hallucination Visor - soldering & mind hacking workshop

Modify welding goggles to project diffuse flickering colors. Hit resonant frequencies of visual cortex and observe complex unstable spatiotemporal patterns. Hack your brain.

• Custom printed circuit board
• Preprogrammed micro-controller : 100+ color light patterns, shuffle, browse, or play in sequence
• Passive components, batteries, switches and LEDs
• Laser cut light diffuser panels with custom quasi-crystal artwork
• Everything you need ( additional materials such a as soldering and glue will be provided )

• Flicker induced geometric visual hallucinations
• Ganzfeld hallucinations
• Other neurological illusions and demonstrations

The hallucination visor displays immersive flickering lights. While completely safe for most people, individuals that suffer from photosensitive epilepsy or flicker induced vertigo should not use this device. The visor is not designed for individuals with a lazy eye or other ophthalmological conditions that interfere with convergence and depth perception.

Ready to hack your mind?

Last night marked the first workshop of "Build Your Own Audio Amplifier" at the AS220 Labs, an introductory soldering and construction class based around Elliot Clapp's Dirtbomb Amp Design. The workshop provides students with a kit, complete with a circuit board, components, and an enclosure - all of which are assembled by the students.

The kit was entirely design and developed by Labs Keymember, Elliot Clapp. Using both the Milling Machine to prototype the electronics and the Laser Cutter to design the acrylic enclosure. The kit will be developed more and available for sale soon on our online store, and of course there will be more workshop offerings based around the kit, so stay tuned

What can you do with it?

• Use it as a mini-amplifier (2 Watts) for practicing at home or on the go
• Use it as a pre-amplifier and plug it into a speaker cabinet
• Use it in-between your instrument and amplifier, it's also an overdrive pedal!

Check out more photos from the workshop...

Fellow makers of all things noisy, lend me your ears!

This month, we got a special workshop going on at the labs. Traveling circuit bending rock band, CMKT 4 will be stopping by the labs to host a "Build a Contact Microphone" workshop on Thursday, September 22nd. Contact microphones are awesome for noise making and experimenting. Just check out some cool projects here - Get LoFi. You can record sound traveling through any material (metal, wood, your body...starting to get awesome ideas?).

What can you do with a contact mic? Put it into a glass of water in the freezer and record the sound of water freezing or unfreezing. it sounds really cool! Slap it on a banjo or any acoustic instrument and electrify it!

Build a Contact Microphone Workshop

Join the members of the circuit-bent rock band CMKT4 for a workshop on building your very own EconoMIC Bottle Cap Contact Microphone (from Creme DeMentia).  CMKT4 will show you how to solder up a piezo-electric pickup and house it sturdily in a recycled bottle-cap housing of their own design! Stick around for a set from the band as the tool-handle dip on your freshly built contact microphone dries. Additional take-home kits and other surprises will be available, come build a mic and see and hear some of the circuit-bent instruments you've read about on www.GetLofi.com  up close.  Bring your own instruments and objects to amplify!

The workshop is going to be held on Thursday, September 22nd from 7-10PM at the AS220 Labs. Students pay $20 to partake in the class, this includes materials to build 1 contact mic, and additional kits are available for $10 each. Pre assembled kits will also be on sale for students to purchase.

*To enroll in the course, go here - online store. *

Ready to make some noise? You're neighbors will love you.

Looking to be crafty and creative this summer? We have some brand new classes ( like sound synthesis and creative programming! ) at the labs. Come on and down, take a course and get trained to use our equipment or learn how to make something cool! Click on the classes below for a full description and sign up info.

June

Graphic Design Tools: Inkscape $50
Tuesday, June 14th 7-10PM

Make a Pinhole Camera with the Laser Cutter $75
Wednesday, June 8th 7-10PM and Saturday, June 11th, 12-4PM

Sign and Sticker Making with Vinyl Cutter $50
Saturday, June 4th 12-4PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, June 15th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

July

Introduction to Audio Engineering: Two Weeks $75
Saturdays, July 23rd and 30th 12-4PM

Sound Synthesis with Pure Data $40
Tuesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 21st 7-10PM

Laser Cut Press Fit Design $50
Wednesday, July 20th 7-10PM

Sign and Sticker Making with the Vinyl Cutter $50
Tuesday, July 12th 7-10PM

Introduction to Laser Cutting $70
Wednesday, July 27th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

August

Creative Electronics with Arduino: 3 Weeks $125
Thursdays, August 4th, 11th, 18th 7-10PM

Creative Programming Weekend $50
Saturday, August 6th and Sunday, August 7th 12-4PM

Electronics for Artists: 3 Weeks $125
Wednesdays, August 10th, 17th, 24th 7-10PM

Laser Cutter Intensive: 2 Weeks $90
Tuesday, August 23rd and Thursday, August 25th 7-10PM

Make and Break
First Tuesday of every month!

AS220 Labs is bringing back Make and Breaks this month. This one in particular we will be featuring the Doomsday Device!

So what is a "Make and Break"?

Well...it's basically an excuse to nerd out for the night. It is totally open to anyone that wants to come down to the labs and check out what's going on. They will occur every month, and each event will feature a new type of project that you can make and/or hack.

So what is the "Doomsday Device"?

The doomsday device is a noise making maniac electronic gadget thingy. It is basically an old alarm system circuit that has been gutted for its original purpose, and will now be used to make our device...the doomsday device. You can circuit bend it, hack it, make fun of it, whatever you want. The point of this is to have fun and maybe learn something about electronics along the way. Sound groovy?

What's the deal?

While the event itself is free, if you want to take a fancy doomsday device home with you, its going to cost you. Here is the breakdown of things:

• Spectators - Free
• Circuit benders (Not Taking Home Device!!!) - Free
• Bare Bones Kit (Not the Fancy Deluxe Kit) - $5
• Doomsday Device Kit (Fancy!!!) - $20

This is what you get with the Doomsday Device Kit:

• Doomsday Circuit
• Wires
• Thumb Tacks
• 2 Potentiometers (Control Knobs)
• 2 Control Switch
• 1 Power Switch
• 1/4" Instrument Jack (plug it into an amp!)
• Laser Cut Enclosure

See, it is cool! You could make your very own noise making machine and use it with your noise making band! Still don't believe me? Go to this facebook page and check out the video posted there.

Want to come?

It's Thursday, March 24th at 6:00PM - 9:00PM

It's at the new lab space at the mercantile building, around the back of the building on Martha Street is where the main entrance is. The address is 131 Washington Street, but that will take you to front of the building, just go around back!

See you there!

Next thursday night, the labs will be hosting a "salvage night". This is a night when anyone from the community can come and go through our junk pile and pick out anything they want. It's completely free, and snacks and refreshments will be provided too. You can come hang out and reminisce over old hardware, or just take things apart for no apparent reason. We will provide some tools for salvaging - screwdrivers, pliers, soldering irons, etc. Come on down and check out what we got!

Here is just a couple of the things you'll find lying in the junk pile:
- old computer parts
- computer chassis
- printers
- scanners
- wire and cables
- and other weird things

When: Thursday, October 21st 7:00-10:00PM
Where: AS220 Labs (2nd Floor, 115 Empire Street)
Why: Because we're moving and we have lots of junk!

For additional information, contact james@as220.org

The labs is offering a series of introductory courses this October. To sign up, just click on the name of the class below.

Introduction to the Laser Cutter
Saturday, October 9th, 1-4pm
Learn how to use this tool to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles! From 1pm to 4pm we will cover the basics of using the laser cutter safely, techniques for working with different materials, and the software tools for preparing work for the cutter. This is a hands-on workshop; bring a project if you like!

