HackerSpace Phnom Penh

Hackerspace Phnom Penh Projects Page

Hackerspace Website Events and Projects page in Ruby / Sinatra or Rails 3

Make this page (the projects page your reading) and the Hackerspace Phnom Penh events page using dynamic serverside Ruby code. Can be using Sinatra or Rails 3 or another Ruby framework. Can use existing open source Ruby applications or build from the ground up. This will be a joint PPRUG / HackerspacePP project! All welcome!

Proposed by: @jensendarren


Diaspora Node in Cambodia

Translate (into Khmer) and then launch a Diaspora node in Cambodia. I can help with local hosting and explain the Diaspora project to interested members.

Further details: Diaspora

Proposed by: @jensendarren


Cambodian Language Search Engine

Build a search engine using Nutch (or similar) that is very much Cambodia focused (including language). Can be hosted on local servers. I can explain Nutch and basic search engine technology to those interested.

Further details: Apache Nutch

Proposed by: @jensendarren


mbed Robot Racing Challenge

Further details: Mbed Robot Racing

Proposed by: @jensendarren


MakiBox 3D Printer

Further details: MakiBox A6 - The $300 Desktop 3D Printer

Proposed by: @jensendarren


Electronic Library

A central repository for electronic assets; linux distros, application software, training videos, and anything else people want to share. It could be as simple as a USB disk, but NAT or a networked linux server would be much better, and would also be able to run torrent downloads overnight.

Proposed by: Jack


Tensigrity Structures

Tensegrity structures have every member either in compression or tension, no lateral forces. The underlying principles and connections are fascinating, touching on topology, weaving, perhaps even quantum mechanics, in addition to structural engineering. 3D weaving in particular seems relatively unexplored and could possibly impact on the futuristic composites industry. Sort of related are geodesic domes, and there are plenty of helpful guides to build simple ones out of rolled-up newspaper, perhaps a fun project that the whole family can get involved in.

Further details: Tensegrity Structures

Proposed by: Jack


VM Linux

An absolutely minimal linux distro with the sole purpose of running virtualbox or vmware instances. The USP over Xen, JeOS, vmware ESX and so on is that this would be targeted at the desktop, and would have linux's broad device support. An idea for the UI is to use virtual desktops, with each one being a virtual machine, and some simple method to switch between them, perhaps a key combination. The advantages of vm's are that the guest virtual machines are partly machine independent and don't have to include things like wifi and graphic card drivers, which are often problematic, and also that vm's are somewhat portable, eg on a USB stick.

The base OS will focus on drivers and abstracting/multiplexing the hardware (which was the original idea of an OS anyway, I believe), with the guest "environment" worrying about UI, libraries, applications, and so on.

Conversely, I would like to tailor a linux distro for operation as a vm guest. I'm sure there are plenty of drivers/modules that could be stripped out, not to mention low-level commands and so on.

Proposed by: Jack


Laparoscopic surgery training sumulators

Simulators are simple boxes with rubber bands/balls/strings inside that the trainee needs to manipulate through long tools, while only seeing the scene thru a webcam. All you need are medium size boxes, some rubber scraps, a webcam and a screen/monitor to see it. (eg an old laptop or something simpler like an old security cam will do)

Further details: Laparoscopic Surgery

Proposed by: @edjez


Internet Firewall for the Space

With the current SOHO router, we can't do much about monitoring the Internet connection in the Space. I propose to turn a PC into a Linux firewall gateway. Endian firewall seems to have all the features we need (Firewall rules, NTOP, and wireless AP support). Read http://www.endian.com/us/community/overview/. Christ is going to bring a box with 3 NICs on Thursday. We will do it. Cheers!

Further details: Endian

Proposed by: Sok Yeng


Community Wireless Network (long range)

Setup a test wifi link/network over the roof tops of Phnom Penh. Basic idea is to setup a community based wireless network to bypass the telcos. Check out the Air-Stream website where we have created a massive wifi network across the city of Adelaide.

Requirements are:

  • Good quality radios (high receive sensitivity, high power)
  • Directional Antennas for PtP links or omni directional at central nodes with directional antennas for end nodes for Point-to-MultiPoint links.
  • Line-of-Sight (This one might be a killer for us, but if there are some people who have decent rooftops it may be fine.)

    Further details: Air Stream

    Proposed by: Brendan