View the full programme and learn more: lnkd.in/emNteSgh

A posterboard stands on a table in a conference room, displaying posters with information about the pro2 network's summer school and funded projects. On the table in front of it are branded chocolate bars and business cards.

A photo shows a attendees of the SW UK pre-CHI event mingling in a crowded room at the University of Bristol. Some attendees are wearing pirate hats and costumes in line with the event's theme.

We had a great time at the SW UK pre-CHI event on Friday at @bristoluni.bsky.social!

We were proud to sponsor the event again which connects HCI researchers for networking & knowledge exchange, and gives early career researchers an opportunity to practice CHI papers.

@bristolhci.bsky.social #CHI

Dr Ben Oldfrey at @ucl.ac.uk leads our funded project which is seeking to integrate soft stress-tracking mechanisms at the device level to improve user comfort in assistive technology like prosthetics, orthotics, and braces.

Learn more: lnkd.in/eKTyCPqz

#AssistiveTech #Prosthetics

Joshua says: 'Having an amazing time at MIT's Cutaneous Sensory Lab working on the OpenSoftHaptics project! We are developing affordable, 3D-printable haptic devices that can change softness in the palm of your hand, helping to make advanced tactile displays accessible to the wider community.'

Joshua Brown can be seen wearing a red and white winter hat with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo on the front as he stands in front of a building on the MIT campus. The ground behind him is covered in a blanket of snow. He is smiling toward the camera, wearing glasses and a winter coat.

Hello from @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social's Joshua Brown, recipient of pro2 Residency Scheme funding which has supported his visit to @mit.edu. He's spending his time collaborating with MIT's Lynette Jones on the project 'OpenSoftHaptics'.

Learn more about the scheme & apply: buff.ly/xJ48UIp

⏰ Deadline approaching!

Apply by 11th March to our Development Specialist position to take the lead on shaping ‘BOMNADO’, a Python/Django-based bill of materials management software on an open-source platform.

🔗Access the full details and apply here: lnkd.in/garURpRU

You're very welcome!!

Yellow and white text against a blue background with a digital network type abstract design. The text reads: 'Come work with us! The EPSRC-funded pro2 network+ at the University of Bristol is seeking an OSS Developer to take the lead on 'BOMNADO', a Python/Django-based bill of materials management software on an open-source platform. Join us and support our mission of democratising digital device production. Apply by 11th March 2026.' The pro2 network logo and UKRI-EPSRC logo appear alongside the text.

Join the pro² team! We're seeking an experienced Development Specialist who's passionate about open source.

Learn more & apply by 11th March 2026: lnkd.in/garURpRU

@bristoluni.bsky.social #HEjobs #OpenSource

Closing soon! Don't miss out on our upcoming workshop at #CHI2026 in Barcelona this April.

Apply via the link below by the 12th of February ⬇️

@chi.acm.org #HCI #opensourcehardware

SW UK & De Cymru HCI community!
Pre-CHI is back! Come present your work, learn, and connect with other HCI researchers. A free, supportive conference for students, academics and industry!
📅 27/3/2026
📍 Bill Brown Suite, University of Bristol
Reg: bit.ly/4qPjMP7
Site: bit.ly/4qI2uTQ
#PreCHI #CHI2026

Text reads 'Are We Doing Enough' Sharing Design and Manufacturing Expertise Across Open Source Hardware Communities, CHI 2026 Workshop, with the pro2 network+ logo below. In the background is a blurry image of a soldering iron and PCB.

Join us at CHI 2026 this April for an interactive workshop exploring education, information sharing and community in Open Source Hardware (date/time TBA).

Learn more: lnkd.in/e_3yPiFk

Apply by 12th Feb to be a workshop participant: lnkd.in/edv4WV2z

#CHI2026 #HCI #opensourcehardware @chi.acm.org

Yellow and white text against a blue background with a digital network type abstract design. The text reads: 'Come work with us! The EPSRC-funded pro2 network+ at the University of Bristol is seeking an OSS Developer to take the lead on 'BOMNADO', a Python/Django-based bill of materials management software on an open-source platform. Join us and support our mission of democratising digital device production. Apply by 7th January 2026.' The pro2 network logo and UKRI-EPSRC logo appear alongside the text.

We're seeking an experienced Development Specialist who's passionate about open source - if this is you, come join us! Apply by 7th January 2026

Learn more: lnkd.in/eEBxNgwy

@bristoluni.bsky.social @oshwassociation.bsky.social #HEjobs #OpenSource

Flexible Liquid Metal Circuits | pro² Projects Series YouTube video by pro² network+

Watch the full interview with Prof Yi Wang to find out more about liquid metal circuits and how they can be applied to areas like #wearables, #medicaltech, #softrobotics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1S...

