Working in tech we face a myriad of problems every day. From technical problems to team problems and business problems. Software Development is a diverse industry with endless options available to tackle the challenges we face.
As Software Craftspeople we believe in the power of the community to help motivate meaningful change in the industry as a whole. This session aims to leverage the communities' collective knowledge and use it to help other solves the issues they face in the industry.
We invite individuals to come along and present their problems (not their solutions!) to the group so that we might attempt to offer potential solutions based upon our collective experiences. No need for slide-shows or data sets! We want to converse and chat about the issues we face. This is not a trial or a lecture! It is about having real people with real issues find resolutions.
Come one, come all and benefit from those around you and if you just fancy coming along to listen, well at least there will be pizza and drinks as usual!
“How regular expressions made my dog less reactive” by Svenja Schäfer
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This time around thoughtbot's Svenja Schäfer will be giving a remote talk called “How regular expressions made my dog less reactive”.
Let’s face it: Regular Expressions are intimidating. As soon as we know we have to deal with them, we open StackOverflow. Someone has the answer. We might not know if it’s correct, but at least we can write some tests around it.
What if I tell you, that my dog, Hugo, with serious fear for everything unknown, moving or not moving, big or small, became less reactive – with the help of regular expressions? This talk will give you the answer and a guideline to understand regular expressions.
Refreshments and pizza on the night will kindly be provided by our hosts IntelliCentrics UK. No previous Ruby experience required, and new comers to the group are always welcome.
The IntelliCentrics offices are in central Manchester on Spring Gardens. Tell reception you're here for the Ruby meetup and you'll be pointed in the right direction.
Registration
If you'd like to attend make sure you register over on Eventbrite so we can plan for adequate pizza and refreshments.
Schedule
6:00pm arrive for pre-talk refreshments and chat
6:30pm talk begins
After: post-talk pizza and more Ruby-related chat
In partnership with the Responsible Tech Collective, we're running an event starting the process of mapping Greater Manchester's ethical tech ecosystem. Join us!
For years we've been wanting to map the local tech for good and responsible tech sector. We know people in all sectors are doing great stuff and could benefit from seeing who else is working on what so they can collaborate.
Behind the scenes (and also at a collaborative mapping kick off event in 2019) a bunch of people have been doing some thinking about this, but we want to test where we're at out in the wild and we need some help.
We'll be using the session to:
- Revisit the purpose of the map
- Showcase the forms, language and definitions that we're starting with
- Enable the Responsible Tech Collective and Tech for Good Live communities test the map's infrastructure through inputting organisation and initiative focused information
- Get your feedback on the forms and project so that we can figure out next steps on ownership, governance and visualisation of the data
So if you, your organisation or an initiative you're involved in creates tech for good, civic tech or practises responsible tech, come along! If you're a data geek, coma along! If you're just curious, come along!
Become a mentor to help charities use tech for social good
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Help a Charity aims to help people with digital skills do good and develop their careers by matching them with charities that need help exploring problems that may have digital solutions.
Come along to the first of our monthly* mentor meetups to find out more about how you can help charities!
*These sessions will run on the first weds of every month.
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12.30 Welcome & intros
12.35 About Help a Charity
12.45 Hear from existing mentors and help them solve live problems
Christmas parties won't be the same this year, but we couldn't resist the temptation to gather together and look back at the highs and lows of the tech for good (and bad) world of 2020 .
Our team of tech for good experts will reflect on 2020 in a Live Streamed podcast, what can go wrong. You can watch along on our YouTube.
Christmas parties won't be the same this year, but we couldn't resist the temptation to gather together and look back at the highs and lows of the tech for good (and bad) world of 2020 - and we want YOU to join us!
So grab your favourite Christmas tipple, pick out a tacky Zoom background and join us LIVE on Friday December 18th.
In May 2020, a community of tech volunteers launched Help a Charity with local charity partnership 10GM. Help a Charity aimed to explore how the tech community could support charities to get online in response to COVID.
Since Help a Charity launched in May 2020...
