MOST people know the basics of how to use a computer and only learn the bare minimum to get them working.
And then there are those who enjoy exploring the internal workings of a system and details of programmable systems to stretch their capabilities.
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LIKE-MINDED: Exeter Hacker Space group, with Martin Usher, director, front and, from left, Tony Kireluk, Mark Parsons, Iain Derrington and Gray Marchiori-Simpson
It opens up a whole new world of electronics that would baffle most people but now a space has been created in Exeter for like-minded people to share and create innovative and futuristic ideas.
Marsh Barton-based company Hot Solder Electronics has turned its office into what is called a hacker space. The idea has been inspired by The Hackspace Foundation, a non-profit, community organisation dedicated to providing hacker spaces in the UK.
Hacker spaces are physical places where people can meet to learn, socialise and collaborate on projects.
There is a rich tradition of hacker spaces worldwide and The Hackspace Foundation was formed in January 2009 in response to the lack of hacker spaces in the UK.
For the last couple of years, a local group of enthusiasts called E-space have been trying to get a group established locally.
By joining forces with Hot Solder Electronics, that vision has been realised and the first get-together was held last month.
Members now meet every Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm and plenty of interests are covered, including Arduino, SolderCore, embedded programming, corebasic, soldering, XINO, audio, arcade games, retro gaming,
One of its founder members, Gray Marchiori-Simpson, 23, from Teignmouth, explained: "Basically it's a movement towards getting a social space where people can share tools that you would not normally have at home to work on ideas and share visions and stories.
"I have no formal engineering training but it's something I've always been interested in since I was a child.
"There's a lot of different people who are members. Some don't have much electronics knowledge but do know a bit about computer programming, and we have one member who makes video game consoles out of odd bits.
"We also have an archaeologist who knows nothing about electronics but has a bit of experience with computers and is having fun starting from square one. There's a lot of different talents and interests and it is a little bit geeky I admit!
"As I'm an electronics guy and someone else can do interesting things with food we worked together to print 3D food sculptures. It's based on a device called RepRap which several people are using. It's a printer that lets you print 3D sculptures of anything. Some of the things we talk about have been invented by people already but you can then use that to come up with new ideas.
"What really interests me is merging computers and the real world such as setting up a computer in the mirror of a bathroom so you can read the news while shaving. It's a bit like Teletext on television but on a mirror instead.
"The great thing about having shared resources at the hacker space is that if you have the ideas but don't think you can build it, you can ask others and usually someone can help you make it."
Despite the fact the hacker space has only been up and running for the last three weeks it is already attracting up to 20 members a week and plans are in the pipeline to expand.
Gray, an IT administrator, revealed: "We're hoping to have enough people that we can expand the space and get new rooms where we can have even more equipment.
"Hacker is a term originally used in 1980 to describe a person who misused technology and put it to a use it was not originally designed, for such as reprogramming a Christmas card so that instead of Jingle Bells it plays a Beatles song instead.
"Then the word was linked with people who were doing things like breaking into telephone lines for free calls.
"Originally the hacker movement was about the creative reuse of technology, and that's what we're here for."
Pleased at how the group is progressing is Iain Derrington. The 33-year-old, from Torquay, is one of the directors of Hot Solder Electronics, where the group meets.
He said: "We're bringing together people with a common interest in hacking things.
"It is kept separate from the commercial side of the business which is very broad and includes electronic consultancy.
"Essentially we sell electronic modules to hackers for them to create ideas whether it be a temperature controller for a greenhouse to modifying a motorbike.
"For me it was a hobby that has turned into a job."
For more details telephone 01392 757112 or visit www.e-spaceproject.org
