[VicPiMakers SG] Pi Basics

[Mark G.]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Re: Re: [VicPiMakers SG] Fwd: Re: Pi Basics
Date: 	Sun, 3 May 2020 15:25:05 -0400
From: 	Alan German


     A couple of replies below.
     Deid would like to know a bit more about what you'd like
     covered.  Also, how much time is available?


Mark:

Thanks for your assistance and especially for the prompt replies from 
your colleagues.

Normally, we would have a lot of relevant information for speakers on 
our web site (https://opcug.ca/speakers-info/) but, with the current 
concerns relating to Covid-19, very little of it remains so.  
Consequently, the following notes may assist:

The Ottawa PC Users' Group (OPCUG) has been serving our local community 
for close to 40 years.  Our main activities for members are a 
monthly meeting to which we normally invite an external speaker on some 
computer-related topic, Q&A sessions that immediately follow the 
speaker's talk, our monthly newsletter (Ottawa PC News), web site, and a 
members-only, on-line discussion forum.  Guests (non-members) are always 
welcome to attend our meetings.  In addition, we have other 
outreach programmes such as workshops held in the spring and fall, and 
presentations to members of the public at library branches across the 
city.  Currently, because of the limitations imposed by the pandemic, we 
are offering brief, weekly Q&A sessions over video-conferencing.

The Raspberry Pi computer has been suggested as a topic for our regular 
monthly meetings on a number of occasions and, while we have the BuyaPi 
store and a number of Pi enthusiasts in the city, we have been unable to 
find a local speaker for this topic.  Jeff had mentioned to me your work 
on Jitsi as OPCUG has commenced using video-conferencing due to our 
current inability to hold face-to-face meetings.  I noted that this 
effort was linked, in part, to Victoria PiMakers and saw from the web 
site that this group was very active with the Pi and, in particular, had 
recently given an introductory course on the Pi.  Hence my interest and 
inquiry.

I suspect that most members of OPCUG will know that the Pi exists, and 
have a basic idea of what it is, but that is almost certainly as far as 
it goes.  But, it is a fascinating device and I am sure that everyone 
would love to learn more about it and what they could do with it.  Our 
scheduled talks are usually 90 minutes in duration, including questions, 
so clearly the presentation would have to be fairly concise.  But, it 
should be considered just as an introduction to the topic so a lot of 
detail is likely not required.  My thoughts were along the lines of:

(1) a brief history of the Pi
(2) an overview of the latest model
(3) the "accessories" required (e.g. power supply, SDcard, video cable, 
etc.)
(4) a couple of examples of "shovel-ready" applications (i.e. 
off-the-shelf software for specific tasks)
(5) a brief indication of some of the capabilities of the Pi for someone 
willing to roll up their sleeves (e.g. programming the I/O system)

Obviously, not knowing all that much about the Pi myself, the above are 
simply suggestions.  We would, of course, be guided by whoever would 
be willing to provide a presentation to our group.

As I indicated, our meetings are currently being held by (Zoom) 
video-conference so a remote presentation is obviously the route to take 
for a talk by one of your group if such can be arranged.  We are limited 
to our regular meeting schedule, i.e. on the second Wednesday of the 
month (e.g. June 10 is currently available), commencing at 7:30 pm EST, 
although I would think that we could switch the main presentation and 
the Q&A session around if a later starting time would be preferred for 
the west coast.  And, while there is always the possibility of regular 
meetings re-commencing at the church in the fall, we do have Wi-Fi 
available at this venue so, if this timing would be more appropriate, no 
doubt a remote presentation could be accommodated by simply running the 
AV feed into the video projector.

Anyway, all that to say that our group is very interested in the 
capabilities of the Pi, is extremely flexible on the logistics, and 
would be most grateful for any assistance that any member of your 
organization could provide.

My very best regards

Alan