Catapult Public Relations

SPARKFUN GETS BACK TO DIY ROOTS AT BAY AREA MAKER FAIRE

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:02:05 +0000

Boulder-based Electronics Company Attends Bay Area Maker Faire for Seventh Consecutive Year

BOULDER, Colo. May 15, 2012 -- SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com), a provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, is proud to announce its seventh year of participation in Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 (http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2012/). The event takes place May 19 and 20 at the San Mateo County Event Center. Unlike previous years, SparkFun won't be hosting workshops at this yearâ��s Maker Faire, but will take an opportunity to return to its roots â�� as a maker. The company will have a 10x10-foot booth (#66) and will demo some of the cool and interesting projects folks within SparkFun have been working on during the past year. These projects include an electronic guitar made from SparkFunâ��s ProtoSnap Pro Mini, an eight-legged robot, and the â��Quad-Buddy Ball-Balancerâ�� - a four-person game combining electronics and teamwork. SparkFun will also be attending in order to network with like-minded electronics enthusiasts, crafters, and innovators. Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly festival of invention and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the maker movement. The Faire invites â��makersâ�� from all backgrounds to come together for a symposium of collaboration and creativity. With projects ranging from pneumatic drums and gigantic Tesla coils, to quilts made from recycled bottles and Arduino-controlled singing fish, this truly is an event with something for everyone. â��Maker Faire has been, and continues to be, one of our favorite events,â�� said SparkFunâ��s Director of Marketing AnnDrea Boe. â��It is so much fun to be able to meet some of our customers, introduce new people to electronics, and keep a finger on the pulse of the DIY community. Each year this event grows, and we are excited to again play a role.â�� Maker Faire has expanded every year, and attracts around 100,000 spectators and participants to the Bay Area. To learn more about Maker Faire, visit (www.makerfaire.com). To learn more about SparkFunâ��s presence at the Faire, visit (www.sparkfun.com/news/855). About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 140 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo and Google+.

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Press Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760 ext. 16 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

SparkFun + Engineering TV

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:11:00 +0000

SparkFun isn't just a great source for your next electronics project - they encourage you to let your geek shine! Engineering TV and Electronic Design's Bill Wong visited the SparkFun offices in Boulder, CO. The team started the tour off with the founder and CEO, Nate Seidle, discussing a brief history of the company, their upcoming Autonomous Vehicle Competition, and more. SparkFun Electronics: Let your geek shine! Hosted by: Bill Wong Videography by: Curtis Ellzey Edited by: Curtis Ellzey

SPARKFUN’S CEO NATHAN SEIDLE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE’S OH/DC EVENT: OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE COMES TO DC

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:04:36 +0000

Industry innovator to demonstrate the value of open source hardware in the creative process

WHO: Nathan Seidle CEO, SparkFun Electronics (www.sparkfun.com) Nathan Seidle is the CEO and Founder of SparkFun Electronics. While obtaining his degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado, Nathan had the idea to create a company that made obtaining (and understanding) electronics parts easy for the average person. From this idea, SparkFun was born. When Nathan isn't working at SparkFun, you can find him tinkering with special projects for a local kidsâ�� museum, working on his latest Halloween costume or preparing large-scale art for Burning Man. He has spoken at MIT, Google, West Point and various IEEE events about electronics, open-source technology and the ins-and-outs of entrepreneurship. WHAT: Panel 2: Open Source Hardware for Fun and Profit Open source hardware is revolutionizing the way people approach technological projects. It promotes creativity through balanced copyright, and it upholds and protects the rights of consumers to use innovative technology lawfully. Furthermore, many open source products and resources make the world of electronics more accessible to the average person or even child. During the Open Source Hardware for Fun and Profit panel, Nathan Seidle will provide a general overview of what open source hardware is, as well as examine the people and companies that are making it work. The industry leader will be bringing a handful of demonstrations to illustrate the educational and mission-critical benefits of open source hardware. During the presentation, he will demo a self-installation kit with a flex sensor controlling speaker and assemble a Simon Says game. Seidle will be joined on this panel by David Mellis, co-founder of Arduino and a Ph.D. candidate at MIT, and Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits and a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) fellow. The panel will be moderated by Michael Weinberg, senior staff attorney and innovation evangelist at Public Knowledge. WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building Independence Avenue and South Capitol St. Washington, D.C. 20003 WHEN: OH/DC: Open Source Hardware Comes to DC Friday, April 20 1-5 p.m. http://www.publicknowledge.org/event/ohdc-open-source-hardware-comes-dc CONTACT: For more information on SparkFun Electronics, or to set up an interview with Nathan Seidle, please contact Jeremy Douglas at Catapult PR-IR (303) 581-7760, ext. 16 or jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com.

