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

By Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media ReporterSociety & Culture Education Arts

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

May 20, 2016 Inspired to Create Magic

What if you could touch a poster, and have it play music? Or touch just about anything else, and hear all kinds of sounds?
That's Dr. Kate Stone's vision--and now, she's created the technology to make it a reality.

While Dr. Stone is technically a physicist, she's also an explorer and designer. But anyone seeing her creations might also consider her a magician.
Dr. Stone has created the world's first "playable" posters--and other paper items. Using electronics, she's designed interactive paper!

On this particular picture, each flower plays a different note, on a different instrument.
Through her UK-based company, Novalia, she also offers a way in which anyone can "hack" an inanimate object, so it can play back audio. (Here is a link to the DIY kits she's created.)

During NASA's 2016 International Space Apps Challenge, Dr. Stone was on hand at Space Apps Pasadena. Besides giving a presentation incorporating her new technology, she demonstrated it for attendees.
Dr. Stone talked about her innovative technology, some of the ways it can be used to "hack" objects (and support a talented musician!), and her experiences creating the magic.

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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The materials she used to make commoditized electronics accessible to the general public;

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How and why she first created her innovation;

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Dr. Stone's explanation of the technology behind the magic;

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How her work has made electronics "as simple as sticking a stamp on an envelope";

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How Dr, Stone used her innovation to "hack" a box of chocolates--and an exciting result!

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Dr. Stone's social media information, for updates on her NEXT innovations;

How her new technology can work in a DIY experience;

And, what happens when she touches her hat!

Her goals for the future with her interactive software tools and processes.

10 min
May 15, 2016 Ambassador to the Future

"Anything is really possible," says Renee Wynn.

As NASA's Chief Information Officer, new ideas are a normal part of Renee's workday.    After serving for twenty-five years at the Environmental Protection Agency, Renee came to NASA in July, 2015.   In September of 2015, she was promoted to her present position.

Her enthusiasm for making data understandable, and sparking her listeners' imaginations, is obvious.

During NASA's 2016 International Space Apps Challenge, Renee took a red-eye flight from the East Coast to be a part of the Space Apps Pasadena sessions.   Onsite at the Cross Campus facility in Pasadena, she served as adviser to the collaborating teams in "the universe's largest hackathon".

She also acted as one of the judges of the completed projects on the final day of Space Apps Pasadena.   Her particular interest, though, was in encouraging newcomers to coding and science--women especially--to take part in this unique event.

Renee talked about her experiences (she herself didn't originally have a science background!), how she became involved in the International Space Apps Challenge and some of the most exciting ideas she saw emerging from Space Apps Pasadena 2016.
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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How Renee first became involved in scientific fields;

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How her service at the EPA built the foundation for her current position;

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Some of the coolest things she experienced in her first weeks at NASA;

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The goals she set to serve her new position;

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How Renee became involved with the International Space Apps Challenge

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Her observations of some of the most exciting things that happened during the preliminary Women's Data Bootcamp;

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Renee's thoughts on learning a new area as a beginner;

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Some of the most intriguing innovations and ideas from the 2016 Space Apps Pasadena event;

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The ways NASA reached out to women to attract a more diverse group of coders to their Data Bootcamp;

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How women's mental obstacles differ from reality and their abilities;

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Renee's vision for Space Apps 2030.

21 min
May 06, 2016 A Collaborative World

For NASA Chief Technology Officer for IT Deborah Diaz, problem solving starts with community.

Her community just happens to be the world.

Deborah led the team which created NASA's International Space Apps Challenge in 2012. Although Space Apps is the largest hackathon in the universe, it's unlike any other. This free event welcomes coding newcomers, including storytellers and artists, as well as tech experts.

In Space Apps, participants in worldwide locations form teams. Teams can be friends, families, colleagues--or total strangers. Using NASA's open data, each team collaborates on a project that can solve a problem. And these problems can literally be anything in the universe! Issues impeding Mars colonization, air quality and drought conditions on Earth are all fair game.

But teams face a time limit: 48 to 72 hours, to create a prototype.

