This document outlines ways for families to hack and interact through hands-on STEM activities. It defines hacking broadly as any skillful solution or modification to increase productivity. Suggested activities include building with LEGOs, participating in robotics competitions, fixing electronics, and coding online games. The document provides examples of affordable hardware like Raspberry Pi and lists safety tips for working with tools. It aims to show families that they have been "life hacking" all along through everyday problem solving.

1. A Family That Hacks Together,
@daniel_davis
Interacts Together!

2. Who I am?
Business/Process Improvement Consultant
Agile Practitioner/Developer
Innovator
Hacker
Maker
Cub Master
Professional Snowboard Instructor
Where I’ve been?
ACSI
Cengage Learning (2)
AAA Life (2)
Delphi
General Motors
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Delta Dental
Gordon Food Service (GFS)
Cintas
Farm Bureau Insurance
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

3. Outline -
- Things to Consider
- Define Hacking
- Forms of Hacking
- Hacking in the Community
- Hacking at Home
- Tools, Supplies & Costs
- Safety
- Tips & Tricks
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

4. How much $$$ would you spend to send
your kids to a sports related camp?
What’s the chances of them getting a
scholarship or becoming a professional athlete?
Things to consider -
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

5. How much $$$ would you spend to send
your kids to a STEM related camp?
What’s the chances of them getting a
scholarship or becoming a STEM professional?
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Things to consider -

6. STEM interests are actually increasing, with
the recent focus on it, but intentions of
pursuing STEM related careers is still low.
With a focused effort on our part to
increase the passion for these fields,
we can help fix this.
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Things to consider -

7. Types of hacking -
• Hardware
• Computers
• Electronics
• Software
• Applications
• Desktop
• Mobile
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Black Hat • Grey Hat • White Hat

8. Hacking defined -
• to modify (a computer program or electronic device)
or write (a program) in a skillful or clever way:
“Developers have hacked the app to make it faster.”
• to circumvent security and break into (a network,
computer, file, etc.), usually with malicious intent:
“Criminals hacked the bank's servers yesterday.”
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
dictionary.com defines hacking as…

9. Hacking defined -
• any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that
increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life.
• a solution to a problem unrelated to computers that
might occur in everyday life.
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
wikipedia defines life hacking as…

10. • Custom Lego Builds
• Building Forts
• Pinewood Derby Cars
• Fixing Broken Electronics
• Improving/Creating Helper Applications
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Things to consider -
Most of us have been “life hacking”
our whole lives already.

11. Hacking in the community -
FIRST®
- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science
and Technology
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

12. Hacking in the community -
VEX®
- STEM based classroom robotics platforms.
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

13. Hacking in the community -
NodeBots - Robots powered by Javascript
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
International NodeBots Day - Coming July 2016

14. Hacking in the community -
Kids Hack Day - Quirkbots & Strawbees
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

15. Hacking in the community -
4-H Robotics
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Engaging Kids in Critical Math, Science & Programming
Skills through Robotics
Rocks and Robots
Ann Arbor based week long camp that combines
robotics with rock climbing.

16. Hacking in the community -
Give Camps
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Maker Fairs
Hackathon Events
(general High School and up)

17. Hacking at home -
• Fixing and/or improving things around the house.
• Building something to make a task or chore easier.
• Science related toys and robot kits
• Online game & animation building (scratch.mit.edu)
• Work on a kata together (cyber-dojo.org)
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

18. Hacking at home -
1. Mazes
2. Board Games
- Robot turtles
- Codemaster
- Code monkey island
3. Computer
- Code.org (mine craft & stalwarts)
- Scratch
- Hopscotch (iPad)
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

19. Tools, Supplies & Costs -
Tools
• Screwdrivers (Big & Small) : $
• Saws : $$ - $$$
• Drills : $$ - $$$
• Soldiering Iron : $$ - $$$
• 3D Printer : $$$ - $$$$$
• Laser Cutter : $$$ - $$$$$
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Supplies
• Wires (Long & Short) : $ - $$$
• Misc Hardware : $$ - $$$
• Soldier : $ - $$
• Boards : $ - $$$$
• Bread Boards : $$ - $$$
• Misc Build Material : $ - $$$$$

20. Example Boards
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Raspberry Pi Arduino Photon
$40 $25 $20

21. Example Boards
A Family That Hacks, Interacts
Kano Kit
$150

22. Safety -
Don’t be dumb. Use common sense. Protect yourself
and make sure everyone else around you is protected
as well. If they’re young and don’t know better, then it’s
your responsibility to look after them.
• Wear safety glasses
• Use gloves for really hot or cold stuff
• Wear ear plugs/muffs if really loud or noisy
• No loose or baggie clothes
• Keep work area clean
• Make sure there’s plenty of space and ventilation
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

23. Example -
Nodebots is as easy as 1, 2, 3… 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
1. Install node (v4.2.3 or ^)
2. Create nodebots folder to work out of.
3. Change your working directory to that folder. (cd dev/nodebots/)
4. npm install johnny-five
5. npm install particle-io
6. Create or borrow your JS file.
7. Run your file. (node "your_file_name")
8. Change world for the better!
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

24. Tips & Tricks
• Keep it simple and fun.
• Limit it to a few hours, little ones wear out and lose
focus quickly.
• Think on a level appropriate to their age.
• Shoot for knowledge they can share and take back
to their friends and classmates.
• Schedule time to make it happen. Instead of family
game night, try a family hack night.
A Family That Hacks, Interacts

25. Business Solutions Consultancy
For those who value... value.
Clients collaborate with us to solve business problems.
The first step is figuring out how we can either make or
save them money.
BUSINESS AGILITY

26. Q & A

27. Thank you!
Daniel Davis
ddavis@pillartechnology.com
daniel.davis.tech@gmail.com
@daniel_davis
linkedin.com/in/davisdaniel