Tog Hackerspace

We at Tog Hackerspace are deeply grateful to Hubfortech, a long-standing electronics store in Finglas, for their generous donation of equipment and computer parts. As they prepared to close their doors, they contacted us to ensure their inventory would continue to benefit the wider tech community.

This thoughtful gesture exemplifies the importance of giving back while promoting sustainability. By donating instead of discarding, they’ve helped prevent valuable items from ending up in landfills. Reuse, after all, is even better than recycling. These tools and components will empower our community members to build exciting projects, support our workshops, and enhance our events.

We’re excited to announce that one of Tog Hackerspace’s own, Eduard Garanskij, will be representing us at this year’s Retro Computer Festival! Hosted at the Centre for Computing History (CCH) in Cambridge on the 9th and 10th of November 2024, the event brings together enthusiasts, collectors, and educators to celebrate the rich history of computing. The CCH, a pioneering educational charity, has been at its current location in Cambridge since 2013, serving as a hub for preserving and sharing the stories behind the machines that shaped modern technology.

At his stand, Eduard will dive into the fascinating world of programmable calculators from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Among his collection, you’ll find the iconic Soviet Elektronika MK series, a favourite among enthusiasts of vintage tech. He’ll demonstrate how these devices could be programmed and even reveal some hidden gems in the form of calculator-based games—a unique look at how people interacted with technology before the era of smartphones and tablets.

Eduard’s presentation will offer festival-goers a hands-on opportunity to experience vintage computing in action. Whether you’re a fan of retro technology or just curious about how computing has evolved over the decades, his display promises to be an engaging look back at programmable calculators’ role in early tech education and hobbyist culture.

If you’re in the Cambridge area or have a passion for retro computing, be sure to check out Eduard’s stand at the Retro Computer Festival. It’s a chance to see history come to life and get a sense of the innovation that powered the early days of portable computing.