pro² network+
Making the manufacture of digital devices more accessible. Learn more at www.prosquared.org
- Join us at CHI 2026 this April for an interactive workshop exploring education, information sharing and community in Open Source Hardware (date/time TBA). Learn more: lnkd.in/e_3yPiFk Apply by 12th Feb to be a workshop participant: lnkd.in/edv4WV2z #CHI2026 #HCI #opensourcehardware @chi.acm.org
- We're seeking an experienced Development Specialist who's passionate about open source - if this is you, come join us! Apply by 7th January 2026 Learn more: lnkd.in/eEBxNgwy @bristoluni.bsky.social @oshwassociation.bsky.social #HEjobs #OpenSource
- Liquid metal circuits like those being developed by Prof. Yi Wang at @unibirmingham.bsky.social have the potential to be more flexible, robust, and sustainable compared to conventional flexible electronics. Learn more about our Liquid in Circuits project: lnkd.in/eKTyCPqz
- Watch the full interview with Prof Yi Wang to find out more about liquid metal circuits and how they can be applied to areas like #wearables, #medicaltech, #softrobotics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1S...
- Very proud of our Steering Group members Professors Joe Finney and Steve Hodges, whose work developing the Micro:bit has been recognised with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education 🎉
- 🚨 Last call to join the LEAP Community Sandpit - Friday 14 November in Bristol.
- Join us in Bristol on 14 Nov for the LEAP Community Sandpit! An interactive event bringing together health, academic, tech, charity & community professionals to co-create digital health solutions. 🔗 leap-hub.ac.uk/leap-communi... 1/3
- Making a digital device prototype is getting easier thanks to the availability of off-the-shelf parts, and traditional manufacturing makes it easy to produce in the thousands. But organisations like Air Giants who are producing in low volumes get stuck in between, facing replication challenges.
- Engineer Richard Sewell of Air Giants spoke to us about this challenge and the solutions he's found. Learn more about Air Giants, a Bristol-based creative robotics studio: www.airgiants.co.uk Find solutions to challenges in low-volume device production at www.prosquared.org
- Have you heard about the funding available through our pro² Residency Scheme? ⚡Visitors will conduct world-leading, curiosity-driven research and build lasting partnerships. 🌐 U.K. Industry Residency, U.K.-Overseas Residency, and International-U.K. Residencies. Learn more➡️ tinyurl.com/pro2-rs
- Missed our 2025 Summer School at @lancasteruni.bsky.social? Highlights included: 🍎 expert instruction 💰 prizes! 💡 world-class talks by speakers like Pete Lomas, co-founder of Raspberry Pi Foundation & author Simon Monk Learn more: lnkd.in/ewrEVrmC #pro2summerschool2025 @lmcunderwood.bsky.social
- Resources like the @microbit.org have made it easier to produce device prototypes. However, refining and replicating them remains difficult especially in low volumes. Our funded project is solving this challenge by expanding the MakeDevice app. @msftresearch.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- The MakeDevice app empowers users to create robust, replicable copies of Jacdac-enhanced micro:bit prototypes. It does this by generating production files suitable for manufacturing a more integrated version of the prototype based on a custom printed circuit board. Learn more: lnkd.in/eaC_aqMH
- We've launched three new funded projects exploring new and emerging materials with the potential to drive innovation in digital devices 🎉 Learn more: lnkd.in/eKTyCPqz #materials #manufacturing @nenisea.bsky.social @lmcunderwood.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk
- Do you design and build prototypes of digital devices? If so, we want to hear from you! Follow the link to complete a brief questionnaire about where you find help when encountering problems (takes just 5-10 mins): lnkd.in/euaprTfX @lmcunderwood.bsky.social @bristolhci.bsky.social #prototyping
- Great talk from @lmcunderwood.bsky.social today on prototyping case studies, of which she has many! Her work with @e14community.bsky.social and @lancasteruni.bsky.social was truly inspirational, like the 'Cubert' a 1 m³ 8×8×8 RGB LED cube (learn more: buff.ly/XV4qGpv). #pro2summerschool2025
- Even more fascinating talks on our final day of the Device Prototyping Summer School! Professor Jason Alexander joined remotely from @uniofbath.bsky.social to speak on 'Prototyping with New and Emerging Materials'. #pro2summerschool2025 #prototyping
- @oliverchild.bsky.social of @bristolhci.bsky.social discussed his research on 'Printegrated Circuits' and his recent experience visiting the Shenzhen manufacturing ecosystem, funded by the pro2 Residency Scheme. Learn more: buff.ly/PobGekC #pro2summerschool2025
- Also from @bristolhci.bsky.social, @jackjburnett.bsky.social spoke about his work on designing accessible video game controllers for people with disabilities. #pro2summerschool2025 #assistivetech
- And from @lancasteruni.bsky.social we heard a talk from James Hahn about MakeDevice, a web tool currently being developed as part of the pro2 funded project REPLICATE. MakeDevice will simplify the prototyping process, making it easier for people to build and replicate devices. #pro2summerschool2025
- Thursday night pub quiz at the pro2 summer school! Did you know that Nintendo was founded in 1889? Or that the first computer mouse was made of wood??🌳 #pro2summerschool2025 @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- pro2 summer school attendees got a chance to show off their device prototypes today at @lancasteruni.bsky.social. Ranging from health tech to digital musical instruments and more, learn all about them at prosquared.org #pro2summerschool2025 #prototyping @lmcunderwood.bsky.social
