We from the Open Hardware dev room/community would like to propose a small side event / showcase space at IndiaFOSS for open hardware projects, hardware demos, and an electronics swap corner.
The idea is to create a space where people can bring and show hardware projects, prototypes, boards, sensors, robots, and other open hardware work. Along with this, we would also like to try an electronics swap corner where attendees can bring unused boards/components/electronics and exchange or give them to others.
Many people in the community have spare dev boards, sensors, modules, and old electronics lying around. At the same time, many beginners and students are curious about hardware but may not have easy access to such things. A small exchange/showcase space could help make hardware more approachable and visible at the conference.
We are imagining something like:
- Open hardware project demos
- Community hardware showcases
- Dev board / sensor / component exchange
- Small robotics demos
- Interactive hardware exhibits
We understand that venue space is limited, so this does not need to be a full room or a permanent two-day allocation. Even a small visible corner, a few tables, or a 2–3 hour scheduled slot would help.
A small amount of floor space would also be useful for robotics demos. Something like a 3m × 3m or 4m × 3m open area would be enough for some of the planned demos.
We can help coordinate this from the Open Hardware community side, collect interested participants, manage the space, and make sure the activity stays organized.
Would the organizers be open to supporting this as a side event or community showcase?
Some things we would like clarity on:
- Is there any suitable space available?
- Can this be listed as a side event?
- Can attendees be invited to bring spare electronics/components?
- Can we get a few tables and power access?
- Can we get a small open floor area for robotics/hardware demos?
- Are there venue or safety restrictions we should follow?
Happy to discuss and adapt this based on what space is realistically available.
