British Computer Society Events - Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer - Raspberry Pi

Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer 15th April

"we still have some availability for tonight's talk on the Harwell Dekatron Computer at the City of Bristol College. All are welcome.
Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer


Start: 15/04/2013 - 19:30

End: 15/04/2013 - 21:00
Speaker: Kevin Murrell
Venue: City of Bristol College
Please register here: https://events.bcs.org/book/563/
7:00pm Refreshments, 7:30pm Main Talk
The recently restored Harwell Dekatron Computer is a typical project conducted by the Computer Conservation Society. Starting with the author's vague memories of the machine being a museum display in the early 1970s, and a chance observation in 2006, the CCS began a project to find the remains of the computer and determine whether it might be restored.
A combination of luck, perseverance and vintage-technology know-how made the project possible, and this 1950s relay and valve computer has now been restored to full working order. It is now on public display and shown working, and is being used again in education with a new generation of programmers.
Kevin Murrell has been a member of the Computer Conservation Society for many years, initially as chair of the DEC working group and now as society secretary. Kevin divides his time between his own business supplying systems to the health service, acting as a trustee to The National Museum of Computing, and in his spare time, still tinkering with his collection of PDP8 mini-computers."

Raspberry Pi Bootcamp 20th April

"This is a reminder about the Raspberry Pi Bootcamp being held at @Bristol in Bristol on Saturday 20th April. This is an excellent chance to learn about the Pi and get kids into computing. It is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm and you will be able to drop in at any time – ENTRY is FREE. Just register at http://bcsbristolbootcamp.eventbrite.com/
 
There are a number of excellent workshops to attend during the day which you can register for too –

Workshops:
·        Logging data to the internet – register at http://rasppisensor20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Hardware Interfacing with Multi-Coloured LEDs using the Raspberry Pi – register at http://rasppiled20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Learning to use a Pi-Car http://picars20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Using your Pi to create the game “Operation” http://opiration20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Learning to use to program your Pi-Car http://picarprogramming20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Your Raspberry Pi and the real world: Controlling LEDs and buttons via I2C: http://ledviai2c20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Remote Access To Your Raspberry Pi: Creating a Home Media Server: http://remoteaccess20apr13.eventbrite.com/
 
Drop in clinics:
·        The MagPi will be on hand offering help with anything Raspberry Pi related: from initial setup to installing and configuring applications, to using the expansion capabilities of the Pi. Drop in when you want to ask questions or to see some demos of some of the latest Raspberry Pi expansion hardware.
We will also have printed issues of The MagPi to view and can help with questions that you may have from reading articles in the magazine.
·        Beginners drop-in from the University of Bristol – you can get some help with using your laptop as a monitor for your Pi (see below)
 
Bringing your own equipment:
You should bring your own Raspberry Pi. We will have some monitors, keyboards and mice available but we suggest you try to bring your own
You can use a laptop as a monitor. The following links show you how to do this
http://pihw.wordpress.com/guides/direct-network-connection
http://www.rasptut.co.uk/files/raspberry-pi-vnc.php "