Top UK tech startups
We have been repeatedly asked to do this blog on our favourite startup companies in the UK. With such a wide range of tech businesses in the UK we ended up narrowing it down to just 5, We see a lot of promise in these items and hope to be able to work with them in the future.
So without further deliberation
Mint Tek Circuits’ top 5 uk tech startups
5 Arduino Inventions to amaze and confuse you
What is an Arduino?
It consists of two parts: the hardware and the software, and with these you can build almost anything. I am not kidding when I say almost anything; the sheer number of projects is astounding! Check out instructables.com for a short list of projects https://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Projects/ and they’re just the best of!
The Arduino microcontroller has a nearly limitless array of innovative applications for everything from robotics and lighting to games and gardening! From the ridiculous to the downright amazing we’re going to go through a list of some of our favorites.
Lets start with a funny one:
The ‘Hardie Kids’ Workshop
Both In the Uk and Ireland we have attended events and ran workshops where people can manufacture a small pcb badge with our help . these pcboards are generally green but can be changed for different events e.g our pcb printed circuit boards used for the badges during inspire fest was purple.
The pcb layout can also be changed from a circular disk like shape to a more relevant pcb, we get our pcb manufacture to supply our printed circuit boards after we give them the pcb design.
We buy in the components and all the necessary materials to make the flashing LED circuit board badges.
Reflow vs Soldering – Ouch! reflow is easy
Makers tend to work with PTH printed circuit boards for various reasons but mostly because they know them and know how to assemble them on the PCB layout. But by choosing PTH you are limiting your ability to make and grow as a maker.
Pros of SMT components
Cheaper
Tidier assemblies
Smaller printed circuit boards
More choice of components
Multilayer printed circuit boards
There are people who prefer to solder these teeny, weeny components and I genuinely take my hat off to you. I do not have the steady hand or eyesight to manage it. I prefer to reflow which as we all know is how the professionals do it.
Smart Cities – Dublin
A smart city (also smarter city) uses digital technologies or information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance quality and performance of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage more effectively and actively with its citizens. Sectors that have been developing smart city technology include government services, transport and traffic management, energy, health care, water and waste. Smart city applications are developed with the goal of improving the management of urban flows and allowing for real time responses to challenges. A smart city may therefore be more prepared to respond to challenges than one with a simple ‘transactional’ relationship with its citizens. Other terms that have been used for similar concepts include ‘cyberville, ‘digital city’’, ‘electronic communities’, ‘flexicity’, ‘information city’, ‘intelligent city’, ‘knowledge-based city, ‘MESH city’, ‘telecity, ‘teletopia’’, ‘Ubiquitous city’, ‘wired city’.
Wearables of the Future
From the fit bit to the apple watch, it’s hard to read the news these days without reading about wearables they are appearing everywhere. We’re not here to sell you the fit bit though we’re here to tell you about some wearables that we think deserve more recognition.
The Tech Industry Gender Gap
We recently attended an event called the InspireFest which was a 2 day event focussing on equality between genders and also lowering the gender gap in various occupations. There were many keynotes given at this event from many different perspectives but, at this time we will focus on the Tech Industry.
Inspire Fest 2015 Speakers
We are so excited to be attending Inspire Fest 2015 in Dublin
Inspirefest 2015 is a two day international event that connects professionals interested in the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
#STEM
with new perspectives on innovation, leadership and success.
These perspectives are shared by women who are leaders in their particular field, and by advocates of diversity in education, research, business and society.
We are so excited to hear these experts speak in their field of expertise as its not often a #STEM event is thrown.
Hardware Hackathon Winners,the follow up
As we seem to be delving into the topic of hackathons recently i had a thought, where have all the previous winners gone?
though the teams are only in the spotlight for minutes after they win, they leave a lasting impression on us, we’re all wondering when is this project going to come to the market?. Fear not my fellow readers as progress is being made
here are a few teams of past hardware hackathon winners and where they are now
Hardware Hackathon Myth Breaker
Notes from a hackathon newbie Recently, I was involved in my very first Hackathon. I’d heard of them and read about them but had never really been at one. To be honest, I kind of thought you had to be a designer, an expert or just plain cocky. I wasn’t sure what I could add […]