, community members submit problems which they believe 3D printing could solve.  Then, the students choose a problem and get to work, designing.

    And in an exciting STEM offshoot, the Problem Bank also sparked "Dezign Girlz" in 2016.  This was a girls-only, week-long STEM workshop that paired sixth-grade girls with residents of a local senior community.  Once they'd identified problems the senior citizens encountered in daily life, the students went to work designing adaptive 3D printed devices as solutions.

    Rich talked about his background as an educator, some of the STEM projects his students have done, how he came to implement the 3D Design Problem Bank, and shared his vision for a global "3D Design Problem Bank", along with some resources.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Rich first began teaching STEM projects as his eighth-grade science curriculum;

    *
    His experiences leading his students as they built a prosthetic hand device, in 2013;

    *
    How that experience started him using 3D printing in a problem-solving context, for his students'  learning experiences;

    *
    How Brookwood came to implement the 3D Design Problem Bank, and how it works;

    *
    Rich's vision for expanding the Problem Bank to be a global educational tool;

    *
    The ways in which similar Problem Banks might be customized to deal with certain types of design challenges;

    *
    How Rich and a colleague connected sixth-grade girls with senior citizens in the local community, through the "Dezign Girlz" pilot project;

    *
    The resources Rich recommends for fellow STEM innovators (he has a free curriculum available on his website!)
    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, STEM EDUCATION AND MAKER RESOURCES:


    Brookwood's 3D Design Problem Bank Project

    Ultimaker Education Pioneers

    Rich's website

    MIT's D-Lab

    e-NABLE Community- open-source community for 3D printed prosthetics

    LimbForge-nonprofit that provides tools and training for clinicians to provide pathients with 3D printed prosthetics

    32 min
  • UAV-IQ: Taking to the Skies for Agriculture


    Drones as an implement of agriculture?  That's exactly how Los Angeles-based startup UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture is using them.

    UAV-IQ  President Andreas Neuman founded his global precision agriculture service in 2015, bringing his expertise from a successful eleven-year career with the U.S. Air Force.

    (Andreas, who received an honorable discharge at the rank of Major, served in the Air Force as a pilot, flight instructor--and ultimately, unmanned aerial vehicle mission commander.)



    "I've been involved with drones since '08 or '09," Andreas told a Toolbox LA lunchtime audience in March.  "A drone is just a data collection platform.  It's about the data the drone collects."

    Drones, Andreas explained, can fly under to terrain  to collect more accurate information on agricultural conditions.  "Just like in the military, if you can't send the right information to the right people, it's worthless.  A drone can get under clouds and (collect very accurate) data."



    That data, he said, includes healthy crops, problem areas and soil conditions.  "No field that I'm aware of is really homogeneous."

    Andreas talked about his background, his experiences creating UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture and the ways his services are helping farmers and vineyard owners to better manage their land while optimizing crops.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Andreas first started working with drones as he served in the Air Force;

    *
    His journey after graduating from UCLA's business program;

    *
    His experiences with two accelerators in Chile and Puerto Rico, applying drone technology to agriculture;

    *
    One of his favorite stories from working with a small vineyard owner in Chile;

    *
    How his current drone services can help improve efficiency for small California farm or vineyard owners;

    *
    A service UAV-IQ provides, that wowed a small vineyard owner in Chile;

    *
    One of the common myths about robotics that UAV-IQ disproves;

    *
    How these services analyze historic conditions to predict future yields;

    *
    What Andreas is doing with drones in the research area;

    *
    One of the most unusual ways in which Andreas has seen his services applied;

    *
    Andreas' vision for UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture, for the future;

    *
    A lesson for entrepreneurs, that he's learned from his experiences.

    14 min
  • UAV-IQ: Taking to the Skies for Agriculture


    Drones as an implement of agriculture?  That's exactly how Los Angeles-based startup UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture is using them.

    UAV-IQ  President Andreas Neuman founded his global precision agriculture service in 2015, bringing his expertise from a successful eleven-year career with the U.S. Air Force.

    (Andreas, who received an honorable discharge at the rank of Major, served in the Air Force as a pilot, flight instructor--and ultimately, unmanned aerial vehicle mission commander.)



    "I've been involved with drones since '08 or '09," Andreas told a Toolbox LA lunchtime audience in March.  "A drone is just a data collection platform.  It's about the data the drone collects."

    Drones, Andreas explained, can fly under to terrain  to collect more accurate information on agricultural conditions.  "Just like in the military, if you can't send the right information to the right people, it's worthless.  A drone can get under clouds and (collect very accurate) data."



    That data, he said, includes healthy crops, problem areas and soil conditions.  "No field that I'm aware of is really homogeneous."

    Andreas talked about his background, his experiences creating UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture and the ways his services are helping farmers and vineyard owners to better manage their land while optimizing crops.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Andreas first started working with drones as he served in the Air Force;

    *
    His journey after graduating from UCLA's business program;

    *
    His experiences with two accelerators in Chile and Puerto Rico, applying drone technology to agriculture;

    *
    One of his favorite stories from working with a small vineyard owner in Chile;

    *
    How his current drone services can help improve efficiency for small California farm or vineyard owners;

    *
    A service UAV-IQ provides, that wowed a small vineyard owner in Chile;

    *
    One of the common myths about robotics that UAV-IQ disproves;

    *
    How these services analyze historic conditions to predict future yields;

    *
    What Andreas is doing with drones in the research area;

    *
    One of the most unusual ways in which Andreas has seen his services applied;

    *
    Andreas' vision for UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture, for the future;

    *
    A lesson for entrepreneurs, that he's learned from his experiences.

    14 min
  • RSSC: Having Fun, Building the Future


    Can anyone build an InMoov--the world's first 3D printed lifesize robot?