SparkFun Electronics’ eTextiles Specialist to Speak at Smart Fabrics Conference

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:57:56 +0000

Dia Campbell to Present â��Bringing Smart Textiles to Makers and the DIY Communityâ��

MIAMI, Fla. April 12, 2012 -- On April 17th, 2012 Boulder-based SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com), a provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, is sending eTextiles expert Dia Campbell to speak at the Smart Fabrics Conference in Miami, Fla. Campbell, whose official title is the SparkFun Techstyle Specialist, will give a presentation called â��Bringing Smart Textiles to Makers and the DIY Community.â�� eTextiles is a quickly-growing sect of the DIY community which involves adding electronics to clothing and fabric. SparkFun has been one of the pioneers in the industry and has a growing selection of eTextiles products available on its website. â��To me, the human aspect is going to be a huge part of seeing smart wearables become a part of day-to-day life, rather than a novelty,â�� explained Campbell. â�� I'm looking forward to a day 5 or 10 years in the future where your e-wardrobe is as indispensable as your cell phone.â�� The Smart Fabrics conference, whose motto is â��Where fashion meets cutting-edge technology,â�� will feature speakers from many different areas of fashion, electronics, and the DIY/Maker community. The conference provides a unique setting for the aforementioned industries to come together and chart the course of the rapidly evolving smart fabrics industry. "SparkFun is very excited to have Dia presenting at the Smart Fabrics conference," said SparkFun director of marketing AnnDrea Boe. "As the eTextiles and Maker communities continue to grow, having a presence at events like this is key to keeping a finger on the pulse of the industry. We look forward to presenting, networking with other like-minded people, and, of course, learning from our peers.â�� The Smart Fabrics conference will take place on April 17th â�� 19th, 2012 at the Conrad Miami Hotel in Miami, Fla. For more information about Smart Fabrics, please visit (http://www.smartfabricsconference.com/home.aspx). For more information on SparkFunâ��s eTextiles products, please visit(http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/204?page=all). About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 140 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SparkFun), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SparkFun), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/SparkFun), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SparkFun), Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/SparkFun), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106084846822083498483/posts).

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Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 16 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

SparkFun Electronics Goes to POSSCON to Present Ideas for Open Source Business and Technology

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:40:21 +0000

Lindsay Levkoff and Christopher Clark explain what it means to be an open source business and how to improve the adoption of open source technology into classrooms

