NortHACKton, who are we?

NortHACKton is a group for people who like to make things. It could be anything from knitting to steam trains and is largely dictated by its members’ interests. Currently we have mostly electronics and software projects. We have modelled ourselves on a growing number of “Hackerspaces” which are springing up in America. These are basically community workshops, where people can go and borrow tools and get help with projects. The group funds can buy tools and machines individuals cannot house or afford. In other words, we are just like NSME, only with less heavy metal bashing.

We are members of NSME and operate as a sub-group, holding most of our meetings in the clubhouse as advertised on both NSME and our own website.

Why the Hack in NortHACKton?

This is not the computer hacking you might immediately think of, it is hardware hacking, the process of sticking several bits of technology together to achieve a goal as quickly and easily as possible - or just being able to use some existing item for your own goals. Projects tend to be shared online so others can learn from your project, replicate and elaborate upon it.

For an example:

If a project needs a joystick you could buy a £3 joystick component or you could buy a £6 Nintendo controller, cut the connector off and wire it directly into a microcontroller. Somebody else has already written the software to talk to it (which can be freely downloaded) and as a bonus you get 2 push buttons and an accelerometer which the software already knows how to talk to. It’s quicker and easier to reuse these mass produced items then build something new from scratch.

The people of NortHACKton

NortHACKton was founded in 2009 when Steve and Martin looked at our nearest hackerspaces and decided there was a sizeable gap around Northampton. We have approximately a dozen members of which 7-8 attend meetings regularly.

Martin Raynsford, an engineer with a degree in robotics, built a 10ft tall robot spider.

Steve Bridges, writes hush hush top secret software, currently obsessed with E.L. wire.

Matt Burnham, trained in software but moved up the ladder so now does not have to, learning to fly for real.

Adrian Godwin, must have a job, otherwise he would just spend all day playing the pinball machines in his garage.

Alan James, web developer, OU math student, currently looking into Artificial intelligence.

Ben Wheare, quiet and thoughtful, keen on arduinos and CNCs and combining the two.