76 charities asked for help
50+ tech volunteers signed up to help
44 requests were matched or completed.
There are a bunch of positive stories, which we’ll share soon.
You can find out more about the story so far here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GNkjX6v5JfpU4RfSb5bEbSkcP1fVvAx7JP56sJe8IGs/edit?usp=sharing
WHAT IS THIS EVENT?
What we launched in May 2020 was very much an initial prototype. We've learned a ton of stuff about what works and what doesn't. We're really keen to share what we've found and work with the tech community to develop and scale this project so we can help more charities.
This event is open to anyone who wants to find out more about Help a Charity and how you can get involved in designing the future service. Specifically, we'll be designing what we offer to charities and how we support tech volunteers to deliver it.
SAVE THE DATE!
Save the date, more info to come.
Hope to see you there,
Harriet, Bex & the HAC community
This two day course covers basic GIS concepts and the application of simple techniques and processes to analyse and interpret spatial data in QGIS. The course is most suited to delegates who are new to GIS or QGIS.
Course Outline - Day 1
Module 1: Introduction to GIS and QGIS
Fundamental GIS concepts
Coordinate reference systems
Open source QGIS software
Module 2: Navigating QGIS
Panels and toolbars
Bookmarks
Identifying features
Measurements
Plugins
Module 3: Adding Data
Data Source Manager
Delimited text layers
Web services
Themes
Multiple map views
Converting data
Module 4: Querying Data
Attribute joins
Select by expression
Select by location
Module 5: Styles and Symbology
Styling vector layers
Symbol creation
Saving and sharing styles
Labelling
Course Outline - Day 2
Module 6: Manipulating Data
Digitising features
Snapping
Attribute edits and field calculation
Advanced editing
3D Visualisation
Module 7: Georeferencing
Tech Show North will feature over 120 exhibitors showcasing the very best in Tech from across the North. It will provide buyers with an opportunity to meet and network with prospective suppliers and learn about the latest industry innovations and technologies.
Tech Show North is free to attend and offers a unique opportunity to meet with thousands of key decision makers and potential clients. It is also the perfect opportunity to network with peers, see what the competition is up to and connect with the North’s entire Tech industries across two days.
Just under three weeks until our next hashtag#CRMUGUK event in Manchester. We will be at RSMUK in Spinningfields from 6:30-9:30pm for two great panels. There is a hashtag#microsoftdynamics October roadmap presentation from David Reid plus Megan Walker is demonstrating how you can bring a richness and consistency to your portals, emails and surveys via CSS. Lots of free nosh and drink on top. We need to have names in advance for building reception so please make sure you register
This one day course explores advanced techniques and processes for analysing and interpreting spatial data in QGIS. The course is most suited to delegates who already have a good working understanding of QGIS, or have attended our QGIS Beginner course
This one day course explores advanced techniques and processes for analysing and interpreting spatial data in QGIS. The course is most suited to delegates who already have a good working understanding of QGIS, or have attended our QGIS Beginner course
Get started with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)...This two day course covers basic GIS concepts and the application of simple techniques and processes to analyse and interpret spatial data in QGIS (open source desktop GIS). The course is most suited to delegates who are new to GIS or QGIS.
Get started with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)...This two day course covers basic GIS concepts and the application of simple techniques and processes to analyse and interpret spatial data in QGIS (open source desktop GIS). The course is most suited to delegates who are new to GIS or QGIS.
TechUG Manchester, the local community event for IT, Infrastructure, Cloud, DevOps & CyberSecurity Professionals. We've a great days education planned so check out the agenda on the website.
EDUCATION
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
NETWORKING
We hope to see you at the next event which is free to attend.
Refreshments, Lunch and Networking Drinks all included
A course designed for Java Developers looking to take their first steps in understanding In-Memory Data Grids (IMDG). By the end of the course the attendee will be able to construct Hazelcast Clusters and deliver basic caching services.
The candidates should be familiar with Core Java concepts and APIs (collections, concurrency). Students will be introduced to the fundamental features of Hazelcast and how they may be applied to solve various use cases. This course is suitable for Developers and Architects with no prior or very basic knowledge of Hazelcast.