BOULDER, Colo. March 23, 2012 -- SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com), provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, today announced its participation at the 2012 Palmetto Open Source Software Conference (POSSCON) in Columbia, S.C. POSSCON continues to bring together innovators in the open source space (technologists and managers) and provides affordable access to quality information regarding the open source movement. Two of SparkFunâ��s Directors, Lindsay Levkoff (Education) and Christopher Clark (IT), will be presenting at the event. SparkFun Electronics is a rapidly growing provider of open source hardware that has prospered from a dorm room setting into a multi-million dollar company with no outside investment. â��An early reliance on open source technologies enabled this growth and has now developed into an undercurrent that permeates the culture here at SparkFun,â�� explained Christopher Clark, director of information technology at SparkFun. Now, with an infrastructure rich in open source technology and a custom-built ERP system being gradually opened for public use, SparkFun is facing the challenge of pushing further into open source technology while mitigating risk and pressing innovation. During Clarkâ��s presentation, he will elaborate on SparkFunâ��s open source business model and how the company will use open source technologies and practices to continue to innovate at many levels. â��The open source community continues to grow and it doesnâ��t show any signs of abating,â�� explains Lindsay Levkoff, director of education at SparkFun. â��Not only are we proud to support the open source community through events like POSSCON, but we are excited to see this movement gain momentum in other communities, such as education.â�� As an educator, Levkoff wants to improve the adoption of open source technology into the classroom. This is because the open source model allows educators to bring relevant and engaging technology into the classroom, despite budget and resource restrictions. Levkoffâ��s presentation will include a discussion of what the Department of Education at SparkFun Electronics learned during its first year with early adopters, students, parents, educators and administrations, and how the company plans to increase the affordability and accessibility of technology for all students across multiple geographical areas. â��We're leaders in the open source hardware movement,â�� continued Clark. â��It applies to our products as much as our software and even applies to how we interface with our community.â�� POSSCON is held at the Columbia Convention Center in downtown Columbia, S.C. from March 28-29, 2012. To learn more about Clark, Levkoff and their presentation topics at POSSCON 2012, please visit: (http://www.posscon.org/speaker/chris-clark/) and (http://www.posscon.org/speaker/lindsay-levkoff/). If you would like to learn more about SparkFun Electronics, please visit: (http://www.sparkfun.com). About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 140 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SparkFun), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SparkFun), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/SparkFun), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SparkFun), Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/SparkFun), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106084846822083498483/posts)

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Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

SparkFun Electronics to Host Continuing Education Class in Conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:04:56 +0000

Introduction to Microcontrollers for K-12 Educators will cover the basics of embedded electronics

BOULDER, Colo. March 21, 2012 -- On March 31 and April 1, 2012, SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com), provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, will host a new class called â��Introduction to Microcontrollers for Educators.â�� This workshop, which will focus on covering the basics of embedded electronics and physical computing, is offered through a partnership with the Colorado School of Mines (http://www.mines.edu). Through this relationship, students in the class will have the option of receiving one unit of credit to the School of Mines. The Introduction to Microcontrollers for Educators class is designed to not only familiarize teachers with embedded electronics, but to provide them with ways to help integrate physical computing into their lesson plans. The class will cover everything from conductive play dough and giant breadboards, to programming and learning how to solder. â��We're really excited to have the opportunity to improve the accessibility of technology in the classroom by spending a weekend working with our local educators,â�� said SparkFun director of education Lindsay Levkoff. â��Computer programming is a 21st century skill with endless STEAM curriculum tie-ins. During the two-day workshop, SparkFun will be training the educators on the skills necessary to understand and teach basic microcontroller programming as well as the circuits in the SparkFun Inventor's Kit. We look forward to introducing various open source technologies to educators.â�� The class will take place on March 31 and April 1, 2012 from 9 AM to 5 PM at SparkFun headquarters in Boulder, Colo. There are no prerequisites to attend the class and spots are still available. If you would like to learn more about SparkFun Electronicsâ�� class offering, please visit: (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11127). About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 140 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SparkFun), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SparkFun), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/SparkFun), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SparkFun), Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/SparkFun), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106084846822083498483/posts)

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Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

SparkFun Electronics Hosts First Ever Plushbot Class

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:27 +0000

Class Helps Attendees Learn How to Make Electronics-filled Stuffed Animals â�� just in time for Valentineâ��s Day

BOULDER, Colo. Feb. 8, 2012 -- - On February 11, 2012, Boulder-based SparkFun Electronics (www.sparkfun.com), provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, will host its first ever Plushbot Class. The class centers around the Plushbot design, which incorporates electronics into stuffed animals to create interactive toys â�� also making it a great do-it-yourself (DIY) Valentineâ��s Day present. The class will be taught Yingdan Huang, creator of the Plushbot. The Plushbot Class represents one of the newest additions to SparkFunâ��s line of educational curriculum and signifies the growing interest in e-textiles projects across the world. Hosted by the SparkFun Education Department, this class is suitable for electronics enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. During the class, attendees will create a pattern, learn how to lay out circuits and print the pattern. Students will then sew together their project using both conductive and non-conductive thread. Finally, they will program the project so the outputs correspond to the input of the sensors. Some troubleshooting of sewn circuits will be necessary and covered before the end of class. "Weâ��re very excited about the Plushbot Class. It represents just one item in our continued goal of expanding our educational programs," said SparkFun Director of Marketing AnnDrea Boe. "The Plushbot Class joins a host of other new classes we hope will help encourage innovation in the DIY electronics field.â�� The Plushbot Class will take place on February 11, 2012 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at SparkFunâ��s headquarters and there are no prerequisites for participation. The class is currently sold out, but SparkFun is happy to provide the tools, information and support for anyone who is interested in making a plushbot of their own. To view a picture of a plushbot and for more information, please visit: (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11070) For a list of upcoming classes being offered at SparkFun, please visit: http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/154 About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 130 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SparkFun), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SparkFun), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/SparkFun), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SparkFun), Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/SparkFun), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106084846822083498483/posts)

