In the What Matters To Me series, a Generation T honouree describes what they do, why they do it, and why it matters.
Hacking, as defined by Michelle Poon, is the intellectual challenge to overcome, circumvent, deconstruct or “hack” the limitations or purposes of virtually anything. Confused? It basically means using your brain to mess around creatively online.
Michelle’s synapses are clearly made for this task. A co-owner of the non-profit hackerspace Dim Sum Labs, she also established Dim Sum Labs Press and last year published her first book, The Field Guide to Hacking. She’s an academic lecturer and creative technologist, and the recipient of a Design Trust Feature Grant to explore how organisations can develop work environments where creativity flourishes. Here, Michelle introduces her work in her own words.
Dim Sum Labs is part of the global hackerspace community. I see our role as educating people on how to navigate the technological landscape in an accessible, interesting, productive and secure way. We’ve created a secure physical space that allows people to practise hacking and to explore their technological creativities.
People need to change their perception of hacking. For me it is actually an intellectual endeavour, but the term hacking incorrectly implies something illegal. This is what The Field Guide to Hacking attempts to correct.