[VicPiMakers SG] Pi Basics

Tue May 5 00:35:05 EDT 2020

Mark,

I am really, only suggesting one, possibly two sentences as 
possibilities of things that can be done on the Pi, rather than a 
full-on demo. Just like I would suggest we state that there is MotionEye 
or NodeRed that can be run on the Pi. It is something that can be done 
on the little SBC, you may have thought was too small to do these kind 
of things.

If OPCUG is interested  in more info, we can point them to our existing 
presentations on the topics, and if they are even more interested, they 
can invite us to give them a presentation. But for the June preso, I am 
only suggesting things which might pique their interest, and expand 
their ideas as to what can be done with the SBC.

Craig...

On 5/4/20 8:48 PM, Mark G. wrote:
> I suggested removing containers based on my direct knowledge
> of the group in question.  Telling OPCUG about running containers
> on a pi is somewhat pointless.
>
> Craig, you could offer to give a more full-blown presentation
> on linux containers to OPCUG, which I think would be more
> useful.
>
>
> On 2020-05-04 12:57 PM, Craig Miller wrote:
>> Deid,
>>
>> I would put in Linux Containers, at least a mention, as the Tech
>> community in Ottawa are all over containerization.
>>
>> 4-6 is steps (or lines) 4 through 6
>>
>> Sounds like it is shaping up well.
>>
>> Craig...
>>
>> On 5/4/20 11:13 AM, Deid Reimer wrote:
>>> https://www.hackster.io/news/meet-the-new-raspberry-pi-4-model-b-9b4698c284 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Has a good article on the 4.  May be able to use these ideas for part
>>> 1.  An image from that article:
>>>
>>> https://hackster.imgix.net/uploads/attachments/981429/1_kOpWv51R5s8eFV9G7hKgxA.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&w=740&h=555&fit=max 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Can use my asus cardboard box for part 2 yes
>>>
>>> Hats - never used any other than the purpose built one for Camosun.
>>>
>>> OS and GUI - mostly Debian.  Thoughts on what to describe.
>>>
>>> What is "my 4-6"?
>>>
>>> I like Craig's idea of node red.
>>>
>>> We only have an hour and a half and I think we should leave at least
>>> 20 minutes for questions/interruptions.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/3/20 6:44 PM, Mark G. wrote:
>>>> Craig, Deid,
>>>>
>>>> That's a good list.  I can give you a rough idea of the audience, 
>>>> since
>>>> I was a member back a while.
>>>>
>>>> They are fairly technically competent, but they can be windows 
>>>> centric,
>>>> although there was quite often a foray into the linux side of things.
>>>> They'll understand mostly anything we present about the RPi.
>>>>
>>>> So here's what I would focus on:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Describe the RPi 4 fairly deeply:
>>>>   - memory, CPU, GigEth/WLAN, USB 3+2, BT, HDMIx2 USB C power.
>>>>   - display connector and camera connector, audio jack
>>>>
>>>> 2. Stay with the hardware and describe the GPIO pins
>>>>   - run some python code that toggles LED's on a show and tell
>>>>     system like Deid's, with some temperature sensing.
>>>>
>>>> 2a. Describe some common HATs, like PoE, or Sensehat to
>>>>      show hardware extensibility.
>>>>
>>>> 3. Move to describing the OS and GUI to provide relief for
>>>>     the console shock we'll have given them with the GPIO
>>>>     programs.
>>>>
>>>> Then do your 4-6, except skip linux containers (sad face),
>>>> and maybe skip VNC/RDP/headless.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2020-05-03 3:50 PM, Craig Miller wrote:
>>>>> Hi Deid,
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, the Pi Camp is full of good stuff, I think it was aimed more 
>>>>> at a
>>>>> hands on audience who (ostensibly) wanted to use the Pi. I doubt this
>>>>> group is interested in Ohm's Law, for example.
>>>>>
>>>>> As I remember OPCUG from my Ottawa days, they were mostly Windows
>>>>> folks.
>>>>> So I think:
>>>>>
>>>>>  1. some chat about the Pi4 would be useful (something the 
>>>>> VicPiMakers
>>>>>     would also be interested in, BTW)
>>>>>  2. the basics of the GUI
>>>>>  3. The lack of compatibility with Windows anything (can't run 
>>>>> Windows
>>>>>     apps, although there may be work-alikes), has a different 
>>>>> processor
>>>>>  4. The Basic Setup - keyboard, mouse, HDMI display, or run Headless
>>>>>     (then use VNC or RDP?)
>>>>>  5. Some Cool Apps: Flight Aware, Motion Eye, Linux Containers 
>>>>> (Ottawa
>>>>>     is the High Tech centre of Canada)
>>>>>  6. A few pointers to other things that can be done with the Pi:
>>>>>     NodeRed, GPIO, Python Programming
>>>>>
>>>>> BTW, being a Linux and Mac guy, I don't think I ever attended the
>>>>> OPCUG,
>>>>> but did attend the Mac and Linux groups in Ottawa.
>>>>>
>>>>> Craig...
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> IPv6 is the future!
>>>>> http://ipv6-net.blogspot.ca/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, May 3, 2020 at 3:10 PM Deid Reimer <deid at drsol.com
>>>>> <mailto:deid at drsol.com>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>     Do you think parts of the pi camp that never happened would be
>>>>>     useful?  Or, are these folks likely past that level?
>>>>>
>>>>>     Deid  VA7REI
>>>>>     On May 3, 2020, at 12:38 PM, "Mark G." <vpm at palaceofretention.ca
>>>>>     <mailto:vpm at palaceofretention.ca>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>         -------- 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>     --
>>>>>     SteeringGroup mailing list
>>>>>     SteeringGroup at vicpimakers.ca 
>>>>> <mailto:SteeringGroup at vicpimakers.ca>
>>>>> http://vicpimakers.ca/mailman/listinfo/steeringgroup_vicpimakers.ca
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

-- 
IPv6 is the future!
http://ipv6-net.blogspot.ca