Revision as of 14:44, 8 March 2009

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This document should summarize some of the important points of the hackerspace. Please feel free to add information as you go! --Macfreak109 22:06, 7 February 2009 (UTC) Please note that this space is still under construction. Should you have any feedback, please see the Contact page!

Guidelines

When writing on this document, consider these 3 questions:

• Where do we want to go? (The long run) [trans-disciplinary projects, u23, socialize (chill & cook)]
• What do we want to do? (The short run) [space, infrastructure, workshops & talks]
• How are we going to do that? (The method) [Open source, open space, open mind]

General concept

What is syn2cat?

Founded on February 3, 2009, syn2cat is a non-profit association with the purpose of creating, exploiting and maintaining a so-called hackerspace: Definition by Wikipedia:

A hackerspace or hackspace (from Hacker and Space) is a real (as opposed to virtual) place where people with common interests, usually in science,
technology, or digital or electronic art can meet, socialise and collaborate. Typical activities in hackspaces include
o learning and sharing knowledge
o presentations and lectures
o social activities including games and parties

syn₂cat, what for?

Spreading knowledge on a wide basis being one of the major goals of syn2cat, we strongly believe that this can be achieved best by sharing one single infrastructure, where everybody shares not only their know-how but also responsibility over the premises. The hackerspace should function as an open space for sharing opinions, technology, knowledge and spread enthusiasm and inspire the attending crowd with all sorts of new ideas.

Where is syn₂cat heading?

As mentioned above, syn₂cat follows the same goals as cited in the hackerspace definition. As such, our non-profit association (lux : ASBL), seeks synergies and collaborations with clubs and associations, sharing the same interests as syn2cat. Furthermore, syn₂cat has the profound belief that sharing knowledge, resources and localities gives way to productive and interesting collaborations.

As such, syn₂cat wants to share its space with people interested in technologies, electronics, arts, and any other kind of engineering field out there.

Art + Technology + Community + Innovation

We are promoting new and experimental collaborations between previously unrelated ideas, methods and technologies, mashing architects with electronics engineers or coders with designers. The fusion of several disciplines is what makes a hackerspace interesting for everyone involved.

In order to give people the opportunity to get to know each other and their ideas and projects, syn₂cat is also very much about having fun and being comfortable. We don't want people to hide behind their notebooks, soldering irons or spray-cans. We want everyone to get together over a drink and some collectively cooked food, chatting, socialising and creating a group of people that can actively shape a part of society.

U23 - Guiding youth, imparting knowledge

Educating young people and helping them discover modern technology from another point of view is also one of the goals of syn₂cat. Considering the basic idea of a hackerspace, syn₂cat furthermore believes that young people can be taught to see fields of modern creativity from another perspective. In fact, our ASBL tries to interest young people (starting from XX years on) to a wide area of modern appliances (like technology, electronics, arts, etc) and share their members' expertise and know-how in order to awake a new passion in the youngsters.

We consider ourselves responsible for teaching children and teenagers that there's more to computers and electronics than just games, instant messaging and facebook. Helping them discover their power over the machinery and their own creativity, they will see the endless possibilities.

syn₂cat will offer regular workshops and cooperate with other institutions in order to create exceptional experiences for kids and teenagers.

Some examples are

• Soldering with kids
• ...
• ...

What is syn₂cat doing right now?

(insert short run info)

How does syn2cat work?

Syn2cat is a shared space which can be used exclusively by its members - either persons or associations (clubs) and their invitees. Our hackerspace proposes several rooms, some shared, some private. Private rooms can be locked and reserved for a certain period of time for specific projects. Furthermore, the hackerspace includes meeting facilites with capacities up to XXX persons. The shared places of hackerspace is reserved through a common calendar <INSERT LINK HERE>. In order to plan meetings and prepare the facility for a certain happening, it is vital, that everyone interested reserves at least YYY weeks in advance with a small description what the purpose of the reservation is.

Not sure on this one :

• Supplementary hardware like beamers, computers or software of any kind are the responsibility of the reservee!

OR

• In order to have your meeting room fully equipped, please do not forget to reserve your laptop/beamer/whatever as well trough the same system!