FAQ

Revision as of 22:47, 23 January 2009

This page should be used to introduce the HackerSpace movement to NON-TECHNICAL people in as many Languages as possible that make sense in the Grand-Duchy (lu,de,fr,en,pt)

What is a Hackerspace?

What is a Hacker?

What do you plan on doing?

• Projects

Where can I find more Information?

• Documents
• LetterForFeedback
• Info-Folder
• Presentation

This is a guideline for people giving an interview or a presentation.

It tries to give coherent answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you encounter other questions during an interview or when you're presenting the hackerspace to somebody, please include your proven statements here.

Who we are

We are a bunch of IT-professionals, students, hobbyists, artists, graphic designers and OpenSource users who wish to get together in order to explore technology and its possibilities.

What we want and why

We'd like to get a space (100-200 squaremeters) to

• work on projects
• house our infrastructure
• allow various groups to have regular meetings
• hold workshops (we are negotiating with NGOs, considering offering computer classes or similar)
• get together, talk, socialise and have fun

We'd like to offer people ressources like space and infrastructure, that they need, but could hardly afford if they were alone. Some hardware that is required to do these things (like rfid readers, professional soldering apparatus, audiovisual apparatus, 3D-Printers etc...) are simply too expensive for a single person to buy and maintain.

We'd like to host a variety of associations and organisations like the C3L itself, the luxcommons people, and so on. (more examples?!)

What we want/are going to do

There are several projects planned or already initiated:

• (Micro)-Electronics and Light (Arduino, Blinkenlights)
• Music, Photography, Film (Mint-Tin Amp)
• Quadrokopter / Mikrokopter http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/
• Technological Street Art (Laser Tagging)
• Energy Efficiency Research(Intelligent Energy Distribution (dispatch the energy to where it is required, save the rest!))
• Doing research in the security field, also commenting on and analyzing political decisions, like
  • Surveillance, (CCTV) SurveillanceWatch by c3l
  • RFID security: e-GO & Véloh (what is saved on the cards, how is it done, is it secure?)
  • Data Retention (Vorratsdatenspeicherung)
  • Governmental Trojans (Bundestrojaner)
• Monitoring, questioning and debating contemporary technological developments and advancements.

What a Hackerspace is

A Hackerspace is simply put a Space for Hackers. It is a place where people interesting in technology can meet, socialise, talk and collaboratively work on projects.

The LABOR is dynamic. Its structures are not set. It is also up to you what's happening in and with the Labor. You want to change something or do
it better? Do you want to try technology or learn something about its uses? Maybe you just want to meet new people who share your interest? Go
ahead! Just come over and participate - the LABOR grows with you! (http://www.das-labor.org/about.html)

What a Hacker really is

First of all: A hack or a hacker can be many different things!

If you're not familiar with the Tech Model Railroad Club at MIT story, look it up! Long Story short:

1963: The first recorded reference to hackers in the computer sense is made in The Tech (MIT Student Magazine). [...]
The modern, computer-related use of the term is considered likely rooted in the goings on at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) in the 1960s, long before computers became common; the word "hack" was local slang which had a large number of
related meanings. One was a simple, but often inelegant, solution to a problem. It also meant any clever prank perpetrated by
MIT students; logically the perpetrator was a hacker. To this day the terms hack and hacker are used in several ways at MIT,
without necessarily referring to computers. (en.wikipedia)

Hacker

The term used to refer to someone skilled in the use of computer systems, especially if that skill was obtained in an exploratory
way. The term evolved to be applied to individuals, with or without skill, who break into security systems.

It is hard to write a simple definition of something as varied as hacking, but I think what these activities have in common is
playfulness, cleverness, and exploration. Thus, hacking means exploring the limits of what is possible, in a spirit of playful
cleverness. Activities that display playful cleverness have "hack value". (Richard Stallman: On Hacking)

Popular Hackers include:

• Steve Wozniak (apple/Homebrew Computer Club)
• Linux Torvalds (linux)
• John T. Draper (Capt'n Crunch)

Why supporting us makes sense

• Because we're working hard on improving and inventing innovative stuff, and we're even having fun at it!
• Because we have clever people gathered that are creative and productive.
• Because we're helping out other people and NGOs

Symbiosis with LiLux

• Room for meetings, talks, workshops
• Infrastructure, Public Workstations
• Free Software, Open Source, OpenAccess and Creative Commons
• ...

More Information?

We have a wiki where there's lots of information and links to even more information.

Various other stuff

• Consider talking about CCCongress & Camp, Defcon, What the hack, etc...

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace
• http://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace