Project Proposals

Gorilla Marketing

HonFest marks the beginning of the festival season. While its too late to get booth at any of these events its not too late to make our presence known. What if we had a workshop where we made some sort of gorilla marketing device. One way to go would be some sort electronic apparel, like an ambient orb hat or some kind of musical shirt, etc. Or it could follow examples of other gorilla marketers like the printing bicycle or a flashing LED signs (WARNING: Not sure if the Baltimore police are as reactionary as the Boston police.) Something simple, fun and easy to individualize. Why not tell people about the newly energized Baltimore Hacker community?

Ambient Orb

Examples:

• http://fightpc.blogspot.com/2008/03/arduino-mood-light.html
• http://www.instructables.com/id/Mobius_LED_Lantern/

Parts:

• 1 x Arduino or Clone ~$20-$30
• 1 x Some Sort of Difuser. i.e. Frosted lamp, saran wrap, etc. $0-A lot
• 1+ LED's high or low power
  • Low Power LED: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=105
    • Does not require extra parts
  • http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8718
    • High Power LED: External power source: http://store.gravitech.us/waadswposu12.html
    • Heatsink

Weather Instruments and Networks

Build weather instruments, assemble into a weather station using wifi, etc. Install around Inner Harbor, and "Northwest Harbor" (Canton). Especially wind and waves for sailors.

Instruments, compare with Ft. McHenry data http://opendap.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/stations/stationData.jsp?id=8574680 and http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/geo.shtml?location=21201

Feed data to:

• weather underground http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/index.asp
• Citizen Weather Observer Program http://www.wxqa.com/ and http://www.findu.com/
• NOAA http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/ & other programs
• Local marinas & sailing centers:
  • downtownsailing.org

Installation locations:

• downtownsailing.org at Baltimore Museum of Industry, Riverside/Locust Point.
• Marinas

Display stations

Build a small display station with LCD display from salvaged laptop showing wind, waves, sever-weather/radar, etc. for the Inner Harbor. Install at marinas, etc.