Usability

Today we are Steve's Lab. RSVP and you'll be sent the location. It's in Silver Spring. ***Join us for an evening in an electronics lab where we will attempt to run clean scans of graphene and gold samples, and then clean up that data with post processing.*** This is a high sensitivity experiment, and we do not plan on being successful so early. But we've had promising results lately - so we will be putting in the time. We are NOT meeting at our usual location, but rather at Steve's house/lab. If you RSVP, you will get a DM with the address but it's located in Silver Spring. We will attempt full, clean lab - clean tip repeated scanning tests to see what we can learn and improve. We will experiment with online attendees, but if all possible showing up in person is strongly encouraged. Online join link is: - [https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers](https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers) Our community is building (and documenting for other teams) how to build a scanning tunneling microscope using a mix of common and 3D printed parts. This will allow us to scan and visualize a single atom - an ambitious we are doing over the course of a few months. The MoCo Makers community is one of the most innovative and competent groups in Maryland, and we've done everything from [publishing cancer research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38136356/), to [launching products](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotim/cozy-curvy-multi-contour-pillow), [winning grants](https://covidinfocommons.datascience.columbia.edu/awards/2014255), and inspiring thousands. Now our biggest challenge yet has appeared. We are building a Scanning Tunneling Microscope, that will allow us to scan and visualize single atoms. To get a better idea of what we are doing, see our reference project here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g) All starting CAD, code, and reference files should exist. However, let's be the first Maker community to document the build process and share it with learners around the world. We will be publishing our work here -[ https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda](https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda) If you need a ride, let us know.

**Location:** Crimson Whiskey Bar (Either the downstairs whiskey bar, or main floor bar, TBD) The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults. **Topic: The Gilded Age 2.0** It was estimated by contemporary sources at the time that John D Rockefeller's wealth passed the $1 Billion in 1916, becoming the first [Billionaire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billionaire?). This immense wealth was built from his firm, Standard Oil, which he grew from a small operation to one that eventually controlled 90% of the US oil refinery business. This occurred during a period many now refer to as "The Gilded Age". The Gilded Age was a time during the Industrial Revolution boom where unregulated capitalism and non-existent anti-trust laws allowed for the consolidation of immense wealth by individuals like Rockfella in Oil, Carnie in Steel, and JP Morgan in Finance. The age came to an end with progressives like Teddy Roosevelt coming to power, breaking up the big trusts, and instituting reforms to regulate industries and limit the influence corporations and the ultra-wealthy can have on politics. Fast forward to 2026, and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, is projected to become a Trillionaire (With a T) after his company SpaceX launches its IPO on June 12th. There are 16 other Americans who can be classified as "Centibillionaires" ($100 Billion), and this number has been increasing every year. Having such extreme wealth in the hands of a few gives credence to the notion that we are now living in the Gilded Age 2.0. **Questions to Consider:** 1\. Is it necessarily bad to have so many billionaires? 2\. Are there lessons we can draw on from the first Gilded Age? 3\. Will we see our own "Progressive" backlash against mega\-corporations and the ultra\-wealthy?

Join us on **Thursday, June 4th** for Kickback & Connect in **Washington, D.C.** From magazines to motion graphics and from newsrooms to nonprofits, if you make things in D.C., you’re invited. This is a low-key happy hour bringing together designers and creatives across disciplines in the DMV to kickback, connect, and share ideas—no panels, no pitches, no pressure. We hope to see you there! **Music by: Friends on Mars** Hosted by Good People DC and **[SPD](https://www.spd.org/)**, a nonprofit design community rooted in publishing and creative excellence. No cover charge = no excuse not to come Must be 21 to enter. Please drink responsibly.

Bring a friend, bring family, and bring that neighbor that you kinda know... Come one, come all for some free table tennis. Note: Because we have been playing regularly for years, members tend not to RSVP. If there are any questions, feel free to message.

