The Art of The Internet of Things (IoT)

name: inverse
class: center, middle, inverse
layout: true
.header[.floatleft[.teal[Christopher Biggs] — The Art of IoT].floatright[.teal[@unixbigot] .logo[@accelerando_au]]] .footer[.floatleft[The Linux Of Things .hashtag[lca2019] --- Jan 2019 Christchurch, NZ]]

---
name: callout
class: center, middle, italic, bulletul
layout: true
.header[.floatleft[.teal[Christopher Biggs] — The Art of IoT].floatright[.teal[@unixbigot] .logo[@accelerando_au]]] .footer[.floatleft[The Linux Of Things .hashtag[lca2019] --- Jan 2019 Christchurch, NZ]]

---
layout: true
template: callout
.header[.floatleft[.teal[Christopher Biggs] — The Art of IoT].floatright[.teal[@unixbigot] .logo[@accelerando_au]]] .footer[.floatleft[The Linux Of Things .hashtag[lca2019] --- Jan 2019 Christchurch, NZ]]

---
class: center, middle, inverse
template: title

???

Welcome, my name is Chris and today I want to talk to you about...

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
]

---

# Who am I?

## Christopher Biggs — .teal[@unixbigot] —  .logo[@accelerando_au]

* Brisbane, Australia
* Linux user since the very beginning (floppy discs at 2400 baud!)
* Convenor, Brisbane Internet Of Things Meetup
* Founder, .logo[Accelerando Consulting]
* Accelerando is a "full service" consultancy - chips to cloud

???

So who am I?   I've been involved with electronic gadgets since I was a teenager,
and throughout 20 years as a software engineer, architect and manager.

In my day job I operate Accelerando Consulting which helps businesses
use technology to reduce stress.   Really, that's what
I believe, that technology is the gradual process of freeing
humanity from drudgery and fear, and I started Accelerando
because I wanted to contribute to a future that I will
be excited to live in.

---

# The story so far

???

At the last LCA I talked about rapid manufacturing techniques such as 3D
printing and laser cutting.   I touched briefly on
electronics in that talk but didn't have time to go into any detail.

Well, it's time.     Only took a year.

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
]

---
class: center, middle
template: inverse

# Philosowaffling

## Or, What is The Internet of Things, anyway?

???

But first, I want to talk about why I want to talk about what I want
to talk about.   Did you follow that?

---

# Computers for humans, but not *for* humans

???

There's a lot of confusion about what the Internet of Things really
means.    Like any new buzzword there's a lot of piling on by existing
players who want to siphon off mindshare.

But this is what IoT means to me...

---

# Art is Technology for the soul

???

Which dovetails nicely into my approach to art.

There's a perception that tech folks are not arty.  But.

---

???

Undeniable Creativity

--
.spacedown[
## (Or some nightmare?)]

???

Which is not to say it's a good idea.

--
.footnote[tldr: both.  It's an early Television Set]

---

# Technology is the Art of Imagining a Better Way

---

# Printed Circuit Boards

.footnote[("**Printed**" because ink is deposited on the blank copper, and
then acid eats away the un-inked part leaving complex wiring fixed to
to the insulating fibreglass.  The ink is then washed off)]

---

---

---

---

???

You might think I Can't.  But.

The secret is, you don't have to be brilliant, just
good enough at doing jobs we didn't want to do anyway

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
# History
]

---

# << History

## (Say you want a revolution)

???
     
Lets go back and look at how we got here.   And Artists had a lot more
     influence than you'd expect.

---

## The industrial control of the 1960s
]

???
     
We've been using electricity to improve our lives for over a century.

We started with wires and relays and mechanical timers, if you've ever
wrestled with one of those washing machines where you have to
crank a big dial.

Then in the second half of the 20th century, transistors and then
microprocessors came along.

--
## ...and today

???

And nothing much changed.   Technologists built microcomputers that
simulated those timers and relays, and kept on doing the same things.

Imagine if you interacted with your mobile phone via the medium of a
     goose feather quill.

In the 1990s...

---

# ...40 years later

## Arduino - a revolution in the cost and accessiblity of physical computing

???
     
Let's fast forward to the early 21st century.

## Technology by and for artists!

???

So we find ourselves riding a revolution that was started by a couple
of artists in a pub.   Tech professionals actually hated this stuff
when it was new.   It was an invitation to ridicule to discuss these toys on some tech fora.

---

## Smaller, faster, cheaper

???

Over the next ten years...

Faster processors, more memory

---

## ...it's WiFi

]

???
     
Wireless communication

---

# Wifi WonderBlocks

???

Current sweet spot
     
--

## Stackable circuit modules

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
# History
# Future
]

---
class: center, middle
template: inverse

# >> Future

???

So here we are, living in the future.   And I really mean that.

---

## Solve real problems with pluggable modules
    
???
    
I want to use some of my projects to illustrate the journey from
concept to installation.

???

Also tips.

---

# Tip: Document

## The "Silk-Screen" text is there purely for your documentation

# Let's neaten things up

---

# Complex stuff from simple parts

Cheaper than a backhoe!]