Could new plans to make Britain “the safest place in the world to be online” have unintended consequences?
Hear from ORG campaigns manager Mike Morel and legal officer Alex Haydock about how the Government is working with social media companies to police online speech. Learn how heavy fines encourage the use of not-so-smart filters that can silence free speech, and how murky definitions of ‘harmful content’ give social media companies unprecedented control over free expression.
No experience is necessary to attend this FREE event. All are welcome!
Manchester NO2I are having an informal pub social meeting for a general chit-chat and to discuss the latest developments with the database state and mass surveillance.
Manchester ORG members and supporters are of course welcome to come along for a drink and chat.
The following is a link to the event on Manchester NO2ID’s Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/events/1797922023833310/
We hope to see you there!
This month's topic is django - the python web framework. We'll start with a short talk on django's implementation, but as django is such a huge topic, we'll focus on views and templates with the aim of trying out creating some basic pages for the Python North West website.
If possible bring a laptop. If you have chance to install django before hand that would be even better.
Tonight you can help rescue local businesses that are being removed from the Internet. It could be yours!
This event is part of the monthly MaccTech meeting which also has a talk on "How Blockchain will change the world". 10 minutes from the station with frequent trains to and from Manchester.
Please RSVP on the main event site : https://www.meetup.com/MaccTech/events/240931554/ or alternatively email manchester -at- open rights group dot org as there is a limit to the number of people that can be accomadated.
Tonight you can help rescue local businesses that are being removed from the Internet. It could be yours!
This event is part of the monthly MaccTech meeting which also has a talk on "How Blockchain will change the world". 10 minutes from the station with frequent trains to and from Manchester.
Tonight you can help rescue local businesses that are being removed from the Internet. It could be yours!
This event is part of the monthly MaccTech meeting which also has a talk on "How Blockchain will change the world". 10 minutes from the station with frequent trains to and from Manchester.
If you want to take control over your energy usage but you are not sure whether connecting everything to the internet is a positive or a negative thing, this event about smart meters is for you. Presented by the Carbon Co-op who provide the venue and the experts, you only need to bring your questions and interest.
This event is not only an info session about smart meters but also a possibility to enhance your own influence over your own life. Independent experts will analyse the positive and negative effects of smart meters, which the government seeks to standardize in the UK by 2020. In order to tackle the future head on, Carbon-Coop asked: is this a blessing or a curse? Our speakers will answer!
There is a £3 suggested entrance donation. If you can spare 1.5 hours to find out about probably the biggest change which our energy measuring will go through in the next 10 years, we'd love to see you there!
Please register your attendance at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/carbon-coop-info-night-whats-so-smart-about-smart-meters-tickets-35726567124
Question Time with the Manchester Gorton Candidates
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Come along to this community event for all to meet and ask the Manchester Gorton candidates questions on their policies and how they will represent you!
On the 8th June 2017 the country will be heading to a General Election. The next Government will not simply be responsible for the UKs negotiations with the EU relating to Brexit; it will oversee substantial changes to our education system, welfare state, and the NHS.
Transport in the North of England: infrastructure, economic growth and devolution
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Transport in Northern England will be discussed at this conference. It will be a timely opportunity to discuss the way forward for devolved transport powers, with Transport for the North (TfN) expected this year to become England’s first sub-national transport body, contributing increased guidance on policy formation and investment based around local requirements. In light of the Budget announcement of £90m towards northern transport projects, discussion is expected on the allocation and delivery of funding to improve transport infrastructure.
Delegates will discuss how best to ensure that this new structure can enable the development of strategies that can help improve the transport network in the short and long-term, in addition to possible implications for economic development across the North of England. There will also be an assessment of the ways local government and franchises can contribute to a more comprehensive and integrated network, including the use of smart technology.
In light of the recent independent International Connectivity Report commissioned by TfN, delegates will evaluate prospects for integrated transport infrastructure that can significantly improve Northern England’s access to markets both domestically and internationally. Sessions also discuss the research, planning and investment requirements for facilitating appropriate and cost-effective connectivity across the region.