If you’ve already learned the basics of volleyball and want to keep improving your skills while having fun, this event is for you! **Skill Level:** Advanced Beginner (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details). **Reminders** 1. Attendance: We’ve noticed that the waitlist is growing, so please make sure your name is on the Going list if you plan to play. Our number of nets is limited so this helps avoid too many rotations. If your name is on the list but you don’t show up, it will count as an absence according to Smiley Social rules. Please update your RSVP at least 12 hours in advance if your plans change. 2. Injuries: Play safely and be mindful of others on the court. Respect positions and avoid risky moves that could lead to injury. If you’re not sure the ball is yours, call it before going for it to avoid collisions. 3. Game Rules: Let’s follow the basic volleyball rules, especially the three-touch rule so we can play properly and improve as a team! 4. Waitlist: The waitlist is not first come first serve. We prioritize regular attendees, and will fill empty spots with new faces closer to the event date. **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 3. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

**Join us for our very first MTG League Play!** Are you ready to elevate your Magic the Gathering experience to new heights? Look no further! 🚀✨ We're thrilled to invite you to join our Magic the Gathering League Play – where the realms of strategy, skill, and camaraderie converge. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a novice spellcaster, there's a place for you in our League Play. \* **Date**: Thursdays starting January 4th \* **Time**: 6pm - 9pm \* **Cost**: This event will be $15 and $7.50 for pass holders/ gold patrons. Each participant will receive a booster pack with purchase and a 2nd pack after playing a round. **(Pay at the shop the day of the event)** \***Place**: 3 Gear Games 25 C Street, Laurel MD 20707 --**Game Room Code Of Conduct**--[https://www.3gearstudios.com/service/code-of-conduct/](https://www.3gearstudios.com/service/code-of-conduct/?fbclid=IwAR054LDLzN5OeBImBfQpND1a_83AGAxPeFHwMO303UD3Z7rggbPn-TRYH64) Email questions to 3geargames@gmail.com

Let's get together to play some fun BB level Doubles games at Bluemont. **Format**: Doubles **COST**: FREE **Court Type**: Outdoor grass **Minimum Skill Requirements**: Intermediate-BB (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 1. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 1. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

Date: June 7 2026 Sunday 10:00 am - Noon EDT Full title: Machine Learning for Reliable Quantum Computing: An Algorithm–Hardware Co-Design Perspective Summary: Reliable quantum computing requires co-design across the full stack, including algorithm structure, compilation, and execution, rather than isolated optimization of any single layer. This talk presents a unified framework in which these layers are jointly optimized under realistic hardware constraints. Structure-aware compilation exploits algorithmic interaction graphs to reduce circuit depth; joint optimization across mapping, term ordering, and algorithm parameters yields significantly improved success probability; and execution-layer analysis reveals that error mitigation effectiveness depends critically on circuit symmetry and native gate choice. While demonstrated on superconducting quantum processors, the underlying co-design principles are potentially transferable across architectures. Building on this foundation, the talk highlights machine learning as the key enabler for closing the feedback loop: data-efficient, parameterized noise models learned directly from workload execution data achieve substantially improved predictive fidelity over vendor models without the overhead of dedicated characterization. These insights situate the co-design perspective within the emerging framework of quantum deep learning. In this broader setting, the talk also presents an operational definition, a unifying taxonomy, and a benchmarking protocol grounded in explicit resource contracts. Speaker: Dr. Yanjun Ji has an interdisciplinary research background in Physics and Computer Science. In 2020, she completed my Master's degree in Theoretical Physics at Saarland University. In 2024, she earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Stuttgart. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Forschungszentrum Jülich. She is committed to interdisciplinary research at the cutting-edge convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Her research encompasses both foundational theoretical investigations and the development of practical applications, aiming to serve society and benefit humanity. Moderators: Dr. Pawel Gora, CEO of Quantum AI Foundation [Quantum AI Foundation](https://www.qaif.org/ "https://www.qaif.org/") Dr. Sebastian Zajac, member of QPoland [QPoland - QWorld](https://qworld.net/qpoland/ "https://qworld.net/qpoland/")

Ausarian Tantra Yoga is a practice that infuses the spirit and power of enlightenment through synchronizing breath, movement, meditation, and silent affirmation. Ausarian Tantra Yoga incorporates postures that reflect some of the principles of the Kemetic culture. It is a practice wherein gradual and deliberate movement allows moments for the mind, body, and spirit to connect and express oneness. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St. Discount is available to seniors, teachers, students, emergency responders, and military. All can save by purchasing class packs.

**NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS** Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members. → **[Learn how DC Metro Dining works](https://tinyurl.com/Landing-Page-DC-Metro-Dining)** → **[Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)](https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/Enable-Meetup-Email-Notifications-3a85109614fc4907940503d096331392)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Sunday 10a, 6/6**. (*Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership*) Let’s head to upper Northwest DC for an Indian dinner at Masala Art in Tenleytown, a long-running neighborhood favorite known for refined North Indian cuisine and regional specialties. The restaurant was founded by chef Surinder Singh, formerly of Heritage India, and continues to maintain a strong reputation for consistent execution and depth of flavor. **FOOD**: Masala Art focuses on North Indian cuisine with a mix of classic curries, tandoori dishes, and harder-to-find regional specialties, vegetarian & GF friendly. Recent diners frequently highlight the Railway Lamb Curry, lamb korma dishes, garlic naan, and vegetarian items such as baingan bharta and okra preparations. Tandoori items and biryanis are also consistently well reviewed, with many diners noting balanced spice levels and strong flavor without excessive heaviness. The menu supports a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian-friendly selections and several richer meat-based dishes. Expect traditional Indian desserts and a full bar with wine, cocktails, and beer available. Most members should expect total spend to land roughly in the 40 to 70 dollar range, depending on ordering style & beverage participation. → **Explore Masala Art's menu (please note the 3% service charge, their way of defraying increasing costs):** **[https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu](https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu)** **SPACE**: Comfortable and intimate dining room with warm décor and a quieter neighborhood feel compared to downtown DC dining corridors. Expect moderate noise levels and a more relaxed pace on a Saturday evening. → **Visit the restaurant site**: **[https://masalaartdc.com](https://masalaartdc.com)** * Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details). * Limited to 8 slots. See you there! JoeN **CLOSEST METRO**: * **Tenleytown–AU station (Red)** is the closest stop. Quick walk (exit on Tenleytown EAST (same side as Whole Foods) walk south along Wisconsin Ave & cross over Albermarle St NW). The walk is a quick 3–5 minutes based on routed walking directions and traffic signals. * For directions using the Metro, try using the Plan a Trip feature at the WMATA website ([click on your preferred Metro station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/index.cfm) then at the Station page level click "Plan a Trip". **PARKING**: Street parking and several public parking garages are available throughout Tenleytown. Weekend evening parking is generally easier here than in central DC neighborhoods, though nearby retail activity can still affect availability. Members may also want to check parking apps such as SpotHero and Parking Panda for discounted garage reservations and advance booking options nearby. Plan accordingly. ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up***. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.* * **New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot?** Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (*often open up before Noon on the day of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs inbox).*\*\* * **Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total.** This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant. Looking forward to dining with you! JoeN

This meetup is for people that want to play table games: board games, strategy games, episodic RPGs, eurogames, card games and co-operative games. NOT A GAMER BUT WANT TO LEARN? We teach them all... Melinda is bringing: * 7 Wonders * Architects of the West Kingdom * Azul * Blockus * Cards Against Humanity * Castles of Burgundy * Century - Spice Road * Century - A New World * El Dorado * Ethnos * Harry Potter Clue * Harry Potter - Hogwarts ??? * Ingenious * Its a Wonderul World * King of Tokyo * Parks * Photosynthesis * Quacks of Quedlinburg * Qwirkle * Sherrif of Nottingham * Sagrada * Suburbia * Ticket to Ride - Europe * Ticket To Ride - Nederln * Unearth * Villanous * Villanous Expansion * What do you Meme * Wingspan We are open minded on all games. Games we plan to teach and play include Ascension, Azul, Azul Summer Pavillion, Splendor, Magic The Gathering, Melee/Wizard, Backgammon, Castallan, Chess Variants, Compounded, Dead of Winters: Crossroads, Dixit, Dominion, Exploding Kittens, Flux, GravWell, Ghost Stories, Hanabi, Heroquest RPG, Hive, House Divided, House on the Hill, Illuminati, Ingenious, King of Tokyo, Lost Cities, Machi Koro, Munchkin, Pandemic, Pirate Dice, Ogre/GEV, Qwirkle, Race for the Galaxy, Roll Through The Ages, Ricochet Robot, RoboRally, Settlers of Catan, Sagrada, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Splendor, Spot-It, Sushi-To-Go, Takenoko, Ticket to Ride, Tsuro, Up Front, Yahtzee, Advanced Wizards Card Game, etc.

