Analog Electronics Workshop with John Harrison

Name: Analog Electronics Workshop with John Harrison
Start: 2026-01-10T10:00:00-06:00
End: 2026-01-10T12:00:00-06:00
Location: Newton Public Library

Schedule

Sat Jan 10 2026 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Newton Public Library | Newton, KS

Join electrical/computer engineer John Harrison for this free workshop. The goal? To take the mystery out of all those little “bugs” sticking up on the circuit boards we see inside of pretty much every electrical device.
John will introduce some of the fundamental components that make up all such devices: resistors, capacitors, and transistors. Then participants will use what they learn to build a simple tone generator, tune the generator to different frequencies, and try to perform together as a “bell choir.”
This workshop is intended for high-schoolers (ages 14+) and adults. All supplies will be provided. Space is limited; click here to register: https://newtonplks.libcal.com/event/15404708.
ABOUT JOHN HARRISON:
John Harrison is a musician, electrical/computer engineer, educator and new media artist. He is best known as the inventor of Friendship Lamps, interactive lights that connect you with those you love. To manufacture the lamps and to further explore related technologies, John founded Filimin in 2015. He sold Filimin in May 2021.
During John’s tenure, Filimin manufactured, sold and shipped more than 250,000 Friendship Lamps. The lamps have been featured on major online media, including Buzzfeed three times, Mashable twice, The Today Show, The Washington Post, and Business Insider. Buzzfeed’s video about Friendship Lamps went viral, receiving nearly 5 million views.
John has a deep commitment to teaching. Previously, John was a full-time faculty member at Wichita State University’s (WSU) College of Engineering. He also served as Founder and Director of WSU’s Center for Research in Arts, Technology, Education, and Learning (CRATEL). Before this he was a tenured Associate Professor of Violin at Wichita State University’s School of Music.
John was a founder of Wichita’s new media artist collective Hack.Art.Lab (H.A.L). He was also a co-founder and Vice President of MakeICT, Wichita’s first Makerspace. MakeICT now has over 400 active members. More recently, he founded TechArtICT, an active collective of artists and engineers who create interactive and immersive art installations together.
John’s work is informed by his studies at MIT’s Media Lab, where he was a graduate assistant researcher under Barry Vercoe (Music Mind and Machine), Tod Machover (Opera of the Future), and Mitchell Resnick (Lifelong Kindergarten). Working with these three professors concurrently gave John a unique perspective on learning, innovation, music and creativity. John volunteered at Professor Resnick’s flagship Computer Clubhouse in Boston, co-creating projects such as Digital Puppetry. John’s Master’s thesis pioneered new ideas and implementation in tangible learning and creativity through music and sound.
John continues his activities as a professional violinist. He has recorded for Koch International Classics and New World Records and has been broadcast internationally on Public Radio International. As First Violinist of the Montclaire String Quartet, his touring and performance schedule included internationally televised and recorded concerts. He has also performed as First Violin of the Amernet String Quartet, first-prize winners of the Banff International String Quartet Competition.