Jon Adair, a member of the board of Tampa Hackerspace, came to speak with us about the improvements they have made in the year since we last spoke. The group has grown in numbers as well as in complexity. Recently receiving a gift of several large, expensive tools, the group is always looking for people who know how to use them that can help teach others.
Membership in the group is reasonable for those who are really interested in building things but don't want to own their own large tools, or have the space to store them. For $50 per month you get unlimited, 24-hour access to the facility and tools (after certification, of course), as well as the ability to collaborate with other members.
Collaboration is one of the best parts of these makerspaces. You might have an idea, but are not sure how to implement it, and a fellow member can lend guidance. Or, you might have a very clear idea, but another member might have experience on the path you are on and can help prevent wasted time.
Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.
Daniele is a student at Florida Polytechnic University who is studying Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security. In High School, she was introduced to the science and technology world through the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), a robotics foundation where students of varying ages can compete through tasks that their robots perform. With help from mentors she met through FIRST, she became interested in programming and developing. Today, Daniele is a special events host for F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and PLuGHiTz Live Special Events and a co-host for both The New Product Launchpad and FIRST Looks.
