Zafar Iqbal tells unusual maker stories (part 1)

The full video for this interview is available, please check it out.

In this episode, Peter Dalmaris (that’s me!) talks with Zafar Iqbal, aka “Zaf”.

Zaf studied Engineering & Computer Science at Oriel College in Oxford, and Communication Design at Central Saint Martins in London.

He has worked for more than 20 years as a programmer in the United Kingdom and Greece, both for large private companies such as ZDNet/CNET and for top academic institutions, such as the National Technical University of Athens.

He currently creates software tools for scientists who work on projects for the European Space Agency.

His areas of expertise include cyber-physical hardware and software systems with an emphasis on robust, modular, secure and scalable software components, “phygital” experiences, image, and video processing, internet applications, and content management systems.

Zaf also has extensive maker experience, participating in Maker Faires in New York, Rome, and Athens.

Zaf has used his programming skills on a varied number of science and art projects and stage performances, and in 2016 he was included in the European Top 50 Makers list.

In my conversation with Zaf, we talked about his projects and challenges, where he often finds himself in “un-documented” territory. Zaf is known for not being afraid to go where he has not gone before as a maker. We discussed his experiences of being an exhibitor in three Maker Faires, Prime numbers, the Turing Machine and how he created his version of the machine based on the Arduino. We also talked about Arduino-powered video art, and much more.

In this first part of the conversation, Zaf talks about his background as a programmer and maker. He talks about his approach to programming in multiple languages, his software designs, and some of his projects.

This was a conversation by geeks for geeks that I am sure you will enjoy.

This is Tech Explorations Podcast episode 6 part 1.

The Tech Explorations Podcast is a podcast produced by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.

Show Notes

[0:00:00] Introducing Zafar Iqbal

[0:03:13] Zafar talks about his background as a computer programmer and a maker

[0:04:27] Zafar’s software designs and projects

[0:06:48] Zafar’s approach to programming in multiple languages without being an expert in each one

[0:12:48] Zafar’s maker hardware projects

The full video for this interview is available, please check it out.

In this episode, Peter Dalmaris (that’s me!) talks with Zafar Iqbal, aka “Zaf”.

Zaf studied Engineering & Computer Science at Oriel College in Oxford, and Communication Design at Central Saint Martins in London.

He has worked for more than 20 years as a programmer in the United Kingdom and Greece, both for large private companies such as ZDNet/CNET and for top academic institutions, such as the National Technical University of Athens.

He currently creates software tools for scientists who work on projects for the European Space Agency.

His areas of expertise include cyber-physical hardware and software systems with an emphasis on robust, modular, secure and scalable software components, “phygital” experiences, image, and video processing, internet applications, and content management systems.

Zaf also has extensive maker experience, participating in Maker Faires in New York, Rome, and Athens.

Zaf has used his programming skills on a varied number of science and art projects and stage performances, and in 2016 he was included in the European Top 50 Makers list.

In my conversation with Zaf, we talked about his projects and challenges, where he often finds himself in “un-documented” territory. Zaf is known for not being afraid to go where he has not gone before as a maker. We discussed his experiences of being an exhibitor in three Maker