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Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com

SparkFun Electronics’ Third Annual Free Day Event Draws More Than 32,000 Unique Website Visitors!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:17:00 +0000

$200,000 in Store Credit Given Away During Website Free-For-All

BOULDER, Colo. Jan. 25, 2012 -- - On January 11, 2012, Boulder-based SparkFun Electronics (www.sparkfun.com), a provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, opened up its website for "Free Day," an annual promotional event where SparkFun gave away $200,000 worth of credit for lucky recipients to use on its online retail website. This year marked the third time SparkFun has held Free Day. SparkFun invited any individual to visit the SparkFun website and enter a reCaptcha image to see if they were one of 2,000 recipients of a $100 SparkFun credit. The response for this yearâ��s Free Day was exceptional with approximately 6.5 million correct reCaptchaâ��s entered during the one-day event. There was a total of 32,137 unique visitors to the website accounting for 704,617 page views. By the end of the day, 473 of the 2,000 promotional codes given away already had been used to place an order. "This year, we had the goal of giving everyone an equal chance of winning by spreading out the odds throughout the day," said SparkFun Director of Marketing AnnDrea Boe. "We really felt we achieved that. Itâ��s exciting to know that there are a couple thousand people out there with $100 to help make their project ideas turn into reality.â�� To ensure complete randomness of the giveaway, the SparkFun IT department used a Geiger counter set-up to measure background radiation. Every time a radioactive particle was detected, a prize was released. If a user happened to submit a correct reCaptcha at that moment, they were awarded a credit. For the first time ever, SparkFun also sent three teams across the country to capture video footage of customers participating in Free Day, which will be released later as a Free Day documentary. For more information about the results of Free Day please visit: http://www.sparkfun.com/news/782. About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 130 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Find SparkFun on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SparkFun), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SparkFun), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/SparkFun), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SparkFun), Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/SparkFun), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106084846822083498483/posts)

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Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 16 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com Â

SparkFun’s Free Day Event Returns for the Third Year in a Row

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:46:17 +0000

Now $200,000 in Website Credit Up For Grabs In Annual Giveaway â��Tinkerers and DIY Enthusiasts, Start Your Modems!

BOULDER, Colo. Jan. 9, 2012 -- - On January 11, 2012, Boulder-based SparkFun Electronics (www.sparkfun.com) will open up its website for a promotion known as "Free Day" - a day on which SparkFun will give away $200,000 worth of credit for lucky recipients to use on its online retail website. This will mark the third Free Day event in SparkFunâ��s history and is the highest amount of credit at stake. Two thousand people who visit the website on Free Day will be chosen at random to win their share of the prize - a $100 credit to be used on SparkFun products. Free Day was the brain-child of SparkFun CEO Nate Seidle. His goals were to invigorate the DIY-community, stress test the SparkFun servers, and reward and excite the SparkFun community. It also was SparkFun's hope that by enabling individuals to get their hands on free electronics, the entire community would receive a boost. "Free Day is the single largest event we've had," said SparkFun Director of Marketing AnnDrea Boe. "And every year, it gets more exciting. I think this year certainly won't disappoint." The only requirements for participation are a SparkFun customer account (which can be created at any time, even without a purchase) and to visit the SparkFun website on Free Day (January 11, 2012). The event officially starts at 9 a.m. MT and will last as long as the funds are still available. Best of luck! For more information please visit http://www.sparkfun.com/news/747. About SparkFun Electronics Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 130 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado. ### Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 16 jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.comÂ