At 2016 Space Apps Pasadena, Deborah shared the story of creating Space Apps, talked about innovation and previewed NASA's new "Datanauts" citizen-science program.
On this episode of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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What first inspired Deborah to choose science as her life's work;

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The steps she and her team had to take, to get Space Apps accepted as a "hackathon for good"'

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Why she chose to invite participants whose soft skills differ from those in traditional hackathons;

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How Space Apps has grown since its inception in 2012;

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How some of the 2016 newcomers worked together, worldwide;

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Some of her favorite solutions from previous Space Apps events;

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How a student participant's Space Apps project is now being utilized aboard the International Space Station;

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What she, herself, is learning as she mentors others;

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How she's seeing the world change through new technology;

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What an innovation developed at Space Apps for the ISS may mean in the medical field in the future;

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Deborah's vision for Space Apps 2030;

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How NASA's new Datanaut program, for citizen scientists, was created;

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The differences Deborah found between the East and West Coasts, while working to attract more women to participate in hackathons;

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How NASA's new Datanaut class is working;

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Some resources for data newcomers who would like to learn to code.

21 min
May 02, 2016 Welcome to Innovation

Beth Beck excels at taking the "scary" out of a hackathon. Especially for first-timers who have questions.

Beth is the Open Innovation Program Manager, in the Office of the Chief Information Officer at NASA. In 2015, she started researching a problem with NASA's International Space Apps Challenge. The issue: very few women were participating in this weekend-long free event, aimed at solving the world's problems through data and collaboration.

The reasons behind the shortage of female participants led Beth to create a novel solution.

"NASA Data Bootcamp" is an introductory all-day event, aimed at acquainting hackathon newcomers with coding, problem-solving and making. Attendees can ask questions, while getting comfortable with the concepts. (There's no such thing as a "silly" question, in one of these!) And while a number of the 2016 NASA Data Bootcamp participants were women, there were quite a few interested men in attendance, as well.

During the 2016 Women's Data Bootcamp at Pasadena's Cross Campus facility in April, Beth talked about her background, the experiences that led to creating NASA's Women's Data Bootcamp and her thoughts on innovation and creativity as they relate to creating the future.
In this episode of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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How Beth's background nurtured her disruptive-thinking perspective and talents;

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How the 80-20 ratio of men to women in Space Apps led to the creation of Data Bootcamp;

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How Beth's research findings laid the foundations for engaging more women in Space Apps;

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Some new Space Apps participants' experiences, after Data Bootcamp;

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Beth's recommendations for girls' education for their future careers;

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Some resources for new coders, to learn coding;

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Beth's observations about the reasons women may hesitate to try something new;

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The trends she sees for innovators on the cutting edge of something new;

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How Beth's current dissertation explores innovation and creativity;

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Why chaos and a difficult innovative process are okay;

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How the Data Bootcamp has grown since its start in 2015;

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Some new Data Bootcamp tools for 2016.

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AND--a new NASA innovation for "citizen scientists", now that 2016 Data Bootcamp has concluded!

24 min
April 22, 2016 Pioneering “Green”

Environmentalist and advocate Lois Arkin lives "green", in a sustainable community--not just on Earth Day, but every day.

And she's been doing that daily, since 1993.

Lois is the founder of Los Angeles Eco-Village Intentional Community. This is a two-block neighborhood, in the north end of L.A.'s Wilshire Center/Koreatown area. In Los Angeles Eco-Village, approximately forty residents are living in a way that raises the quality of community life, while lowering their environmental impact. Organic gardening, solar energy, water conservation and even their own currency are all part of their lifestyle.

Lois founded the nonprofit Cooperative Resources and Services Project (CRSP) in 1980, which she serves today as Executive Director. During the 2015 Los Angeles Green Festival, she shared the story of creating Los Angeles Ec0-Village, gave an update on its current status and direction for the future, and offered resources for anyone interested in creating a similar community in his or her area.
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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How Lois' background led to her current advocacy work;

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How Los Angeles Eco-Village first started, in 1993;

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Lois' advice for starting an eco-village;

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A resource for starting a similar, environmentally-mindful community;

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An invitation for anyone local to Southern California, to find out more about Los Angeles Eco-Village;

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Los Angeles Eco-Village's unique currency.

