A Special Interest Group (SIG) is a community within a larger organization with a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field and may communicate, meet and organize conferences.
Members of the SaddleBrooke Ranch Technology Club have very diverse interests. SIGs allow these members to focus on a specific interest. Three SIGs have formed so far within the Technology Club.
DIY/Maker SIG
Special Interest Group (SIG) on DIY/Maker technology, will hold an initial meeting on December 4 at 1:30 p.m. This group will meet once a month in the SBR Technology Room to have a dialogue about technology related to the Raspberry Pi and Arduino hardware and software.
This SIG is intended to be a group working on Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects. We will stress a cut-and-paste approach to standardized hobbyist technologies and encourage cookbook re-use of designs published on websites and maker-oriented publications. There will be a strong focus on using and learning practical skills and applying them to reference designs. We will emphasize learning-through-doing in a social environment, informal networked, peer-led and shared learning motivated by fun and self-fulfillment. If you do not know anything about these computers, as a SIG member, you will get a basic understanding of the Arduino and Raspberry Pi. You will be able to build your very own projects for the first time. If you are already familiar with these devices you will be able to develop interesting parts, features and algorithms.
Smart Home SIG
The Smart Home SIG will continue this month on Thursday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the Technology Room. We will continue to meet once a month in the SBR Technology Room to discuss smart home additions you have made to your home to make it smart, products used, successes, failures, services tried, etc. Get ideas, share knowledge and help each other have successes and avoid pitfalls and why you feel it works well for you. If you don’t have smart home additions now but are interested in the discussion, please join us. The meetings are informal to share what you’re doing to make your home smart.
iPhone and iPad APPs SIG
The Smart Phone Apps SIG group will meet once a month in the SBR Technology Room to discuss apps you’ve found for your smart phone. Do you have a favorite mapping app or a photo editing app? Is there one app you couldn’t do without? Share yours and find out what other people have discovered. We’ll have an informal meeting to share what you’re doing to make your phone indispensable. Get ideas, share knowledge, and help each other have successes and avoid pitfalls. The first meeting will be in January with date and time to be announced.
If you have other special interests you would like to discuss and share with others in the SBR Technology Club, send an email to SBRTC Education Director at [email protected].