Liquid metal circuits like those being developed by Prof. Yi Wang at @unibirmingham.bsky.social have the potential to be more flexible, robust, and sustainable compared to conventional flexible electronics.

Learn more about our Liquid in Circuits project: lnkd.in/eKTyCPqz

Very proud of our Steering Group members Professors Joe Finney and Steve Hodges, whose work developing the Micro:bit has been recognised with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education 🎉

🚨 Last call to join the LEAP Community Sandpit - Friday 14 November in Bristol.

Engineer Richard Sewell of Air Giants spoke to us about this challenge and the solutions he's found.

Learn more about Air Giants, a Bristol-based creative robotics studio: www.airgiants.co.uk

Find solutions to challenges in low-volume device production at www.prosquared.org

Making a digital device prototype is getting easier thanks to the availability of off-the-shelf parts, and traditional manufacturing makes it easy to produce in the thousands. But organisations like Air Giants who are producing in low volumes get stuck in between, facing replication challenges.

Have you heard about the funding available through our pro² Residency Scheme?

⚡Visitors will conduct world-leading, curiosity-driven research and build lasting partnerships.

🌐 U.K. Industry Residency, U.K.-Overseas Residency, and International-U.K. Residencies.

Learn more➡️ tinyurl.com/pro2-rs

A group of people stand outside on a sunny day, smiling and waving toward an overhead camera. On the bottom left text in yellow reads '2025 Device Prototyping Summer School'.

Missed our 2025 Summer School at @lancasteruni.bsky.social? Highlights included:

🍎 expert instruction
💰 prizes!
💡 world-class talks by speakers like Pete Lomas, co-founder of Raspberry Pi Foundation & author Simon Monk

Learn more: lnkd.in/ewrEVrmC

#pro2summerschool2025 @lmcunderwood.bsky.social

The MakeDevice app empowers users to create robust, replicable copies of Jacdac-enhanced micro:bit prototypes. It does this by generating production files suitable for manufacturing a more integrated version of the prototype based on a custom printed circuit board.

Learn more: lnkd.in/eaC_aqMH

Resources like the @microbit.org have made it easier to produce device prototypes. However, refining and replicating them remains difficult especially in low volumes.

Our funded project is solving this challenge by expanding the MakeDevice app.

@msftresearch.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social

Yellow text on a purple and navy background reads '3 New Projects'. Below the EPSRC logo can be seen against a white background.

We've launched three new funded projects exploring new and emerging materials with the potential to drive innovation in digital devices 🎉

Learn more: lnkd.in/eKTyCPqz

#materials #manufacturing @nenisea.bsky.social @lmcunderwood.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk

Text on a yellow and navy blue background reads 'Wanted: Research Participants. Designing and Building Digital Devices'. Below the pro2 network+ and EPSRC logos are displayed against a white background.

Do you design and build prototypes of digital devices? If so, we want to hear from you!

Follow the link to complete a brief questionnaire about where you find help when encountering problems (takes just 5-10 mins): lnkd.in/euaprTfX

@lmcunderwood.bsky.social @bristolhci.bsky.social #prototyping

Couldn't have put it better ourselves!

Excited to share some new mobile technology in development! prosquared.org/2025-LSS-Pap... Watch this space! Feel free to reach out if you are interested in testing prototypes. @prosquared.org

Great talk from @lmcunderwood.bsky.social today on prototyping case studies, of which she has many! Her work with @e14community.bsky.social and @lancasteruni.bsky.social was truly inspirational, like the 'Cubert' a 1 m³ 8×8×8 RGB LED cube (learn more: buff.ly/XV4qGpv).

#pro2summerschool2025

James Hahn stands at the front of a lecture theatre with a desk in front of him and two large screens showing PowerPoint slides overhead. The slides show the MakeDevice application.

And from @lancasteruni.bsky.social we heard a talk from James Hahn about MakeDevice, a web tool currently being developed as part of the pro2 funded project REPLICATE. MakeDevice will simplify the prototyping process, making it easier for people to build and replicate devices.

#pro2summerschool2025

Jack Burnett stands at the front of a lecture theatre with a desk before him and two large screens showing a PowerPoint slide above him. The slide shows a prototype of a video game controller and the text 'The Final Prototype'.

Also from @bristolhci.bsky.social, @jackjburnett.bsky.social spoke about his work on designing accessible video game controllers for people with disabilities.

#pro2summerschool2025 #assistivetech

A photo shows a crowded lecture theatre with wood panelled walls at Lancaster University. A presenter stands at a desk at the front of the room with two large display screens overhead showing PowerPoint slides.

@oliverchild.bsky.social of @bristolhci.bsky.social discussed his research on 'Printegrated Circuits' and his recent experience visiting the Shenzhen manufacturing ecosystem, funded by the pro2 Residency Scheme. Learn more: buff.ly/PobGekC

#pro2summerschool2025