23 min
April 19, 2016 Navigating Dreams to Reality

What if...having a "connected" home were as easy as plugging in a device?

That's the principle behind "K Kit", a very small smart-home system that recently funded successfully on Indiegogo.

And K Kit is just one of the makers' creations which Z-Spaceship is supporting.

Z-Spaceship is the world's first Sino-U.S. cross-border marketing accelerator. They provide Chinese hardware start-up teams with direct access to overseas markets. Which means--they're also introducing some very cool consumer technology into the U.S.

"Captain Louis" founded Z-Spaceship in August, 2015. He talked about what Z-Spaceship is doing, the mistakes makers can avoid in marketing their ideas, and how K Kit works to enable any electronic devices to "talk" to one another. (He also offered a hint about an upcoming innovation!)
On this episode of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

The factors behind the creation of Z-Spaceship;

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Some of the challenges facing makers as they market internationally;

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One major mistake, in the maker community, that can lead to failure;

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Louis' recommendations for makers, to help determine whether a new product will find a market;

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How K-Kit works, to create a connected home;

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Some of the challenges involved, in developing K-Kit;

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When K-Kit will be available to the general public;

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Some of the uses of K-Kit, once it's installed;

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Additional ways in which Z-Spaceship is promoting the "smart home";

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A hint about a new innovation for which to watch, from Z-Spaceship, in the future.

14 min
April 08, 2016 Taking Action, Saving Lives

Exertional heat stroke is one of the leading causes of sudden death, in sports.

It's also one hundred percent survivable with the proper treatment, according to the Korey Stringer Institute.

The Korey Stringer Institute was founded in 2010, in memory of a 27-year-old Minnesota Vikings lineman. Korey Stringer died of heatstroke in 2001, following a football practice in summer heat. Korey's widow, Kelci, collaborated with heat stroke expert Dr. Douglas Casa, Ph.D., to create the Korey Stringer Institute in her husband's memory. Korey Stringer Institute, or KSI, located at the University of Connecticut, works in partnership with the National Football League. KSI's mission: to prevent sudden death in sports, through initiatives, education and resources.

William Adams is the Director of Sport Safety Policies at the Korey Stringer Institute. He talked about current initiatives on which KSI is working, resources available for determining local states' safety policies for high-school athletics, and some of the wearables they're currently testing, to determine athletes' hydration levels.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a physician if you have questions regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact your doctor or 911 immediately.
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear;

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How William decided to use his medical background in sports safety;

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The different types of heat stroke, and recommended action for exertional heat stroke;

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The Korey Stringer Institute's three-year research project and findings on medical coverage for high-school athletics;

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The initiatives on which KSI is currently working (including an exciting one with the NFL, for underserved high schools!)

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How to check your local high schools' medical coverage for athletes;

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The five policy changes KSI tracks on their website, for high-school athletics;

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The Korey Stringer Institute's work with various branches of the military;

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Some recent innovations KSI implemented for the Air Force;

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Some of KSI's work in occupational safety;

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Current wearables KSI is using, to monitor athlete safety and well-being.

23 min
April 01, 2016 Making Drones Easy–and Fun

Would you believe there's a drone you can program to fly, in about ten minutes?

Meet the "CoDrone". This is a new robotics kit, created by San Diego-based robotics "edutainment" company Robolink, Inc.

And we're excited for Robolink CEO Hansol Hong and his crew! We caught up with them at CES 2016, in Las Vegas, after their new "CoDrone" kit won a finalist award in this year's "Last Gadget Standing" competition.

We'd had the opportunity to talk with Hansol (who is also the organizer of the San Diego Robotics Club) after he displayed his 12-in-1 robot kit, "Rokit Smart" at the Orange County Mini Maker Faire, in Irvine. At that point, in May, 2015, "Rokit Smart" had just launched a Kickstarter campaign. They funded successfully, raising more than $52,000 and delivering the new product by October of that year to backers.

The "CoDrone", Robolink's second Kickstarter campaign, has now raised more than $200,000 in funding. Robolink is currently in the process of producing and packaging this new kit, for delivery to more than a thousand backers.

