Device Prototypin’ Summer School

Tale o’ the Adventure: Mark yer calendars, me hearties! From the 14th to the 17th o’ July, set sail fer Lancaster University fer the third annual Device Prototypin’ Summer School. Sharpen yer skills in digital device design, takin’ yer prototype from a wee sketch to somethin’ fit fer plunderin’ the high seas o’ tech. Ye’ll get yer hands on the finest university labs and learn from the world’s top experts in electronic device makin’.

Extra Voyage Plans

• Ye can grab subsidised spots, includin’ bunkin’, grub, and all the course booty fer just £100. And our prize contest returns to reward the most fearsome and clever prototypes turned into real treasures.
• Applications open soon in April! Join the pro² crew fer free at prosquared.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and Instagram to keep yer spyglass on all the updates.

Pro² Be Hiring!

Tale o’ the Adventure: We be huntin’ fer a seasoned Development Specialist who be mad fer open source! If ye fit the bill, hoist yer application by the 11th o’ March 2026.

Yer Deeds & Duties

• Command the front-end deck, settin’ the course fer architecture, performance, accessibility, and developer ease.
• Forge modern, reusable components and patterns, evolvin’ the software as our ship and crew grow.
• Master the full tech stack, includin’ Python and Django, so ye can swab bugs, extend features, and keep the system shipshape end-to-end.
• Use open-source practices and tools (release notes, READMEs, issue trackin’, discussions) to make the project friendly fer new hands and old salts alike.
• Parley with developer crews via forums, social channels, live streams, and meet-ups, turnin’ feedback into improvements and keepin’ contributors and users engaged.

Postdoctoral research opportunities at the University of Bristol

Tale o’ the Adventure: Two sharp-minded scholars be sought to sail aboard the ERC project inclusiveXplay. This grand voyage studies how cross-sensory interaction can aid the early development o’ blind, visually impaired, and sighted preschool scallywags alike. These two posts form a mighty research pipeline, chartin’ waters across cross-sensory cognition, inclusive co-design, and the forging o’ new cross-sensory technologies to craft inclusive social play contraptions.

Extra Voyage Plans

• The chosen crew will drop anchor in the Diverse-Ability Interaction Lab (Dive Lab) within the Bristol Interaction Group (BIG) at the University of Bristol, one o’ the UK’s finest fleets sailin’ the seas o’ HCI research. BIG gathers scholars skilled in interaction design, accessible computing, multisensory interaction, AI, fabrication, and strange new interactive materials, makin’ for a lively and interdisciplinary crew. Their exploits often appear in famed ports such as CHI, IDC, UIST, CSCW, DIS, and ASSETS.
• Successful buccaneers who win these posts shall join a lively and supportive crew o’ HCI researchers, designers, engineers, and experimental psychologists, and be heartily encouraged to forge high-impact discoveries and chart their own scholarly course.
• Cast yer spyglass below for details on the specific roles.

Inclusive Co-Design fer Cross-Sensory Social Play (24 Months)

Tale o’ the Adventure: Ye shall steer the co-design voyage o’ the project, workin’ alongside young scallywags (preschool children), their families, and early-years guides. Together ye’ll forge new inclusive cross-sensory co-design approaches, craftin’ orientin’ ideas, scenarios, and early contraptions that spark joyful social play for blind, visually impaired, and sighted younglings alike.

Yer Deeds & Duties

• Leadin’ design research to chart the requirements fer cross-sensory social play technologies.
• Workin’ alongside project allies and parleyin’ with families, educators, practitioners, and community folk.
• Conductin’ contextual inquiries and iterative co-design adventures with children, families, and practitioners.
• Gatherin’ and analyzin’ data to uncover design treasures—insights, concepts, and scenarios fer inclusive social play.
• Turnin’ discoveries into early prototypes and design directions to guide the wider inclusiveXplay voyage.
• Preparin’ project scrolls, leadin’ research outputs, and sendin’ yer findings to the finest HCI ports.
• Presentin’ yer discoveries at grand international gatherings and scholarly meetin’s.
• Strengthenin’ the research crew’s spirit in the lab and takin’ on other duties fit fer the role.

Apply fer this position if ye be:

• Passionate about inclusive design and accessibility, especially when workin’ with children o’ many abilities.
• Seasoned in co-design methods, particularly alongside children and disabled communities.
• Keen to carry out rigorous HCI research and publish in renowned venues.
• Curious about cross-sensory interaction and the early development o’ young minds.
• A true crew player, eager to work within an interdisciplinary band o’ researchers.

Fresh crewmates shall reap the spoils o’:

• The chance to sail on an ERC-funded research voyage at the frontier o’ HCI exploration.
• A supportive and collaborative research crew within the Dive Lab and the Bristol Interaction Group (BIG).
• Access to fine tools fer prototypin’ and fabrication, alongside strong interdisciplinary alliances.
• Support to forge high-impact research, gain international renown, and chart yer own scholarly course.

Cross-Sensory Fabrication & Playful Interaction (24 Months)

Tale o’ the Adventure: Ye shall lead the craftin’ and fabrication side o’ the project, turnin’ insights from cross-sensory cognition and co-design into wondrous new contraptions that support inclusive play and early development. This role be all about designin’, buildin’, and testin’ cross-sensory interactive systems that blend many senses together, bringin’ forth new forms o’ social play fer blind, visually impaired, and sighted preschoolers.

Yer Deeds & Duties

• Designin’ and developin’ cross-sensory interactive technology platforms fer inclusive play.
• Buildin’ prototypes usin’ digital fabrication, physical computin’, and tangible interaction techniques.
• Creatin’ cross-sensory experiences that mix touch, sound, light, scent, taste, and other sensory signals.
• Explor’n novel interfaces with interactive materials and shape-shiftin’ artefacts.
• Iteratively refin’n prototypes and testin’ ’em with children and families.
• Preparin’ project scrolls, leadin’ research outputs, and submitin’ work to the finest HCI venues.
• Presentin’ research at international conferences and scholarly gatherings.
• Contributin’ to the lab’s research culture and lendin’ a hand with duties fit fer the role.

Apply fer this position if ye be:

• Passionate about buildin’ interactive technologies and explorin’ tangible and embodied sensory interactions.
• Skilled in digital fabrication, physical computin’, or creative technology prototypin’.
• Curious about multisensory and cross-sensory interaction, and early childhood development.
• Driven to turn research insights into workin’ interactive systems.
• Eager to collaborate within an interdisciplinary research crew.

Fresh crewmates shall reap the spoils o’:

• The chance to join an ERC-funded research expedition at the frontier o’ HCI research.
• A supportive and collaborative environment within the Dive Lab and the Bristol Interaction Group (BIG).
• Access to state-of-the-art fabrication tools and strong interdisciplinary alliances.
• Support fer buildin’ high-impact research outputs, international recognition, and independent research paths.

Pro² Treasure Be Available

Tale o’ the Adventure: The pro² Residency Scheme be open on a rolling basis to support international and industrial residencies that help folks craft digital devices in small numbers. These residencies aim to forge long-lashin’ partnerships ‘tween academia and industry.

Pro² CHI Workshop

Tale o’ the Adventure: The pro² crew be sailin’ to this year’s CHI and hostin’ a workshop called ‘Are We Doin’ Enough? Sharin’ Design and Manufacturin’ Expertise Across Open Source Hardware Communities’. The application window be closed, but we’d love to meet ye if ye be attendin’.

Open Hardware Summit

Tale o’ the Adventure: Pro² be proud to sponsor the Open Hardware Summit once more! Drop by our demo table and swap tales of tech treasures.