    Technically, yes, says nonprofit Robotics Society of Southern California.

    And that "yes" is due to open-source design software and the Robotics Society of Southern California's mission: supporting hobbyist robot builders of any age or skill level.

    Robotics Society of Southern California--RSSC for short--is a nonprofit experimental robotics society    They started in the 1970s, as one of the world's first robotics clubs.  Anyone who loves robots is welcome at their meetings, which include classes and special-interest groups.

    And a major area of interest is the life-size InMoov robot, which French sculptor Gael Langevin created around 2012.



    Alan Timm and Walter Martinez have both been RSSC members for a number of years.  And they're both working on their InMoovs.

    Alan, who is currently vice-president of the Robotics Society of Southern California, has his built.  Now, he's working on teaching it behavior.  Meanwhile, Walter, who is the organization's secretary and past president, is looking forward to finishing his InMoov within the next year.

    Alan and Walter talked about their backgrounds in robotics, their InMoov projects and the ways RSSC supports exploration of robots as they build the future.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Alan and Walter first became involved in robotics;

    *
    How makers are creating prosthetic hands through nonprofit E-Nable;

    *
    What's involved in building the InMoov;

    *
    What the InMoov can currently do;

    *
    The directions in which Walter, Alan and their fellow roboticists are going, as they experiment with the InMoov's capabilities;

    *
    How the Robotics Society of Southern California was created in the 1970s;

    *
    What Walter, who teaches robotics, would tell a beginner about creating a first robot;

    *
    How both Alan and Walter first became involved with RSSC;

    *
    What a beginner can expect, the first time attending an RSSC meeting;

    *
    An exciting major contest in which RSSC will be participating on June 10: the Fire Fighting Robot Contest;

    *
    Some misconceptions about the InMoov;

    *
    What Alan and RSSC are currently teaching the InMoov;

    *
    How Gael Langevin came to create the 3D printed InMoov robot;

    *
    Where to find  "Alan's Robot Lab" online, and Walter's "Robotics City", which includes a kit he created for children;

    *
    The resources each of them recommend to fellow roboticists as they get started;

    *
    Alan and Walter's favorite stories about life with robots;

    *
    AND, a good mistake each of them made, from which they learned, that can encourage any of us as we build robots!
    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, COOL ROBOTICS RESOURCES:

    *
    E-NABLE - a global community that matches volunteers who can 3D print prosthetic hands with those who need them

    *
    Robotics Society of Southern California - Their upcoming summer classes include Amazon Alexa programming and machine vision

    *
    InMoov - here's where to find the plans for the life-sized 3D printed robot

    *
    32 min
  • RSSC: Having Fun, Building the Future
    Alan Timm (l) and Walter Martinez (r) with one of RSSC's first battling robots.

    Can anyone build an InMoov--the world's first 3D printed lifesize robot?

    Technically, yes, says nonprofit Robotics Society of Southern California.

    And that "yes" is due to open-source design software and the Robotics Society of Southern California's mission: supporting hobbyist robot builders of any age or skill level.

    Robotics Society of Southern California--RSSC for short--is a nonprofit experimental robotics society    They started in the 1970s, as one of the world's first robotics clubs.  Anyone who loves robots is welcome at their meetings, which include classes and special-interest groups.

    And a major area of interest is the life-size InMoov robot, which French sculptor Gael Langevin created around 2012.

    Mark Kranz (l) and Alan Timm (r) display InMoov robots at 2016 SoCal Maker Con.

    Alan Timm and Walter Martinez have both been RSSC members for a number of years.  And they're both working on their InMoovs.

    Alan, who is currently vice-president of the Robotics Society of Southern California, has his built.  Now, he's working on teaching it behavior.  Meanwhile, Walter, who is the organization's secretary and past president, is looking forward to finishing his InMoov within the next year.

    Alan and Walter talked about their backgrounds in robotics, their InMoov projects and the ways RSSC supports exploration of robots as they build the future.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you'll hear:

    *
    How Alan and Walter first became involved in robotics;

    *
    How makers are creating prosthetic hands through nonprofit E-Nable;

    *
    What's involved in building the InMoov;

    *
    What the InMoov can currently do;

    *
    The directions in which Walter, Alan and their fellow roboticists are going, as they experiment with the InMoov's capabilities;

    *
    How the Robotics Society of Southern California was created in the 1970s;

    *
    What Walter, who teaches robotics, would tell a beginner about creating a first robot;

    *
    How both Alan and Walter first became involved with RSSC;

    *
    What a beginner can expect, the first time attending an RSSC meeting;

    *
    An exciting major contest in which RSSC will be participating on June 10: the Fire Fighting Robot Contest;

    *
    Some misconceptions about the InMoov;

    *
    What Alan and RSSC are currently teaching the InMoov;

    *
    How Gael Langevin came to create the 3D printed InMoov robot;

    *
    Where to find  "Alan's Robot Lab" online, and Walter's "Robotics City", which includes a kit he created for children;

    *
    The resources each of them recommend to fellow roboticists as they get started;

    *
    Alan and Walter's favorite stories about life with robots;

    *
    AND, a good mistake each of them made, from which they learned, that can encourage any of us as we build robots!
    ALL-IN-ONE-PLACE, COOL ROBOTICS RESOURCES:

    *
    E-NABLE - a global community that matches volunteers who can 3D print prosthetic hands with those who need them

    *
    Robotics Society of Southern California - Their upcoming summer classes include Amazon Alexa programming and machine vision

    *
    32 min

About Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

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Would you like to know more about the art of twenty-first century "cool stuff" that's changing our world? Such as: robots, space exploration, new media, wearable technology and other innovations that…