Ever wanted an oven that would warn you if it was still on when you left the house? What about underwear that tells you when it needs washing? Are you making model rockets and you want to control them with your phone? Maybe you just want to add another *thing* to the Internet, or learn the process of making electronics from scratch, soup to nuts.
After coming to our workshop, you'll have the hardware and the know-how to make it happen.
We are designing a workshop that will teach Android Developers how to use Bluetooth Low Energy in their own projects. By funding this campaign, you reserve your spot in this workshop. Your funds allow us to pre-order all of the parts that we need before you get here, give us an idea of the potential audience out there, and try out something new, without taking a whole lot of risk.
When you come to this workshop, you will learn about BLE and you will get to make your very own custom BLE hardware device using Surface Mount Technology.
The device will be a custom PCB, etched on site with a pre certified antenna module, so you wont need FCC approval on the radio. The custom PCB will be designed by you, not us, but it can be forked from one of our open source reference designs. We're going to not only provide you with the basics, we'll also have other parts on hand as well, so you can make more than just a simple beacon.
The workshop will cover:
An overview of Bluetooth Low Energy. What it is, how it works.
BLE Modules and how to use them in your schematic.
Creating a schematic and PCB layout.
Rapid prototyping of PCB and SMT assembly
Basic BLE operations in Android.
The workshop will be in two 3 hour sections. The three hours will cover BLE and hardware. At the end of it you'll have a schematic and layout for a BLE module based board that suits your custom application.
After a one hour break, the last half of the workshop will cover circuit assembly and programming.
Workshops will be scheduled based on the number of people who donate. They will all be on a Saturday, and run from 12pm to 7pm with a 1 hour break in the middle.
Attendees should have a background in Android development and some electronics experience. Please bring a BLE enabled Android phone, a laptop set up for Android development, an account on upverter, and an idea.
Our Background
Here at Metrix Create:Space, we've been teaching people about electronics and software for almost five years. Hundreds of people pass through our workshops each year and gain an understand of circuits, schematics, layout, and programming. Our friendly instructors will give you all the help you need making your idea a reality.
What we really excel at however, is making things happen quickly. You'll be with us every step of the process, and you'll be engaged in making a high quality quick turn prototype. This is not a black box.We've got the tools needed to complete complex multi process hardware projects less than a day. Our Advanced Circuits Lab featuring our new LPKF protolaser S will allow us to etch your custom circuit board during the workshop, so you leave with real hardware you've designed.
Our full set of SMT soldering tools will let you assemble the board quickly, without needless frustration.
If you haven't been to Metrix, here's a quick tour of the shop from last summer with Lauren Banka, one of our awesome staff members and instructors.
We've already got the skills and tools; we just need your support. We'll use your funds to order parts and supplies for these workshops and plan more awesome ones.
Specifically, we're going to order a host of sensors and actuators that could be controlled using a BLE device, and we're going to order the actual modules we'll be basing the workshop.
If we make it to the full funding amount, we'll offer enough workshops for everyone (ten people per workshop). If we don't make it to our goal, but get more than five full donations, we'll offer at least one workshop.
For a donation of $200, you reserve your seat in the workshop. Once we're funded, we'll email everyone and determine dates that works best (remember that the workshops will be on a Saturday from 12pm - 6pm).
For a donation of a smaller amount, you get our gratitude and some Metrix stickers to show off your support of education and open hardware to your friends. Everyone needs a reminder now and then to MAKE SOMETHING AWESOME. If you come by, we'll give you piles of them
If you donate at the $500 level, you get your seat in the workshop, and we buy some more tools and supplies to help the shop out. Yes, replacement costs get built into our pricing, but cash injections make things move faster.
If you donate $30, you get a Circuit Church token, redeemable for any circuit church session. Great as a gift!
What if you don't live in Seattle?
You should visit. Seattle is an amazing town. Metrix Create:Space is located in the heart of Capitol Hill. We're on Broadway, which if you didn't know, is where Sir Mix-a-lot's posse hangs out and Macklemore gets his awesome coats. There are 3 Bed and Breakfasts within two blocks, and we are on easy bus lines. Sign up and tell us you are coming and we'll give you a list of awesome places to stay.
The Impact
What happens when more people know how to create connected hardware? Everything you interact with gets smarter, your life gets easier, and the world moves further into the future!
Other Ways You Can Help
Don't want to come to the workshop, but still think it's an awesome idea? You can still help.
Come by the Create:Space any day between noon and midnight and make something awesome.
Looking for more information?Check the project
FAQ
You receive (in the mail) a token that is redeemable for 1 Circuit Church session. Great as a gift!
1 claimed
Prototype Reference Board
$150 USD
You will receive a one-off prototype that we based the workshop around after the event. It wont have a lot of frills, but we guarantee it will be cool.
You also get access to all code and circuit designs from the class.
0 claimed
Workshop Attendee
$200 USD
You get to reserve your space in the workshop. You can also have stickers. Additionally, coffee.
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
23 claimed
Workshop Sponsor
$500 USD
You get a seat in the workshop, and make our life easier by providing some extra so we can plan our next epic adventure
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
1 claimed
A class to yourself
$3,500 USD
You get a custom class tailored to your exact needs for you and up to 9 friends. Let us know and we'll make it happen.
When you come to this workshop, you will learn about BLE and you will get to make your very own custom BLE hardware device using Surface Mount Technology. 
