UPDATE: Please take note that the start time of this event has changed from 5:00 PM to 3:00 PM ... as several people wrote me saying that would be a better time for them, and no one who RSVP'd objected when I sent mail about changing it.

The "Technology Show and Tell" is a new event series for the Austin C/C++ Meetup.  It's based around getting a group in front of a big screen or projector.  Then, we divide the time up among those who want to discuss things they're working on at their jobs, side-projects, or even some video they found on YouTube.

To get the ball rolling, I'm going to solicit at least one presenter in advance (to make sure somebody will be sharing).  This month's volunteer is one of our new members -- Tom Rafferty.  He works on writing the controls system software for the world's 6th-largest telescope:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby-Eberly_Telescope

There's a major upgrade of the equipment going on right now, partly to support the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX).  You can read about the astrophysics out on the web, and watch videos covering the project:

http://hetdex.org/hetdex/het.php

But Tom's going to show and tell us how he uses C/C++ (as well as Python and Tcl/Tk) to build a component architecture that closely models the telescope hardware and instruments.  Then we'll get to see how he codes the configuration, scaling, and automation of the gear.

I've only reserved a small room for this, so I'm limiting the sign-up to 20 people.  If by some chance it does fill up but you would have RSVP'd, then please RSVP anyway so you're on the waitlist.  Even if no one cancels, having the data will help in planning future Show & Tells (or scheduled lectures).

Also: if you would like to have come but the time doesn't work it would help if you mentioned a time that did in a "No" RSVP.