Description of SEIMA

What is SEIMA?

Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Information Technology

Are you interested in practicing your technical presentations in front of other technical-minded people?

Are you interested in starting your own website, but don't know where to start or maybe you have but you are just looking for objective input?

Are you interested in conducting private research with others of various backgrounds?

Are you interested in brainstorming new designs or CAD drawings with others for positive and constructive feedback?

Are you interested in hobbyist machining or making your own physical prototypes, but don't have the skills, tools or space?

Are you interested in building your own robot or other electronic device, but don't come from an electrical background?

Are you interested in a technical project or hobby which you would like to share with others but don't know anyone with the background, interest or time?

Are you interested in forming a study group for the purpose of taking a class or preparing for a professional exam?

Are you interested in working through a technical book or topic with others, instead of paying for a class, when you could just learn it from the book in a group?

Are you a young professional looking for wisdom from a mentor?

Are you an older professional looking to give something back to the younger generation?

Employers are always looking to appeal first to the bottom line. Competition for jobs is fierce, and most aren't looking to cooperate with others unless they have something to gain by it. A better approach would be to share our knowledge with others in the hope that we can all rise up together.

It has been my experience that technical folk are anti-social, either due to an introverted lifestyle, or because of a competitive streak.

We are looking for individuals who wish to share a passion for technical knowledge and practice with others for the benefit of all involved. This should be a totally unpretentious, open and collaborative environment where technical people of all backgrounds, skill levels and interests can thrive and cooperate.

We envisage a group who are patient, giving of their time and experience, and willing to "pitch in" for the group, with the knowledge that "its all for a good cause."

In addition to the possible benefits listed above of forming a group, there exist opportunities for the group to work together on one or more group projects.

Project Suggestions

- Homemade RC / Autonomous-GPS UAV helicopter or VTOL with wireless internet capability for remote instructions, made from scrap and catalog parts.

- Create a website for a special interest or to market a new invention or product.

- Convert a used Ford Ranger truck from a combustion engine to an electric vehicle (EV); minimize cost and standardize the process for repeat by others.

- Develop experimental simulations and mathematical formula of physical or hypothetical phenomena.

- Construct a backyard gas-fired furnace for heat treatment and melting of metals.

- Build a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS).

- Conduct surveys and compile data on social trends, community activites or sub-cultures.

- Study pH levels of Lake Michigan to track effects of weather changes and pollution on water supply and beach recreation.

- Develop a new, more efficient battery technology using novel material combinations.

- Develop "wireless sensor network" (WSN) applications (home appliances, automobile, personal) with (for instance) Dallas Semiconductor TINI architecture.

- Make homemade machine parts (gears, threads, linkages), knives, ornaments and other metalworking projects.

- Develop software applications, such as financial / science / engineering / manufacturing calculators, network communication, music editing, drawing, picture editing and so on.

- Contribute to the Linux development community by writing or improving device drivers.