SPARKFUN ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST EDUCATION CLASSES OF 2012

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:55:38 +0000

Company to hold series of courses to help anyone â�� from kids to adults â�� get started learning about open source hardware and technology used in electronics

BOULDER, Colo. Dec. 19, 2011 â�� SparkFun Electronics (www.sparkfun.com), a provider of parts knowledge and passion for electronics creation, today announced its first quarter 2012 line-up of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) electronics courses. Designed to help anyone â�� young, old and in-between â�� learn and embrace the world of electronics, the courses range from some tried and true classes from years prior to completely new areas of focus. All courses are instructed by SparkFunâ��s Education Department staff members and are held in the companyâ��s learning center in Boulder, Colorado.

â��SparkFun is committed to helping introduce the world of DIY electronics to anyone and everyone,â�� said Lindsay Levkoff, director of education for SparkFun. â��Our classes are intended to be a fun, hands-on learning experience, as we want to provide a foundation of knowledge and resources for students to apply their own imagination and creativity to electronics.â��

Classes kick-off on Jan. 14 and are currently slated through Feb. 4, 2012.

Introduction to Arduino - January 14, 2012, 9 AM â�� 5 PM (with a break for lunch from 12 - 1) -- Go from blinking an LED to virtual prototyping in seven hours and still have time to eat lunch! This class is for anyone who has never played around with Arduino before and those who have played around a little bit but aren't entirely sure about how the basics work.

ATMEGA In-depth Class - January 15, 2012, 9 AM â�� 5 PM (with a break for lunch from 12 - 1) -- This class will examine the basic examples in Arduino wired on the breadboard, including digital and analog examples, which is a great set up for troubleshooting your boards and code! In addition, we will cover using the ATMEGA 328 as a programmer to load basic code to the capable and inexpensive ATTINY85 8-pin Controller.

Exciting XBee Class - January 16, 2012, 9 AM â�� 5 PM (with a break for lunch from 12 - 1) -- This class begins with an introduction to all the required components, serial terminals, AT commands and the basics of mesh networking. The first project will be a Basic Chat session that demonstrates how to configure and connect coordinator and router ZigBee Series 1 radios together. We will also cover pin-to-pin data transfer using XBee Series 1 radios. Then after lunch we will do the same with XBee series 2 followed by a discussion on the different uses of the two XBee types. Finally we'll develop a full Processing-based wireless simple sensor network using ZigBee radio connections to collect three data values from numerous remotely placed sensors.

Solder your own Microcontroller - January 18, 2012, 6 PM to 7:30 PM -- If you've never soldered before, this is the class for you! We've been teaching soldering a lot over the past few years - now you can learn to solder while putting together an Arduino Compatible board. This course teaches through-hole soldering and is recommended for the true beginner. This will be a hands-on class where the students learn techniques to help them solder through-hole components.

Processing the Danger Shield - February 4, 2012, 9 AM â�� 5 PM (with a break for lunch from 12 - 1) --People love games, interactive stories and simulations. Now you can learn how to create them while gaining programming skills in the process. In this class we use SparkFunâ��s DangerShield to teach how a Microcontroller can be used as an interface for a computer program. Students will learn the basics necessary to create programs such as graphical interfaces, data logging visualizations, games, and animations using the free programming environment called Processing. Processing is based on Java so students will learn 21st century programming skills that are immediately transferable to college and the workplace.

â��Itâ��s important to remember that DIY electronics starts very simply just by deciding that you want to learn how to do something,â�� continued Levkoff. â��We truly just want to reach as many people as we can and improve the lives of those who are impacted by this technology.â��

Classes take place at the SparkFun building located at 6175 Longbow Drive; Suite 200; Boulder, CO 80301. SparkFun provides all the tools, irons, solder, parts, etc. For more information and a complete description of all classes, please visit: http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/154.

About SparkFun Electronics

Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion for electronics by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects. SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 130 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Media Contact:

Jeremy Douglas

Catapult PR-IR

303-581-7760, ext. 16

jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com