TECHNOLOGY and I do not get along. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been reduced to copious swearing, and then to tears and incomprehensible screams of frustration due to technology failing me. And that’s usually just my iPhone. Or the office printer - that thing has had it in for me from day one.
A kettle that’s already boiling when you walk through the front door. Now that is a bit of techie genius that I can definitely get on board with.
So when an invite to attend the opening of a new technology pop-up shop in The Northern Quarter arrived, I can only presume it was my eagerness to impress that led me to immediately snapping it up. So armed with my camera, notepad and battered looking Dictaphone (which is about as technical as I get) I scurried off to attend a launch party that promised, ‘the blowing of minds’.
Inventory exterior
Somewhat dubious and full of words such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi (which I presumed had wandered off the menu from Teacup around the corner) and with no real clue as to their meaning despite an afternoon on Google, I entered the tiny little shop on the corner of Edge Street and Oak Street. Immediately greeted by mulled wine, mince pies, a wizardry of gadgets and gizmos and friendly MadLab director Rachael Turner, I tried to calm my fish out of water fears. After all, these technology gadgets came with a side of mince pies.
An enthusiastic customer who wished to gleefully show off his new purchase quickly cornered me as soon as Rachael moved away.
“It’s an Arduino kit for my Dad” said Adrian Slatcher clutching his gift. “He’s in his seventies and he likes hardware, he worked with electronics back in National Service in the 50s. He drives my Mum mad with it.”
“We’ve got my nephews coming up who are aged ten and five, he can probably build something for them or with them.”
The infamous Arduino
So I’ve worked out an Arduino is a kit. A kit that can make things…still not particularly enlightened I headed off in search of explanation. It fell to former musician and now resident techie James Medd to talk me through why he loves technology so much. “It’s about finding practical solutions. After I had my lung surgery I was looking for ways to make life easier.”
This is how his latest invention came about; a kettle that’s already boiling when you walk through the front door. Now that is a bit of techie genius that I can definitely get on board with.
Medd explains the details of how an app on his phone that connects to the internet, then via GPS works out how long until he’ll be home and then relays that message using an Arduino to check how much water is in the kettle, that then can be ready and boiling as he shrugs off his coat. It’s all very long-winded but the novelty is there.”
Eventually I discovered in plain English what an Arduino was. It’s an ‘ open-source electronic prototyping platform allowing the creation of interactive electronic objects’. Plainish English then. And when I say ‘discovered’, well…
Yet more Arduino kits...
“Anybody can pick up the platform in a few hours” continues James, “I hadn’t studied anything like this since electronics in school and it all just snowballed for me and I ended up studying my MA in art and design. I even made this makeshift DJ mixer.”
He demonstrated a Playstation resembling console that not only controlled the music for the party but also operated a light display on one of the walls of the tiny shop now crammed with eager enthusiasts.
James explaining more of his 'practical solutions' to an eager enthusiast
Feeling a little bit out of my depth I went off in search of friendly Rachael again, at the very least she would be able to give me another mince pie. “This is all about fostering an environment to learn and grow,” explains Rachael.
“Technology is not just for geeks, it’s really useful. Even just to see how much it can change life, even if it’s just to change the TV from fifty yards.”
It’s teaching technology and offering an alternative to the high street brands such as Maplin that’s the main reason behind MadLab’s latest venture with their pop-up shop, The Inventory.
E-Rascals, created by Manchester Girl Geeks
No event is complete without an oversized magic eight ball of course
“It was originally a six month pilot but then using the High Street innovation fund we’ve had it extended to a three year lease. There’s definitely a massive need for something like this and we’re not Maplin. We’re not The Gadget Shop,” continues Rachael.
“We want our customers to leave feeling knowledgeable and for us to be able to offer workshops and one-on-one help under the one roof. Buying creative and digital things should be as easy as buying socks on Market Street.”
This sense of standing up to the big name brands and the high street is a common feeling amongst many of the independent shops and ventures in The Northern Quarter, so The Inventory fits in.
With everything on offer from a light up tie to a cuddly toy with twinkly LED eyes made by Manchester Girl Geeks, The Inventory is hoping to offer an alternative to mainstream Christmas gifts.
At the very least I left with an Arduino kit (£62) for my Dad who likes to spend most of his time in his garage with his companion: the toolkit.
Merry Christmas Dad.
The Inventory is at 7 Oak Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am - 8pm.
Find them on twitter here @inventoryMCR
