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Refreshing New Topics for the Essentials Program

rscasny

In the coming year, we want to offer topics that element14 members want to know more about. In the past, we have focused on hardware components or technologies such as IOT that many members have an interest in. IOT is an interesting topic and I feel is still an emerging technology with a lot of room for learning. 

But I think want to shake the tree a bit and offer refreshing topics that a lot of people are excited about. 

For starters, I was thinking at the end of this year to offer a Fundamentals on C, C++, Embedded C, or Java, etc. (Only one of them!) That's what comes to my mind. We aren't committed to those topics yet. We want to be flexible in the topics presented.

On the other side of the coin, I'm not really looking for topics that are very niche, such as Control Theory, How To Hack Your PC (that's e14 Presents Territory), Fast Fourier Transforms (may not have a lot of interest with our makers?), etc.

Now you may debate my opinion that they are niche, and that's fine. I could be persuaded otherwise, but I'm looking to offer topics that have broad appeal on element14, that is, would appeal to a lot of different people. 

I do feel that software-oriented learning is very important. But that's not the only thing. I am fascinated about the quick evolution of 3D printing, too.

So, that's what's on my mind. 

What do you think?

What would you like to learn about in the coming year?

Randall

--element14 Team

  • I am in the throes of an online Kicad 6.0 course using Tech Exploration resources. What would it take to provide a soup to nuts Kicad course. Design a bread board power supply, create the schematic, create the PCB and plot Gerber files for manufacturing.

    I've seen some Arduino modules content. Do we have the expertise to make it happen. Tailoring Kicad to use some of the resources libraries that support E14 Community beings them into the fold would be ideal. 

    My sense is the material in such a course is the content that the E14 Community is about. 

  • I would like something of Python, maybe Python replacing LabVIEW.

    3D printing, not for maker stuff or art but for real engineering, testing.

  • There is a class of topics that can improve productivity or quality of work that are of abiding interest to makers, hobbyists and members. Things like C/C++ you mentioned, microPython, KiCAD, CAD design for 3D printing, metal working, videography, video editing, 

    I actually think practical control theory is a huge asset, but so are static mechanical design and fundamentals of electronics. A little further on would be "signal conditioning". Topics like these make a big difference in members' capabilities and performance.

    Obviously the math behind FFTs is a little arcane, but the wide-interest benefits of frequency analysis can be discussed at a practical level.

    Although prototyping techniques are often discussed, one topic that is rarely covered anywhere is design-for-prototyping - it is way different from design-for-manufacturing (DFM) or even design-for-test (DFT).

    One area I find interesting is technical trends and the future of specific technologies. Finding people who know what is in the works or have thought it through enough to make justified predictions can make for fascinating topics. Our industry changes so rapidly, it is essential to try and anticipate what is coming because it may be the only way you will be ready in time to accommodate the change.

    One thing I would like to see at element14 is a library of stock photos, music and video etc that can be used to enhance blogs without worrying about DRM. This would encourage more and better content generation. As an essentials topic it would be part of techniques for efficient generation of attractive technical blogs.

  • I've enjoyed the webinars this year (or more) on AI, modeling, machine learning and their productivity tools.

    I've even done a Raspberry Pi facial recognition project closely following PyImageSearch instructions. Do I truely understand what I'm doing ? not really.

    I've also got a Nicla Sense ME and know that I haven't really leveraged its capabilities,

    I would benefit by learning more how to apply the machine leaning products offered by Newark and the productivity tools, with a special emphasis on object recognition. 

  • C programming for embedded MCUs, with some in-depth focus on setting up the dev/debug environment in a tool such as Eclipse.  I’m thinking here of the more esoteric elements such as Linker configuration, memory mapping etc.  I know some of these topics would be MCU specific, but the knowledge would be transferable if presented in a theory and practical manner.

  • I don't think the Essentials format is well suited to programming languages. There is a huge amount of information and tutorial stuff out there already and the relatively brief Essentials format would inevitably be very superficial.

    A Kicad course would be a useful thing, although they do exist, but would be far better presented in a different way.

    For me the Essentials format works best with a narrow subject where you can learn something useful in 30 minutes max. It should break away from the single vendor model with questions about the vendor’s catalogue.

    Here are a few ideas:

    Powering simple devices from USB C

    Using an IGBT as a linear power device

    Why does a 22uF MLCC not behave much like a capacitor

    Protecting IO ports on electronics

    Why ground loops make your scope read wrong, and what to do about it.

    Why nearly everyone talks about FFT when they mean DFT (not seriously)

    MK

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    I think your suggestions have some merit.  No, not because it endorses my KiCAD suggestion:) Your response struck a cord in my knowledge piano. What is essential depends on your knowledge level. Essential skill development for the novice is different than the seasoned professional.

    I'm having to step back and examine the question from a community perspective. Maybe essentials has categories i.e. Programming, Basic electronics, advanced electronics, FPGA's, PCB's... I'm rambling at the moment caught in the funk of a head cold.

  • in reply to colporteur

    There's something interesting/odd about that Tech Explorations series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmzKTn3f9uzGb6O5gMRJf5Sur7RGk0jTR

    There are 29 videos in the KiCad 6 Guide Series there, but none of them describe how to create component symbols. Maybe I'm wrong, since I have not watched them. 

    I think the single 50-minute KiCad video I recorded at the start of the year might meet your needs better, since you have hit the situation where a custom symbol would help. Alternatively, there is a slower-paced symbol creation video here which shows how to create the symbol from scratch (my video takes a shortcut method, copy-pasting symbols and editing elements).

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    I like these topics from

    How about applications and performance of ferrites?