Electronics for Artists 101: Two Weeks
Wednesdays, October 13th and 20th, 7pm-10pm
Have you ever wanted to learned some basic electronics to add to your art? Do you want blinky things? Monster switches? Retro red digital numbers? This is the first of a series of classes designed to teach the basics of electronics to those interested mostly in the practical with just a little bit of the theoretical. EA101 will introduce students to basic electronic components, how to design and prototype simple circuits, and where to go from there.

Open Kit Build Night
Tuesday, October 26th, 7pm-10pm
Buy a cool kit and come build it in our labs! We'll provide the tools and the space. Choose from a dazzling variety of the following kits! TV-b-Gone Minty Boost bring your own container & 9v battery That's right! For the mere cost of parts, you'll walk out of our lab with a blinking, singing, tv-annihilating toy you made yourself!

When: Wednesday March 25th, 5:30pm to 7pm
Where: AS220 Performance Space

The real fun in electronics is when you can use a circuit to make things go. Come learn some basics of electric motors, including DC motors, AC motors, servos, and steppers with Tom Sgouros (www.sgouros.com). Guest appearance by Judy the robot.

This session is free if you want to come and listen. You'll have to pay for materials if you want to complete the kit and take things home with you. Some sample motors will be available, which can also be purchased cheaply.

When: Tuesday, March 10, 4 - 6 pm
Where: Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road

Teens! Do you like to tinker? Come join us at the Cranston Public Library for Make and Break: Build a 555 Noisekit! - a workshop designed to inspire you to further investigate electronics technology and technology-based scientific inquiry. An instructor from AS220 Labs will show you how to use an old reliable integrated circuit - the 555 timer - to produce electrifying noisemusik. You will leave with a completed project that that can be plugged into any amplifier, computer speaker, or home stereo. All soldering tools and materials will be provided free of charge.

This program is funded by a YALSA Teen Tech Week Mini Grant!

To register, call 943-9080 x 5

When: Wednesday, January 14th 5:30-7pm
Where: AS220 Performance Space

Have you heard about the Arduino -- a great, easy microcontroller platform for artists and designers -- but didn't know where to get started? Come on down to AS220 and learn about all things Arduino! The Clinic is free for everyone.

A microcontroller like the Arduino can be used to control motors, switches, and sensors. They're used a lot in installations, for musical instruments, or to create a bridge between the real world and computer models or applications.

If you want to take one home we'll have about 10 Arduinos for sale ($38 for Arduino + USB cable + battery clip). In any case, bring your laptop -- if you have one -- and we can install the software right on your computer.

For more about the Arduino, see www.arduino.cc.

Questions? Email shawn@as220.org.

See you there!

When: Wednesday December 10th, 2008 5:30pm
Where: AS220 Performance Space
How much: $20 for parts

Come on down to AS220 and learn how to use an old reliable integrated circuit -- the 555 Timer -- to produce interesting raunchy noisemusick. The 555 chip is one of the oldest integrated circuits still available. It's also one of the few ICs you can buy at the mall! Its hardiness -- and the fact that you can drive a speaker directly from its output pin -- have made it a natural choice for electronic music experiments in noise since the seventies.

This workshop will provide a layman-friendly introduction to experimenting with the versatile 555 chip. Everyone will leave with a completed project that can be plugged into any amplifier, computer speaker, or home stereo. The circuit is controlled by varying the amount of infrared light hitting the board (like an optical theramin) and injecting the natural resistance of your body into the circuit via four touch points. If you participated in the September workshop with Jessica Rylan, this is a pretty similar project using a different set of components.

No experience necessary! All soldering tools and instruction will be provided. This is an easy project to make.

Parts for 25 noisekits are available ($20 each); please RSVP to shawn@as220.org to get on the list. If you can't make the workshop, kits are also available at Craftland through December 2008.

Build the BPNG-Touch!

In this workshop we'll build a touch-sensitive version of the Flower Electronics battery-powered noise generator. Participants will assemble and solder the circuit themselves. Besides learning how to solder, we'll talk about how transistors work and the flow of information in circuits. We'll also touch on aesthetic issues related to microelectronics and mass production.

Participants will leave with a fully functional, expressive musical instrument.