---

Build modules to plug on top of single-board computers such as the
    Raspberry Pi.

???

If you're wondering what you can do with the raspberry pi
microcomputer in your swag bag...

???

Notice how the boards on the right are oddly shaped.

Bonus tip: your PCB can be your user interface

???
The big opening is for the power swittch.   The status lights are
    mounted on the board and shine through the case.   The black
    connectors hook into the power supply and external connections.

---

# Module soup

Radio module for retrofitting internet to water meters.
Literally one tick for every time the little needle goes around.

5 years battery life.]

???
    
Here's something a little more complex.   But not really.

---

Power-over-ethernet controller for eight underground sensors]

???

Now lets take this to the extreme.      Computer, screen, ethernet
switch for power control.

---

p.s. An undergrad intern from The University of Queensland designed this!]

Bonus Tip: touch screens cost under ten bucks

---

The blue board has holes for vertical screws

On the yellow board, the sockets for horizontal mounting screws are soldered to the PCB like other components

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
# History
# Future
# Examples
]

---
class: center, middle
template: inverse

# Simple complexity

---
.fig40[
![](windsock-paper.jpg)]

Problem: digital wind-speed displays for inside aircraft hangars

---

---

"Veroboard" is like a breadboard you can chop to size

CNC milling machines can cut one-off boards (but don't, really!)

---

## Autodesk Eagle

Free for small boards.  Cheapish for unrestricted.
]

---

This PCB actually holds all the other compontents together including
    the LED display.

---

CNC cut and folded metal enclosure
    
---

layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
# History
# Future
# Examples
# SMT
]

---

# We've barely scratched the surface

???
Pins sticking through boards

Surface mount technology.   Paste and syringes.  Actually easier.

---

Servo (+ rubber band) to lift pen.  Controlled by your laptop over WiFi.]

---

---

---

# Now, Iterate

---

# Putting it all together

--
.fig50l[
![](minigraph-assembly.jpg)]

--
.fig50l[
![](minigraph-assembled.jpg)]

???

Late in the process I decided to go taller.

So now I have different shape.

---
layout: true
template: callout

---

# Don't get bent out of shape

---

# Let's get frivolous

A christmas-themed project for the Brisbane IoT Meetup.
    
.fig50r[
![](sequin.jpg)]

???

At the brisbane internet of things meetup we do the normal wine and
    nibbles nights, but we also do saturday afternoon practical
    workshops.

???

For christmas last year...

But the snowflakes on that quilt got me thinking...

---

---

---

---

---

## KiCad

Open source.

A little* harder to learn than Eagle.

]

???

I'm not an engineer.  My first solo project in KiCad.

Find a hackerspace, or a pet nerd, or previous LCA talks.

---

???

What's the process of turning this into a this...

---
class: tight

# Getting boards made

--
.fig50l[
![](kicad-3d-back.png)]

--
.nolm[* "Excellon Format" drilling files
]

--
.nolm[* Upload a zipfile of all the above, wait for go/nogo]

--
.nolm[* How much for 10 boards?]

--
.nolm[* Five bucks]

--
.nolm[* No, not each, total]

--
.nolm[* Optional: have the whole thing assembled]

---

# How long?

--
* Normal thickness and colour: 3-4 days (pay extra for 48hr or 24hr rush)

--
* Fancy processes/colours: ~5 days

--
* With assembly: 3-4 weeks
---

<div style="position: fixed; top:15%; right:10%; width: 40%;">
  .drop[
  ![](treestar.gif)]
</div>

---
layout: true
template: callout
.crumb[
# Welcome
# Waffling
# History
# Future
# Examples
# SMD
# Fancy
# Recap
]

---

# Recap

.nolm[
* If you can join wires, you can make Printed Circuits
* Start with something that bores you, and bore a computer instead
* Plug some modules together
* Now make 10 PCBs for $5.00
* Use your colours, and silkscreens, and copper tracks
* Shapes are easy, and the PCB service will help you
]

* .red[GO FORTH AND CREATE]

---

# Resources, Questions

## Related talks - [http://christopher.biggs.id.au/#talks](http://christopher.biggs.id.au/#talks)

- Email: .blue[christopher @ biggs.id.au]
- Twitter: .blue[@unixbigot]
- BNE IoT Meetup: .blue[@iotbne]
- Accelerando Consulting - IoT, DevOps, Big Data - .blue[@accelerando_au] https://accelerando.com.au/

---
  
# Links

* [Eagle CAD](https://www.autodesk.com/products/eagle/overview) - Full featured design suite with limited free and hobbyist license tiers
* [KiCad](http://kicad-pcb.org) - Free-but-less friendly Design suite, for electronics nerds
* [Fritzing](http://fritzing.org/home/) - Web-based Design and manufacture site for novices
* [PCBWay](http://pcbway.com) - one of many excellent PCB services
* [OSHpark](http://oshpark.com) - another well-respected PCB service
* [Falstad](http://www.falstad.com/circuit/circuitjs.html) - Simulate
your circuits to see if they'll work