- What a great start to day three of the Device Prototyping Summer School! Absolutely fantastic talk by Pete Lomas of Norcott Technologies and co-founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Pete spoke on scaling the #RaspberryPi and the challenge of internet success. #pro2summerschool2025
- Nothing better than some live music to kick back after a busy day! The Usuals were back this year at the Device Prototyping Summer School at @lancasteruni.bsky.social with another brilliant gig 🎶 #pro2summerschool2025 @lmcunderwood.bsky.social
- Also on the agenda yesterday was a talk and practical tutorial on 3D computer aided design, presented by @oliverchild.bsky.social of @bristolhci.bsky.social and John Vidler of @lancasteruni.bsky.social #pro2summerschool2025 #CAD
- Another brilliant talk yesterday from speaker Simon Monk of @monkmakes.bsky.social on building an electronics manufacturing business on a shoestring. As a UK manufacturer of Micro:bit, Raspberry Pi and electronics accessories, Simon brought a wealth of expertise and advice. #pro2summerschool2025
- Excellent keynote this morning from Mandy Xiang, a project manager with @bitcraze.io, on scaling electronic prototypes. Mandy is a production specialist with previous experience working for Foxconn and @seeedstudio.com, where she directed a low-volume production service. #pro2summerschool2025
- Getting hands-on at day 2 of the Device Prototyping Summer School with a PCB surface mount assembly tutorial! Delegates worked with the 'solder:bit' developed by Lancaster Uni's Devices Lab, which will be used to control a BBC micro:bit #pro2summerschool2025 @microbit.org @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- Great talk today from Steve Hodges on 'Unlocking a Long Tail of Hardware' as part of the first day of the #2025pro2summerschool @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- Kicking off the #pro2summerschool2025 with a 'speed dating' mingle session this afternoon! So excited to welcome a great group of delegates from all of the world to this year's event @lancasteruni.bsky.social @lmcunderwood.bsky.social
- So excited that The Usuals will be joining us again at the 2025 Device Prototyping Summer School! Attendees can catch their rock/indie/pop cover show live on 15 July. Want a sneak peek before the show? Visit theusuals.co.uk #pro2summerschool2025 @lmcunderwood.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- Correction, you can catch the gig on Wednesday 16th July!
- Yesterday was International Women in Engineering Day, so we celebrated with an interview with pro2 Steering Group member and Computer Science content creator, author, and researcher @lmcunderwood.bsky.social Read it here: buff.ly/tbUHIQ0 #INWED2025 @wes1919.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
- Very proud to have been sponsors of this year's Open Hardware Summit in Edinburgh! Two action-packed days full of fascinating people and talks, including a presentation on an accessible one-handed keyboard by our very own @lmcunderwood.bsky.social @oshwassociation.bsky.social #OHS2025 #OpenSource
- Another great talk at the summit came from pro2 Residency Scheme recipient @oliverchild.bsky.social who presented on his research entitled 'Printegrated Circuits'. Learn more about it and Oliver's trip to Shenzhen to explore the electronics ecosystem on our blog: buff.ly/ZDnvrRg
- Device 'isotyping' is a key part of the prototype to product journey, but is often overlooked and misunderstood. It's also an area in need of solutions to important challenges. Learn more about 'isotyping' by checking out this article from pro2 researcher, Rory Clark: buff.ly/sdErrhW #HCI #CHI2025
- How can Large Language Models and #AI be leveraged to better design electronic devices? Our funded project 'Conversational Prototyping' led by Prof Lars Erik Holmquist of Nottingham Trent Uni is exploring the answer. Learn more: buff.ly/0ro89zs #LLM #Prototyping @lunchroommanners.bsky.social
- Attending #OHS2025? Don't miss out on a great talk tomorrow by our Steering Group member, @lmcunderwood.bsky.social of @lancasteruni.bsky.social #OpenSource #OpenHardware #Edinburgh
- Our final Day 2 panel of #OHS2025 is the Disability and Open Source Hardware panel where @lmcunderwood.bsky.social will be presenting the One Handed Keyboard, a research project at Lancaster university using modular hardware to create this one handed keyboard.
- The swag game is on point at #OHS2025! Hope all those attending enjoy our contribution 🍫😋 @oshwassociation.bsky.social
- At #OHS2025 @oshwassociation.bsky.social and the swag is strong! The rainbow ruler, mug, badge, stickers and of course chocolate from @prosquared.org And there's more!
- We had a great time at last week's launch event for the DICE Network+, an EPSRC-funded network with a mission to build a digitally enabled sustainable & circular economy. And they've just launched their first funding call! Register for the upcoming webinar on 10 July to learn more: buff.ly/P4ZPp6p
- Missed the 2025 SW UK Pre-CHI in Bristol? Read all about it on our blog: buff.ly/GlUyBe3 Events like this are so important for building strong regional relationships and supporting early career researchers. We were very proud to be a sponsor of this year's event. @swukprechi.bsky.social #CHI2025
- Closing soon! Don't miss out on our 3.5 day, hands-on summer school at Lancaster University this July ☀️ 30 places available with accommodation, meals and all course content for just £50, plus £4000 in prizes. Open to all interested in low-volume device creation. Learn more & apply: buff.ly/mX7ihRV
