Open Raspberry jam event at UCS to encourage coding and programming

Ipswich Star: The Ipswich Raspberry Jam event in 2015.The Ipswich Raspberry Jam event in 2015. (Image: Archant)

Computers are everywhere around us in our world; in the home, at school and the workplace.

But very few of us know how they actually work, and have the skills to control or “code” them.

There are endless possibilities for using them, especially with a little tech knowledge and training.

For some the Raspberry Pi is the answer.

Ipswich Star: Andy Proctor speaks at a business seminarAndy Proctor speaks at a business seminar (Image: Archant)

Across the country Raspberry Jam events are organised, by the community, to share knowledge, learn new things amd meet other Raspberry Pi enthusiasts.

Local businessman and enthusiast Andy Proctor is helping organise the next, free, Raspbery Jam Ipswich event, which is taking place at UCS on the Waterfront on Saturday February 27.

Andy explained, that back in the days of the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spectrum it was possible for owners to programme them, tapping a code in.

That wasn’t possible with today’s family computers and consoles like the XBox and PlayStation, but there was the opportunity for enthusiasts to learn how to programme and use computers for controlling all sorts of things with the Raspberry Pi.

The Raspberry Pi is a £25 programmable computer, he said, that can sit on the shelf, connected to the internet doing automated tasks, with a programme written by yourself.

“It can encourage and help the next generation of computer programmers too,” he said.

The first Ipswich Raspberry Jam was held at the County Library last year.

Now there is another free event planned.

He added: “I wanted to show others what can be done with this £25 computer and it’s grown with the organisational support of Ipswich Maker Space and now the UCS on Ipswich Waterfront hosting our second event. Having a Raspberry Jam was the perfect format for young people and adults interested in electronics and computer coding to come and be inspired.

“We have show and tell, workshops and presentations and a market place where you can buy your own Raspberry Pi and accessories on the day.

The Raspberry Pi can be used with connecting switches, sensors or controls to do all sorts of things, he said, from for locks and motors, electric garage doors - controlled by Twitter, the weather or a camera.

The range is endless.

It was also being used in business and industry with inventors coming up with new ways to make use of it.

The event was open to all, with a range of things on offer from “techy” workshops to demonstrations of applications and uses.

“We want to see the Raspberry Pi being used by kids all over the world to program and understand how a computers work.”

The UCS event runs from 10am to 4pm.

For more information go to ww.ipswichraspberryjam.co.uk