Guest of honour:
David Brown, Chief Executive, Transport for the North
Film: Citizen Four (followed by National Union of Journalists panel)
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This is the never before seen, utterly riveting first-person look at how director Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald first met with whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong where he gave them documents showing widespread abuses of power by the National Security Administration. It is an unprecedented fly-on-the-wall account of one of the most groundbreaking moments in recent history.
Attracting & Retaining the best Digital talent in the North
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On the back of the much talked about Northern Powerhouse initiative, Insight are proud to announce we are partnering with Tech North and a number of key players in the North's digital industry to discuss the challenges of the UK's fastest growing sector.
The next event is in Manchester on 23rd March, a stones throw from Insight HQ, where we will be tackling the theme of Attracting & Retaining the Best Digital Talent in the North.
You seal your letters but send your mails unencrypted? You want to protect your privacy online but don't know how to do it? Come along to learn how to protect your communications and content over the Internet.
CryptoParty is free, public and fun ! Everyone can learn - the only thing you need is a laptop or smartphone!
CryptoParty Manchester is organised by Manchester Libraries and Open Rights Group Manchester as part of their 'Get Data Smart and Online Privacy' day.
We'd like you to register on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/get-data-smart-cryptoparty-manchester-tickets-32155895148 so we have an idea of numbers. If you would prefer to say you are attending via email rather than on the web, you can use drop manchester -at- openrightsgroup -dot- org
As schools begin videoing pupils do you know how your children's data in school is handled?
School records for every named pupil aged 2-19, are uploaded to a national pupil database (NPD) at the Department for Education (DfE) every term, from where it is shared with companies and organisations including journalists, for a range of purposes none of which are to do with your child’s schooling. In September 2016, the DfE started to collect nationality data with the intention of sharing it with the Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Removals Casework team.
Together with the support of over 20 organisations, including Open Rights Group, we stopped this immediate threat in a first campaign success, and the new data will now be stored in a separate database and unlike the rest of the NPD, the data will not be released to commercial businesses and journalists. The government has u-turned on the data collection for 2-5 year olds from nurseries and pre-schools. Information about the monthly use of this data for these purposes has been put into the public domain.
But much remains to be done. What’s next? Find out how all this data from schools, as well as new laws on student data, and all other administrative datasets, might be affected by the Digital Economy Bill. Come along to find out more and what you can do to get involved to #BoycottSchoolCensus and refuse, retract and resist this data collection.
Presented by Jen Persson, Coordinator of defendDigitalMe
If you prefer to email me to confirm your place, please email manchester -at sign- openrightsgroup -dot- org
Threats to your children's confidentiality: National Pupil Database and census
Description changed:
As schools begin videoing pupils do you know how your children's data in school is handled?
School records for every named pupil aged 2-19, are uploaded to a national pupil database (NPD) at the Department for Education (DfE) every term, from where it is shared with companies and organisations including journalists, for a range of purposes none of which are to do with your child’s schooling. In September 2016, the DfE started to collect nationality data with the intention of sharing it with the Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Removals Casework team.
Together with the support of over 20 organisations, including Open Rights Group, we stopped this immediate threat in a first campaign success, and the new data will now be stored in a separate database and unlike the rest of the NPD, the data will not be released to commercial businesses and journalists. The government has u-turned on the data collection for 2-5 year olds from nurseries and pre-schools. Information about the monthly use of this data for these purposes has been put into the public domain.
But much remains to be done. What’s next? Find out how all this data from schools, as well as new laws on student data, and all other administrative datasets, might be affected by the Digital Economy Bill. Come along to find out more and what you can do to get involved to #BoycottSchoolCensus and refuse, retract and resist this data collection.
Presented by Jen Persson, Coordinator of defendDigitalMe
Steve Cox of SC3D helps you get started with 3d design using Autodesk Fusion 360!
