RASPBERRY PI

MEET THE CREATIVE TECHNOLOGISTSNewsMuseum Digital Programmes,Writers’ Centre Norwich,FutureEverything, Pimoroni,Saladhouse, and Hellicar & Lewis.As well as costs for food, travel,and accommodation, each CTreceives a Raspberry Pi 2 starterkit and a £300 materials grant. Inreturn, CTs are expected to take partin three hours of online video callsper month, and spend at least fourhours a week working independentlyon their projects.A 16-21 age range was chosenfor the programme: “We wereinterested to catching young peoplein a transitional time in their lives,”explains Rachel. “The younger ofin Cambridge, enabling the newCTs to get to know each other, and(for those unfamiliar with it) theRaspberry Pi. After everyone haddone quick 20-slide Pecha Kuchapresentations, there was a workshopusing the Pi with CamJam EduKitsand the Camera Module. “For some,it was their first experience witha Pi,” says Ben. This was followedby a field trip to the Maker Faire atNewcastle’s Baltic Centre.Further planned events includea visit to Pimoroni for sometutoring, along with a workshop inopenFrameworks from mentor JoelLewis. While all the events will takeplace in the UK, one of the new CTs,Applicants were asked tosubmit a 90-second videoA QUICK CHAT WITH YASMINWe chatted to one of the new CreativeTechnologists, 21-year-old Yasmin Curren…Did you have any previous experience of usingthe Raspberry Pi?Nope. I knew of Raspberry Pi and their involvementwithin the tech community, especially withineducation, but had never had the chance to playwith one myself. So it’s all a new and excitingexperience for me!the range would be choosing A-leveland university courses; the olderend would be finishing a degree orhave worked for a few years out ofcollege/school.”First-year guinea pigs“This first cohort are our guineapigs,” continues Rachel. “We wantto figure out the most effectiveways of supporting young peoplein developing new creativetechnology projects. We are doingthis through a series of field tripsand mentoring sessions.”The first event was an inductionweekend held at Raspberry Pi HQJavier Vila, lives in northwest Spain.“At first I thought it would be moredifficult to attend field trips thanit has been,” he admits, but waspleased to find that it only took himsix hours to travel from his home toCambridge for the induction.As this is the first year, theteam feel that meet-ups are anessential aspect. However, whilethere are no plans to roll theprogramme out to other countriesin its current form, Rachel tells usthat they are looking at ways it canscale in the UK and abroad, whichmay include an exclusively onlinementoring format.How did the induction weekend go?Everyone who worked at Raspberry Pi, as well asthe mentors, oozed enthusiasm, really seemingto love what they do and being passionate aboutwhat they had to say, which led to one of the mostpositive and inspiring weekends of my life.What do you think of the otherCreative Technologists?They’re the most wacky, intelligent, fun, andfriendly bunch of people that you’ll come acrossand I’m so glad to know them!To register your interest for the2015-16 Creative Technologistsprogramme, visit:raspberrypi.org/creatives/applyJavierLiving and going toschool in northwestSpain, Javier has beenprogramming since hewas ten. A Pi enthusiast,he also likes todisassemble gadgets.MaddyStudying VisualEffects at college inNottingham, Maddyspent three monthscreating an animatedmusic video for alocal band.MiltonA web developerin London, Miltonwants to createworlds within worldsand explore howpeople interactwith technology.OwenA sixth-formstudent in Lewes,Owen is lightningfastwith a Rubik’scube, does magictricks, and is keen tomake things himself.YasminA front-end webdeveloper fromDevon, Yasmin is akeen YouTuber, gamesenthusiast, contentcreator, storyteller,and musician.raspberrypi.org/magpi August 20157