In this episode, Peter Dalmaris talks with Zafar Iqbal, aka “Zaf.”
The full video for this interview is available; please check it out.
Zaf studied Engineering and Computer Science at Oriel College in Oxford and Communication Design at Central Saint Martins in London.
He has worked as a programmer for more than 20 years in the United Kingdom and Greece, both for large private companies such as ZDNet/CNET and for top academic institutions such as the National Technical University of Athens.
He currently creates software tools for scientists who work on projects for the European Space Agency.
His areas of expertise include cyber-physical hardware and software systems emphasizing robust, modular, secure, and scalable software components, “phygital” experiences, image and video processing, internet applications, and content management systems.
Zaf also has extensive maker experience, participating in Maker Faires in New York, Rome, and Athens.
Zaf has used his programming skills on a variety of science and art projects and stage performances, and in 2016, he was included in the European Top 50 Makers list.
In my conversation with Zaf, we discussed his projects and challenges, where he often finds himself in “un-documented” territory. Zaf is known for not being afraid to go where he has never been as a maker. We discussed his experiences as an exhibitor at three maker fairs, prime numbers, and the Turing Machine, and how he created his version of the machine based on Arduino. We also talked about Arduino-powered video art and much more.
In this first part of the conversation, Zaf discusses his background as a programmer and maker. He discusses his approach to programming in multiple languages, his software designs, and some of his projects.
This was a conversation by geeks for geeks that I am sure you will enjoy.
This is Tech Explorations Podcast episode 6.
Welcome to Tech Explorations Podcast episode 6.
In this episode, Peter Dalmaris (that’s me) talks with Zafar Iqbal, also known as Zaf. Zaf studied engineering and computer science at Oriel College in Oxford and communication design at Central Saint Martins in London. He’s worked for more than 20 years as a programmer in the United Kingdom and Greece, both for large private companies such as ZDNet and CNET, as well as for top academic institutions such as the National Technical University of Athens.
Currently, Zaf creates software tools for scientists working on projects for the European Space Agency. His areas of expertise include cyber-physical hardware and software systems, with an emphasis on robust, modular, secure, and scalable software components, digital experiences, image and video processing, internet applications, and content management systems.
Zaf has extensive maker experience, having participated in Maker Fairs in New York, Rome, and Athens. He has used his programming skills on various science and art projects, stage performances, and in 2016, was included in the European Top 50 Makers list. In my conversation with Zaf, we talked about his projects and the challenges he faces, often finding himself in undocumented territory. Zaf is known for not being afraid to go where he has not gone before as a maker.
We discussed his experience exhibiting in three Maker Fairs, prime numbers, the Turing machine, and how he created his version of the machine based on the Arduino. We also talked about Arduino-powered video art and much more. It was a conversation by geeks for geeks, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
This is Tech Explorations Podcast episode 6.
Peter: Zafar, amazing to see you again, even if it’s virtually. Last time it was at a café in Athens, probably sometime in November. How are you today?
Zaf: I’m doing OK, Peter. Nice to see you too. Thanks for inviting me on the podcast.
Peter: My pleasure! It’s been a long time since we last chatted—over six months, right?
Zaf: Yes, it’s been a while. But it’s great to be here now.
Peter: I’m excited to have you on the podcast because you are a prolific maker, constantly creating things, some of which are quite unusual. Let’s get into it. Could you take a few minutes to introduce yourself for people who may not know you?
Zaf: Sure. My name is Zaf, and I live in Athens, Greece. I’m a computer programmer, but I also make things—going back into electronics and hardware. I grew up in England but moved to Greece about 10 years ago with my family. I’m a software person, but recently I’ve been focusing on microelectronics, using Arduino and Raspberry Pi. I find it more fun than just using a mouse, keyboard, and pixels.
Peter: Your software side is interesting too. What kind of software do you design, and where can we find your work?
Zaf: Most of the software I build isn’t easily accessible to end users because it’s typically part of a larger system or tool. My focus is on the actual use of the software rather than making it easy for others to modify. That’s partly because I’ve worked in environments where protecting your software is important. But over the last couple of years, I’ve started sharing some of the tools I use to create more complex applications on GitHub, even though they’re not fully documented yet.
Peter: That’s fascinating. Let’s switch to your maker projects. What are you working on at the moment?
Zaf: Well, I’ve got a shopping bag full of new components from Robotronics for a weekend project. I’m working on a project involving RFID sensors for a friend’s escape room. The idea is to use an Arduino to connect multiple RFID readers and unlock a puzzle if the correct cards are placed in the right order. I’ve got some tricky multiplexing ahead to make it work with just one Arduino.
Peter: That sounds like a fun challenge! What was your last big project?
Zaf: Last weekend, I built an automated View-Master for a photography exhibition. The challenge was to make the disc rotate precisely every few seconds. It was supposed to be a 7-centimeter disc, but the artist showed up with a 70-centimeter disc instead! After some trial and error with different motors, we eventually got it working by using a motor on the edge of the disc rather than in the center.
Peter: I love how one challenge leads to another! You also built a Turing machine with an Arduino. Can you tell us about that?
Zaf: Yes, the Turing machine was my second Maker Faire project. It’s a simple programmable machine that controls a pointer to turn LEDs on and off, moving in either direction. You can program it using buttons and a knob. It’s not a true Turing machine because it’s limited by memory, but it’s a fun and educational project that demonstrates the concept.
Peter: That’s really cool! You’ve shown it at multiple Maker Fairs, right?
Zaf: Yes, I’ve exhibited it at three Maker Fairs, including New York and Rome. It’s always fun to see people’s reactions, especially when they realize how powerful the machine is, despite its simplicity.
Peter: What’s next for you? Any exciting projects on the horizon?
Zaf: I’m working with ESP32 cameras for some image processing experiments. The goal is to use these cameras to capture still images and process them on a separate machine via Wi-Fi. It’s a step into more advanced IoT applications, but I’m excited to see what’s possible.
Peter: It sounds like you’re always pushing the boundaries! What would you say is your “superpower” as a maker?
Zaf: I think my superpower is curiosity and persistence. I love digging for information and figuring out how things work, even when it’s not documented. It’s about finding small, achievable steps that give you the confidence to move forward, even if you don’t have the perfect solution right away.
Peter: That’s great advice. It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Zaf. Thanks for sharing your projects and insights.
Zaf: Thank you, Peter. It’s been great!
That’s all for this episode. You can find links to resources and more information about Zaf on our website, techexplorations.com. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and we’ll see you next time!