All tools and parts are provided. Cost of parts is $25. Participants are limited to 20, so come early!

Wednesday Sept. 17th, 5:00 to 7:00pm

Jessica Rylan is a sound artist and creator of the Baby Blue synthesizer. Her designs draw on the best of 1960's and 70's modular synthesizers, 1980's guitar effects pedals, multiple-feedback techniques (a la David Tudor), and circuit bending.

Read on for photos from the evening...

Anyone can make cool things with electronics!

It s easy! It s fun! -- No experience necessary!

Mitch Altman (inventor of the TV-B-Gone and Brain Machine) will continuing his series of workshops at AS220 to teach any and all how to solder. And you will take home a Trippy Mood light that you build yourself! This a great opportunity to make something intriguing and fun, while learning from the (in)famous inventor. All tools and parts are provided. Cost of parts is $20.

Wednesday Aug. 27th, 5:30 to 7:00pm

Mitch Altman (inventor of the TV-B-Gone and Brain Machine) will be at AS220 to teach any and all how to make their own Brain Machine. If you're in or near Providence, this is a great opportunity to make something intriguing and fun, while learning from the (in)famous inventor.

The Brain Machine is something anyone can build. Through lights and sounds it synchronizes your brain to a wonderfully relaxed meditation state, and along the way you'll hallucinate beautiful colors and patterns! Mitch originally wrote up the Brain Machine for MAKE Magazine issue 10, and it soon became one of MAKE's most popular projects. Since then he's been teaching people all over the world how to make Brain Machines and other fun projects at workshops and hacker conferences. Mitch guarantees that everyone will successfully complete their Brain Machine, ready to bring home and amaze their friends (and their brains).

All tools and parts are provided. Cost of parts is $25.

Location: AS220, 115 Empire St, Providence. Directions
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Time: 5:00pm - 9pm

See photos from the workshop.

Mitch Altman (inventor of the TV-B-Gone and Brain Machine) will be at this month's Make and Break meetup to teach any and all how to make their own TV-B-Gone remote control. If you're in or near Providence, this is not to be missed!

The TV-B-Gone kit is quick and easy to build. Mitch has had lots of experience teaching people how to make all sorts of cool things. He can teach you too, even if you've never sewn a button. When you take it home, you can use your TV-B-Gone to turn off TVs everywhere you go -- up to 150 feet away!

All tools and parts are provided. Cost of parts is $20.

5:30pm to 7pm, Wednesday Augst 13th, in the Performance Space (directions). See you there!

First, a pop quiz...

1. Are you:

   a. obsessed with LEDs?
   b. building an effects pedal for your didgeridoo?

2. Have you ever:

   a. hooked an Arduino up to your cat's litter box?
   b. used a wok as an antenna?
   c. put contact mics in your rock tumbler?
   d. let the magic smoke out of your iPhone?

If you answered YES to any of the above*, or if you're just interested in learning and sharing information about electronics, read on...

Wednesdays Just Got Geekier

Starting in August, AS220 will be hosting Make And Break Wednesdays, a series of eclectic, hands-on electronics-making workshops. Workshops will generally be free and open to people of all skill levels and interests. In some cases we will ask for a fee to cover materials provided to participants, if necessary.

Make and Break workshops will be held from 5:30-7:00pm on the Wednesdays that Geek Dinners and DC401 meetings don't happen. So, August and September will look like this:

Wed. Aug 13th: Make and Break
Tue. Aug. 19th: Make and Break (note: Tuesday, not Wednesday) Wed. Aug. 27th: Make and Break

Wed. Sept. 3rd: DC401 Meeting
Wed. Sept. 10th: (previously scheduled event)
Wed. Sept. 17th: Make and Break
Wed. Sept. 24th: Geek Dinner

If you are interested in learning more, staying in the loop, or sharing your electronics and tinkering experience, join the new announce/discuss mailing list: electronics@as220.org! Just go to:

http://www.as220.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics

See you on the 13th!

• For more quiz questions, visit here.