Lancaster University 2024
Device Prototyping And Production Summer School
We’re shining the spotlight on our recent event, the first ever pro² network+ Device Prototyping and Production Summer School. Led by pro² Steering Group members Professor Steve Hodges and Professor Joe Finney, the summer school took place at Lancaster University from the 10th to the 12th of July 2024.
Delegates were selected following the submission of a short paper describing a digital device which they are seeking to refine and scale for market production. Ranging from assistive technology to educational devices to the arts, the prototypes spanned a wide range of fields and industries.
Delegates
Open to everyone from novices to experts, the summer school welcomed a diverse group of individuals from academia, industry, and maker communities based in the UK and abroad. It was a great chance for delegates to connect with others beyond their usual networks, engaging with perspectives and expertise that they might not otherwise come into contact with. A shared passion for scaling device prototypes across the group fuelled great conversations across the three-day event.
Competition winners
Among the papers submitted to the summer school, five £200 awards and three £1,000 awards were granted to those that showed the greatest potential for impact. The funding will go toward the further development of device prototypes.
£1000 Award Winners
£200 Award Winners
Summer School Gallery
Summer School Presenters
Steve Hodges
Is an internationally recognised leader in interactive and embedded device creation. He has built and deployed prototypes at all scales, and many of these have transitioned to volume production resulting in millions of devices in market globally.
pro² network co-chair
Joe Finney
Is a global figure in empowering non-experts to innovate with technology, in particular helping them to learn about and build lightweight embedded systems. His work has also led to millions of embedded devices that are in daily use around the world.
pro² network steering group member
John Hardy
An engineer with a research background in shape-changing devices, John Hardy went on to co-found Hardy & Ellis Inventions in Manchester. H&E Inventions is best known for their innovative use of emerging technologies like augmented reality, which they’ve leveraged to create products that bring the digital into the physical to increase engagement, reduce waste, and drive productivity.
Mandy (Man) Xiang
Seeed Studio is a Shenzhen-based hardware platform with a mission to empower everyone to achieve their digital transformation goals. Mandy directs their ‘Fusion Service’ which provides clients with tailored support, from design and customization to production and promotion.
Mike Fraser
In addition to his roles as Professor and Head of School at the University of Bristol, Mike is also the Chair of the pro² network+ Steering Group. His research interests relate to how computers are made, what they are made from, and how we might support individuals with limited resources to make their own computers.
Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Head of the School of Computer Science at the University of Bristol
Steve Jones
Steve is an expert in PCB and PCBA manufacturing at Eurocircuits, who describe themselves as ‘an engineer’s best friend’. Eurocircuits specialises in fast turnaround for prototyping and small batch services, offering customers control, flexibility and quality from design to final assembly.
Regional Sales Manager at Eurocircuits
Aron Eggens
Aron’s research interests include software development.
PhD Student at Lancaster University.
John Vidler
John has research interests in data science and was awarded a prize for teaching by Lancaster University.
Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University.
Kobi Hartley
Kobi’s research interests relate to the use of tools like the Jacdac and BBC micro:bit which promote prototyping as well as STEM educaiton.
Research Associate at Lancaster University.
Lorraine Underwood
Lorraine is an experienced Educator with a demonstrated history of working in the education and outreach industry. She is also a maker and author, with research interests in physical computing.
PhD Student and Senior Teaching Associate at Lancaster University.