General Information

You have probably heard of the Internet of Things (IoT), but you may be wondering what it is about, and how you might be able to apply it in your own work.

In this short hands-on workshop on IoT, you can gain an understanding of what it is, how things work, and what the (many) possibilities are for capturing and broadcasting data from a wide variety of specialist sensors.

Sensors exist to capture temperature, humidity, light intensity, motion, pressure, and chemical substances such as CO2 and alcohol in real time… how could you use them to craft a novel tool for your research?

What to expect

You will be working with an Arduino-like device and simple sensors and a computer, to discover how an IoT system can be assembled to capture data and make it available on the Internet.

You will be introduced to the basics of programming in the Arduino environment, get hands-on with wiring one or more sensors into your device, and will stream your data to the Internet of Things.

This is a pilot workshop, testing out a lesson that is still under development. The lesson authors would appreciate any feedback you can give them about the lesson content and suggestions for how it could be further improved.

Prerequisites

No knowledge of electronics, programming, or the Internet of Things is expected for this workshop.

Value

After this workshop, some of the fundamentals of IoT will be demystified, and you will be in a better position to imagine how you might be able to unlock the value of this technology in novel ways for your own research (whether on your own, or in collaboration with the Stellenbosch University IoT research group and RSE@SUN).

Our Workshop Sponsors

Where: The Stellenbosch University Library MakerSpace. Get directions with OpenStreetMap or Google Maps.

When: Sep 27-28, 2022. Add to your Google Calendar.

Requirements: Participants must bring a laptop with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) that they have administrative privileges on. Alternatively, they must inform the instructors in advance that they require access to a Desktop PC at the venue. They should have a few specific software packages installed (listed below).

Accessibility: We are dedicated to providing a positive and accessible learning environment for all. Please notify the instructors in advance of the workshop if you require any accommodations or if there is anything we can do to make this workshop more accessible to you.

Contact: Please email kcmartin@sun.ac.za or jannetta.steyn@newcastle.ac.uk for more information.

Roles: To learn more about the roles at the workshop (who will be doing what), refer to our Workshop FAQ.

Who can attend?: This RSE@SUN workshop is open to staff, students, and postdoctoral researchers in Stellenbosch University. Please complete the application form (Please note that places are limited - you will be contacted with confirmation if a place is available.)

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Code of Conduct

Everyone who participates in Carpentries activities is required to conform to the Code of Conduct. This document also outlines how to report an incident if needed.

Report a Code of Conduct Incident

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Surveys

Please be sure to complete these surveys before and after the workshop.

Pre-workshop Survey

Post-workshop Survey

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Schedule

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Setup

Unless you have been allocated a Desktop PC, please check the "Setup" page of the lesson site for instructions to follow to obtain the software and data you will need to follow the lesson with your own laptop.