What would it mean to take the possibility of machine consciousness seriously? To approach it as a question that may be studied with rigor? At this DC Digital Minds gathering, group organizer **Jessie Mannisto** will report back from the **Founding Assembly for Machine Consciousness Research** in Berkeley, CA, where researchers and thinkers are working to develop the machine consciousness hypothesis into something more scientifically useful. We’ll talk about what kinds of evidence might support hypotheses of machine conscience or sentience, what concepts researchers are using, where the major uncertainties are, and why these questions may have ethical, social, and policy implications as AI systems become more capable and socially present. This will be a casual conversation with a little structure: Jessie will give a short report-back from the conference, followed by open discussion. No technical background required -- just curiosity, good faith, and a willingness to think carefully about a strange and important frontier. Optional Pre-Read: [The Machine Consciousness Hypothesis](https://cimc.ai/cimcHypothesis.pdf)

Come cheer on Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich and Germany as they take on Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Matt Freese and the [USA team in the World Cup Send Off game at on Saturday](https://www.volosports.com/d/3f388e33-0140-4690-bcc1-b54fbca61f87)**[, June 6th at 2:30pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/3f388e33-0140-4690-bcc1-b54fbca61f87).** Let's send the USA off in style with an epic watch party! And if you're a fan of Germany, there's no better place to watch your team than at a German beer garden! **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** i.e. Michelob Ultra, NUTRL, Bud Light, Budweiser **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your USA or Germany gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

DC Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. It's community-led and community-run by devs, for devs. People of all skill levels attend. Whether you’re dev-curious, aspiring, or a professional developer, we’d love to have you! Come chat or learn to code on a Sunday afternoon with coffee and cool-inclusive people. Bring your laptop! We typically meet every month on the weekend. **Join our online community!** For all things Tech in DC and to get latest updates and tech events from the DMV area, join the [DCTech Slack](https://dctech.chat/). All DC Code & Coffee announcements are in the #dccodecoffee channel **How it works** Near the beginning of the event, we do an introduction circle. You say your name, what you can help others with, and what you would like help with. You can also share job opportunities. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized.

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

Try new games, meet new people, and find out what story games are all about! Explore the reaches of space! Witness kingdoms rise and fall! Create and explore tragedies! All within a single game night. We play story games like Fiasco, Kingdom, Polaris and Microscope that encourage everyone at the table to participate creatively. We also have one-shots of indie, OSR, and narrative-focused RPGs such as Apocalypse World, Dread, Lady Blackbird, and Old School Essentials! Everybody's welcome! It doesn't matter if you've never tried story games before or never played roleplaying games at all! Just bring your brain and a good attitude and come try it out! *** **IMPORTANT** * When you arrive look for the marked Story Games Columbus Tables. Each table will have a separate game. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis. * If all tables are full, look for a Facilitator. We will find a way to get you into a game! * There is a flat $3 cover charge for events at Tabletop. *** **Facilitators!!** Please arrive early so that we can get you set up with a table. Please reach out to me ASAP if you would be willing to help facilitate. You can reach me on the SGC Discord here - https://discord.gg/jUTvWUu

We have moved to guild.host. Look us up there. https://guild.host/events/buckeye-cocoaheads-rcavwd

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)