Michael Shiloh (michael -at- michaelshiloh -dot- com)

I am a teacher, tinkerer, programmer, hardware engineer, artist, inventor and maker. I wear many hats, often more than one at a time.

I enjoy tinkering with hardware and software. I like taking things apart, and I like re-using those pieces to create new devices, or interesting gizmos, or art. I like showing others how I do what I do. I like teaching.

I like working with open source hardware and software, and the open source philosophy.

I like developing creative and unusual solutions to problems. I like improvising, making use of available materials instead of buying new ones. I find repairing, recycling and reusing very satisfying. I like to teach others how to do this.

I like hanging out, working, teaching, and exchanging ideas with other people like me, but I especially like teaching people with non-technical backgrounds.

I am somewhat idealistic. I believe that knowledge and education are crucial. I believe that building things together helps us learn about each other and become more tolerant and understanding of each other. I would like to bring my workshops to groups of Jewish and Palestinian children.

I work with metal, electrons, Linux, power tools, foam board, motors, lights, relays, duct tape, broken glass, computers, microcontrollers, wire, magnets, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and baling wire. I weld, solder, and hot glue. I can make metal look good. I can not make wood look good, and am in awe of those who do.

I like experimenting with robotics. I have built a very simple robot (pretty common in certain circles) which is available to others on the Internet (less common) so that visitors from around the world can write their own programs and run them on my robot (to my knowledge completely unique). In a sense, I make available a robot on which others who can't afford or lack the time or knowledge to build their own can learn about robotics. While open source software makes software available, and open source hardware makes it possible to build your own hardware, my robot makes hardware available to others. My robot is at robot.linuxrobots.org and is explained here. (The www.linuxrobots.org website is another project of mine aimed at supporting the Linux robotics community but I haven't provided enough content yet.)

I organized a massive workshop at MAKE magazine's Maker Faire called Make Play Day. Hundreds of children and adults participated over 2 days. Here are some pictures of the event.

I've taught at conferences, art schools, universities, grade schools, unusual events, and museums.

I do large scale machine-based performances with SRL , am a regular presenter at dorkbot, attend and present at non-conferences like foo camp and participate, along with my daughter, in the annual Power Tool Drag Races.

I co-founded MakingThings, a company that specializes in the rapid prototyping and development of digital devices, exhibits and environments. We build, and help others to build, complex projects that combine software with electronics and that integrate non-traditional input and output devices.

I have a Consulting business that specializes in hardware, software, embedded design, Linux, and micro-controllers.

My teaching resume is here.

I live in San Francisco with my wife, Melanie, who is an artist, our daughter, and our dog.