<div dir="ltr"><p><a href="http://Linux.conf.au">Linux.conf.au</a> is pleased to announce that an Open Hardware Miniconf
will be run the <a href="http://Linux.conf.au">Linux.conf.au</a> 2015 conference in Auckland, New Zealander
during January 2015 .</p><p>
</p><p>The concept of Free / Open Source Software, already well
understood by LCA attendees, is complemented by a rapidly growing
community focused around Open Hardware and "maker culture". One of the
drivers of the popularity of the Open Hardware community is easy access
to cheap devices such as Arduino, which is a microcontroller development
board originally intended for classroom use but now a popular building
block in all sorts of weird and wonderful hobbyist and professional
projects.</p><p>
</p><p>Interest in Open Hardware is high among FOSS enthusiasts but
there is also a barrier to entry with the perceived difficulty and
dangers of dealing with hot soldering irons, unknown components and
unfamiliar naming schemes. The Miniconf will use the Arduino
microcontroller board as a stepping stone to help ease software
developers into dealing with Open Hardware. Topics will cover both
software and hardware issues, starting with simpler sessions suitable
for Open Hardware beginners and progressing through to more advanced
topics.</p><p>
</p><p>The day will run in two distinct halves. The first part of the
day will be a hands-on assembly session where participants will have the
chance to solder together a special hardware project developed for the
miniconf. Instructors will be on hand to assist with soldering and the
other mysteries of hardware assembly. The second part of the day will be
presentations about Open Hardware topics, including information on
software to run on the hardware project built earlier in the day.</p><p>
</p><p>Please see <a href="http://www.openhardwareconf.org">www.openhardwareconf.org</a> for more info.
</p><h4>Miniconf organiser Jon Oxer</h4>
Jon Oxer has been hacking on both hardware and software since he was a
little tacker. Most recently he's been focusing more on the Open
Hardware side, co-founding Freetronics as a result of organising the
first Arduino Miniconf at LCA2010 and designing the Arduino-based
payloads that were sent into orbit in 2013 on board satellites ArduSat-X
and ArduSat-1. His books include "Ubuntu Hacks" and "Practical
Arduino".
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<h4><a href="http://Linux.conf.au">Linux.conf.au</a></h4>
<p><a href="http://linux.conf.au">linux.conf.au</a> is one of the foremost open source conferences in the
world, and is considered the most prestigious in the Southern
Hemisphere. The next conference, LCA2015, will be held on 12 - 16
January 2015 at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand.</p>
<h4><a href="http://Linux.conf.au">Linux.conf.au</a> Miniconfs</h4>
<p>Miniconfs are one day miniature conferences, within the main LCA2015
conference, which are targeted towards specific communities of interest
and offer delegates an opportunity to network with other enthusiasts
while immersing themselves in a specific topic or project.</p>
<p>LCA2015 miniconfs will be run on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of
January 2015. Each miniconf's schedule is organised by the miniconf's
organiser and will be published ahead of time, listing speakers and
sessions for the day.</p>
<h4><a href="http://Linux.conf.au">Linux.conf.au</a> 2015</h4>
Date: 12 - 16 January 2015
<br>Venue: Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland, Grafton Road, Auckland.
<br>City: Auckland, New Zealand
<br>Web: <a href="http://linux.conf.au/">http://linux.conf.au/</a>
<br>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LCA2015">https://www.facebook.com/LCA2015</a>
<br>Twitter: @linuxconfau
<br>Hashtag: #lca2015
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