<div dir="ltr"><div><div>WARNING: If you ticked the "Arduino Miniconf" box when registering for LCA2014, that does NOT mean you are registered for the Arduino Miniconf! That information is only used by the LCA team when working out room allocations based on expected popularity of each miniconf. If you'd like to attend the Arduino Miniconf, please keep reading.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div>TL;DR: See <a href="http://www.arduinominiconf.org">www.arduinominiconf.org</a></div><div><br></div><div>Unlike other miniconfs, the Arduino Miniconf has two distinct halves and will take place in a physics lab, not a lecture theatre. It's designed to be a hands-on participatory event.<br>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>*** Morning sessions: hardware assembly ***</div><div>The first part of the day is for hardware assembly. This is an opportunity for anyone, from complete beginner to electronics guru, to spend about 90 minutes assembling an electronics project.</div>
<div><br></div><div>There will be a detailed assembly guide, plenty of soldering irons and other tools, and instructors to help you if you've never soldered before. If you've always wanted to try electronics but been too scared to give it a go in case you pick up the wrong end of the soldering iron, this is your chance. The kit has specifically been designed so that it can be assembled by a complete beginner in the time available: an expert would probably take 10 minutes, a beginner may take 90 minutes. Even if you've never used a soldering iron before, this should be a painless, relaxed introduction to hardware assembly with few opportunities for catastrophe.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Space is strictly limited to 30 participants, and there is a cost of $110 to cover the hardware. You get to keep the kit at the end, so you go home with something cool to play with. The kit this year is ArduPhone, an Arduino based cellphone with an OLED screen, matrix keypad, and LiPo battery with onboard charger. Check it out at <a href="http://www.arduinominiconf.org/index.php/ArduPhone">http://www.arduinominiconf.org/index.php/ArduPhone</a><br>
</div></div><div><br></div><div>Attention: If you want to build your own ArduPhone you MUST register at <a href="http://www.arduinominiconf.org">www.arduinominiconf.org</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>If you don't want to build your own ArduPhone and just want to come along to the assembly session to watch and chat, you're welcome to do so. There's no need to register for that, just turn up and if there's space, you can hang around. We'd love to have you.</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>*** Afternoon sessions: talks ***</div><div>During the lunch break we'll clean up the lab a bit and switch to talk mode, with a series of 20 minute presentations starting right after lunch. Even if you aren't interested in the morning assembly session you are most welcome to come along for the afternoon talks. There is no need to register to attend the afternoon sessions. Just turn up! The more the merrier.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The first couple of talks will be about the ArduPhone kit assembled during the morning session, followed by other talks about more general Arduino and Open Hardware topics. The schedule is now just about final and will be posted soon at <a href="http://www.arduinominiconf.org">www.arduinominiconf.org</a>, so keep an eye out for it in the next day or two.<br>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>*** Lightning Talks ***</div><div>The last talk slot has been reserved for lighting talks, which are talks with a 5-minute time limit. Lightning talks are a great opportunity if you've never spoken at a conference before, because it's a quick, informal chance to just spend a couple of minutes talking about something cool you've worked on in a casual atmosphere. The crowd is friendly and enthusiastic, and we'd love to hear about your projects, ideas, or commentary on Open Hardware. If you'd like to do a lightning talk please email <a href="mailto:jon@oxer.com.au">jon@oxer.com.au</a>, or come and see me on the day and I'll add you to the list.</div>
<div><br></div><div>See you there!</div><div><br></div><div>Jon</div></div>