Autodesk Fusion 360 is part of Autodesk’s vision for “The Future Of Making Things”. It is an easy-to-learn, and easy-to-use, 3D product creation software application that also includes extremely powerful tools for advanced users. It is available in both Windows and Mac versions for computers using 64-bit operating systems. Best of all it’s offered on a free-to-use basis to Students, Educators, Start-Ups and Hobbyists.
Atendees MUST bring their own laptop and should have registered, downloaded and installed Fusion 360 from http://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/try-buy before the course. (Note : Follow the panel on the right hand side of the screen on how to register for free use)
Autodesk also offer introductory training through their Authorised Academic Partners and website. To benefit from this you will need to register for an Autodesk Fusion 360 account and download it onto your device. Then bring your device along to the workshop to learn how you can very quickly get started designing in 3D. You’ll also see how it’s use of cloud computing can enable you to collaborate, share, and utilise some of its advanced capabilities.
Just to let you know that we have now got our traditional Christmas social planned in and like last year we will be holding a joint Christmas social with Manchester No2ID.
The venue this year will be at Sandbar (http://www.sandbarmanchester.co.uk), 120 Grosvenor St, Manchester M1 7HL, from 7:00pm on Thursday 8th December.
This is a social event rather than a formal meeting, although no doubt there will be some talk about the current state of the world! As usual everyone is welcome to come along for a friendly chat over a beer or other beverage.
Play games, hang out, have fun at Leigh Hackspace!
Retro and current generation consoles! Feel free to bring your favourite platform, title and board games!
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL
It's important for you to let us know you're attending in advance so we can have any equipment you might need prepared (such as spare monitors/TVs and cables).
PLAY:
Raspberry Pi powered Amiga 500
Playsation
Nintendo
Sega Dreamcast
Homebrewed Hackspace arcade machine!
Board games
In association with @GAME_Leigh
Steve Cox of SC3D helps you get started with 3d design using Autodesk Fusion 360!
Autodesk Fusion 360 is part of Autodesk’s vision for “The Future Of Making Things”. It is an easy-to-learn, and easy-to-use, 3D product creation software application that also includes extremely powerful tools for advanced users. It is available in both Windows and Mac versions for computers using 64-bit operating systems. Best of all it’s offered on a free-to-use basis to Students, Educators, Start-Ups and Hobbyists.
Atendees MUST bring their own laptop and should have registered, downloaded and installed Fusion 360 from http://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/try-buy before the course. (Note : Follow the panel on the right hand side of the screen on how to register for free use)
Autodesk also offer introductory training through their Authorised Academic Partners and website. To benefit from this you will need to register for an Autodesk Fusion 360 account and download it onto your device. Then bring your device along to the workshop to learn how you can very quickly get started designing in 3D. You’ll also see how it’s use of cloud computing can enable you to collaborate, share, and utilise some of its advanced capabilities.
Raspberry Pis are small, cheap single board computers that can run a full Linux Desktop, and can be used for games, productivity, electronics and almost anything else you can do on a computer! The latest ones cost just £35 and have WiFi and Bluetooth built in - the possibilities are endless!
Arduinos are even cheaper (just £5), smaller, single board microcontrollers that can be used to create simple automatic functions, controlling lights, making toys, games, and wearable electronics, again with limitless possibilities.
We usually run a Raspberry Pi workshop (a Raspberry Jam') and an Arduino Day separately, every couple of months. For a bit of a change this month, we thought we'd bring them together for a Xmas-flavoured RaspbUino Jam.
Everyone can join in - novices and experts alike - we will have beginner tutorials for both Arduino and Raspberry Pi, AND we'll have Raspberry Pi and Arduino nerds showing off the cool stuff they've made. We're family friendly so kids can come (with their adult!)
For Arduino work PLEASE bring your own computer as we only have a small number of 'loaner' machines available.
You can come along to watch, or you can buy everything you need to get involved from us on the day. Kits will be available for both Raspberry Pi and Arduino, and if you want to make absolutely sure you're not disappointed, you can pre-pay for your kit by selecting a Raspberry Pi Ticket or an Arduino Ticket (or both!)
Ticket price includes a full lunch and free coffee, tea and juice all day.