Meanwhile, Hansol and his Robolink team are still developing all kinds of cool robotics, as they teach students (and us "big kids" how to build and program robots.

During CES 2016, Hansol talked about developing the CoDrone, the resources he had found most helpful and the process of learning robotics.
In this episode of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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How the first-of-its-kind CoDrone teaches drone programming;

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Robolink's additional offerings, in robotic kits;

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Why Hansol feels someone will never be a "robotics expert"--and why he finds that an exciting aspect of his field;

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Why Hansol and his team decided to create a drone kit;

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The resources Hansol recommends, for anyone who'd like to get further involved in robotics.

7 min
March 18, 2016 Preparing the Festivities

Long Beach Carnevale is just about to give everyone a taste of Venetian tradition.

Since 2012, organizer Joseph Mascheratti has been bringing a version of centuries-old Venetian Carnevale to Long Beach. Long Beach Carnevale 2016, themed "Enigma and Beauty", is a free event, happening Easter weekend, March 25th and 26th, outside the Long Beach Aquarium.

Carnival in Venice, or Carnevale, dates back to the eleventh century. (It's actually been around longer than Mardi Gras, with which people used to confuse it.)

Venetian Carnevale lasts for more than two weeks, and is filled with music, dance, and above all, elaborate costumes. Photo sessions, with attendees taking pictures or even video of Carnivale masqueraders, are a central feature of the free celebration.

Long Beach Carnevale is the only U.S. event modeled after the Venetian celebration. It has a lot of the same elements: a musical program with an international flavor, dancing and, most of all, the opportunity to photograph or videotape masqueraders in their spectacular costumes.

Joseph and Long Beach Carnevale model Denise Ramirez talked about Long Beach Carnevale, what 2016 attendees can expect, and their own Carnevale experiences.
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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What you can expect to see and experience, at Long Beach Carnevale;

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Denise's experiences as a Carnevale model;

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What's involved behind the scenes, for Joseph and Denise, in creating the mysterious Carnevale look;

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Some of the traditions of Venetian Carnevale;

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The plans for this year's festivities;

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What it feels like to wear one of these costumes;

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Some of the performers scheduled for the program;

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Where to start, if you'd like to participate and this is your first Long Beach Carnevale;

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How the modern Venetian Carnevale has evolved;

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How you can help support this free event;

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Joseph's plans for the future.

Long Beach Carnevale 2016 kicks off with a "Shark Night Party", 6:00 pm, Friday, March 25th, at the shark tanks outside Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Festivities are scheduled for just outside the Aquarium on Saturday, March 26th. The program starts at 1:00, but feel free to come earlier to the plaza, either in costume or to photograph masqueraders. Outdoor festivities are free.
17 min
March 14, 2016 Inspired By Robots

Arielle Singer knows how to build a robot in a short time.

She also knows all about professionalism, troubleshooting and dealing with the unexpected.

As a Student Ambassador for FIRST® Robotics, Arielle was onsite at the 2016 Los Angeles Regional FIRST® Robotics competition. The competition, at the Long Beach Arena, was open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, March 11th and 12th.

Themed "FIRST Stronghold", the competition combined a sporting event with the excitement of a rock concert--and was all about robots, fun, education and hands-on experience. Nonprofit FIRST®'s name is an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology". Started in a New Hampshire high school in 1992, FIRST® has grown to a national organization which has reached more than 400,000 young people, according to their website.

Competitions were happening all across the nation over the weekend. The Long Beach event alone involved 1600 students from 66 regional high schools.

Just before the doors opened on Saturday, Arielle explained how the competition works. She also talked about her previous experiences as a high-school student on one of FIRST® Robotics' teams, and how the experience prepared her for her current college studies.
On this edition of Over Coffee®, you'll hear:

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What's happening in the 2016 FIRST® Robotics Competition;

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What's involved for the participating student teams;

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Arielle's own experience with FIRST® Robotics during high school.

The 2016 U.S. FIRST® Championship happens April 27-30 in St. Louis, Missouri. Here's the link for more information and the live feed.
FIRST® also has scholarship opportunities! Here's that link for more information and updates.
6 min

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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 episodes

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