Ever take apart that antique cuckoo clock your grandmother had, just to see what made that little bird chirp?

Jody Franklin tinkering in 757 Labs.

Or sat down with your laptop to try and figure out a new piece of software? Fix your VCR/DVD player or TV because you thought you could? Basically, has your curiosity ever gotten the better of you, made you wonder, delve and desire to know more about something?

If the answer is yes, then you, my friend, are a hacker. To clarify, hackers are not inherently malicious, and without going into the difference between hackers and crackers (Google it), just know that they are not stealing your identity or creating viruses to infect your machines. They are simply the kind of people who never let anything stop their pursuit of knowledge.

Here in Hampton Roads, hackers have a place to call home. 757 Labs is a hacker space. It’s a place where curiosity meets productivity head on, a collaborative environment with access to tools, materials, and the knowledge of other members. It’s a lounge, a meeting point, a place to test and flesh out ideas. Here, you can visualize those ideas you’ve had for so long, and with the help of other members, realize them.

757 Labs evolved from a few members of the HRGeeks group. They realized they need for a place dedicated to projects. A place to pool the resources of members to purchase, build, and in most cases repurpose technology to fit their needs. The three founders, Ethan O’Toole, Geoff Parsons and Jody Franklin, are pretty much the nucleus of the lab right now. Starting in January of this year, they have put a lot of effort into getting the lab off the ground and running. Now that the space is established, the focus is moving toward projects and membership. They’re looking for the displaced tinkerers and stranded techies of Hampton Roads.

757 Labs' "chill area."

I spent an evening with them, initially as a journalist wanting to give this niche group exposure, but by the end of the night, I had barely done an interview, taken a picture or written a single note. The atmosphere in the space is laid back, filled with casual conversation, but laced with ideas. Main topics of discussion focused around a couple of projects on the table; including sending a balloon into space to take pictures (part of a competition against other hacker spaces), creating an interactive touch screen display in the main window for passersby, plus innocent challenges and ribbing over the high scores of Donkey Kong and Galaga. The main focus of the night, however, was micro controllers–primarily, the micro controllers for some pretty old scrolling LED displays. When I showed up this thing still had cobwebs inside, but by the end of the night, through some dedicated passion of one member, it was scrolling custom artwork from a laptop. Something it was not designed to do.

This is the underlying ethos of the members. To take an idea, or a piece of technology, and push its limits. To find a new way of doing things.

I met a variety of people, from dedicated techies to automotive enthusiasts. All are welcome here to share their love of curiosity and knowledge. A full spectrum of experience is represented. IT professionals, company owners and students shake hands and brush minds here. I felt as if I had found a lost camaraderie. The depth of my technical knowledge is more broad than deep, and wherever I turned I found someone with whom I could talk and relate. A lot dissolved into technical specifications beyond my understanding, but I didn’t feel intimidated because most were willing to elaborate and clarify. If you come in with an open mind, you will be met with open arms.

The hacker space (on the right) as seen from Bute.

The space itself is located off Bute street in downtown Norfolk. The front display is home to the Skill Crane, an interactive web based claw machine; then beyond that, a meeting table for projects and discussion, a lounge area with the aforementioned arcades, and in the back, a workshop/bench area with tools and an industrial loading dock space. It has a bit of an industrial feel at the moment, but projects are on the table to add some flair to the space. In fac,t a couple of art projects are being tossed around, including a 757 Labs mermaid.

All that said, 757 Labs is still growing. They need members. The more members they have, the more resources they can tap; intellectual, financial and otherwise. Don’t expect to show up, pay your dues and get keys to the space, however. They prefer non-members to show up to a couple of open meetings first, so they can get a feel for the group and the group can get a feel for you. From there, memberships can be discussed and paid for. Meeting dates and times are posted on their website, 757labs.org, and a there is also a mailing list and IRC channel for discussions and general chit chat. Hop online, join the mailing list, offer some ideas and help–you will find yourself welcomed. Got some gear you’re willing to unload? Ask, they might want or need it. Say, like grandma’s old cuckoo you broke all those years ago.

Hampton Roads Geeks, tinkerers and knowledge-seekers, you now have a place to go.