Test the Impossible

Test the Impossible: Newsana, Strum, and Uniiverse

03/14/2013 7:00 pm
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Test the Impossible returns with a session featuring Toronto based start-ups that focus on interactivity and feedback as a means of success, for themselves, and their growing users.

Newsana is an online community of news junkies who are passionate about finding and discussing quality news and ideas. Members share and vote on their favourite stories of the day; the top five stories, per topic, are then surfaced and showcased on the site for the rest of the world to enjoy. You can think of Newsana as a high quality version of Reddit.

Test the Impossible: Panda Robotics

10/11/2012 7:00 pm

Panda 3D printerPanda Robotics makes hardware and software that is easy to use, low maintenance, and designed for creatives. They enable simple workflows but still provide advanced levels of control to enable experimentation, research, and customization.

They saw the possibilities and challenges of 3D printing and realized that no one was focusing on the people who will really make this revolution happen: the creatives and the researchers. In December of 2011 they began work on a printer that would serve their needs and fit their budgets.

Join us for our latest installment of "Test the Impossible" as Panda Robotics demonstrate their 3D printer and talk about their upcoming Kickstarter campaign.

Campaign.to Launch Party

07/19/2012 7:00 pm
07/19/2012 10:00 pm

Campaign.toTrying to get a stop sign put in on your corner? Looking to challenge your local city councilor in the next election? Want to petition your MPP about wind turbines?

campaign.to is a new website to help you organize all stripes of effective, local advocacy campaigns. The Toronto-made, all-in-one campaigning site lets anyone launch effective, innovative and low-cost online campaigns for any cause.

Get all the details about how to be a part of the next generation of activism at the campaign.to launch party! Swing by the Academy Of The Impossible on July 19, from 7-10 pm. Free.

Test the Impossible: Community Engagement

06/14/2012 7:00 pm

EngagementWhile the concept of sharing perspectives online originated with discussion groups, forums or blogs, the evolution of social media, open data and mobile internet has allowed for newer ways to engage with culture, government and society. Projects designed to advance that communication will be featured at the next Test the Impossible, including:

CitizenBridge.org: an online platform allowing Canadians and their elected representatives to have a conversation about issues on all levels of government.

Community Signposts: an animation project that uses interactive signage as real-world access points to empowering community information through open data and more.

Campaign.to: an all-in-one campaigning site on which anyone can launch effective, innovative and low-cost campaigns for any cause.

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Test the Impossible: Gamified

04/26/2012 7:00 pm

We are LegionThe people behind three new ventures will present their creations at the next Test the Impossible — and answer any questions tossed their way.

* InGamer Sports: a new real-time fantasy league service

* We Are Legion: recent winner of the Toronto Board Game Jam — inspired by hacker collective Anonymous

* diversityDNA: an app that promises to transform the way we look at each other

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A regular presentation of apps, websites, products and services from people who think they have the latest and greatest — and are willing to put it to the test.

The format of each evening will allow for a diverse group of presenters, who will also answer questions from the audience, as part of the Academy of the Impossible’s effort to bring virtual developments into our physical space.

We welcome advance requests from anyone who would like to show off what they’ve got. The attendees will range from gadget hounds and code ninjas to those who are just starting to explore their way around the world of technology.

To request a presenter slot at Test the Impossible, or for more information, write to: academy@impossible.ws

Test the Impossible: Kickstarter

03/15/2012 7:00 pm

KickstarterKickstarter will be in our spotlight for the next Test the Impossible, as we watch and discuss pitches that have sought attention through any crowdfunding platform, including a focus on those in Toronto who are currently looking for backers.

We will take a look at how the concept has evolved and where it might be headed next — and how it has influenced new models of creative entrepreneurship.

While the website recently had is first two million-dollar projects in one day, and expects to bring in $150 million in overall funding this year, some types of Kickstarter projects obviously fare better than others.

Toronto creators who have used Kickstarter (or other similar crowdfunding platforms) — whether or not the projects reached their goal — are encouraged to attend to share their experiences.

Locals who have considered using Kickstarter in the future can get advance insights, too.

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Test the Impossible: Getting Paid

02/16/2012 7:00 pm

GoPaymentThis month's session will include peeks at the mobile credit card reader GoPayment and a new animation and drawing app for the iPad from zinc Roe called Doodlecast.

A regular presentation of apps, websites, products and services from people who think they have the latest and greatest — and are willing to put it to the test.

The format of each evening will allow for a diverse group of presenters, who will also answer questions from the audience, as part of the Academy of the Impossible’s effort to bring virtual developments into our physical space.

The Rise of Maker Culture

Submitted by jesse on Sat, 01/21/2012 - 13:00

Walkah and Daughter
The emergence of the Academy of the Impossible is not an isolated event, but rather part of the larger rise of “maker culture”.

For example there are already similar spaces in Toronto, in Ontario, in Canada, and around the world.

Test the Impossible: Launch

01/19/2012 7:00 pm

A regular presentation of apps, websites, products and services from people who think they have the latest and greatest — and are willing to put it to the test.

The format of each evening will allow for a diverse group of presenters, who will also answer questions from the audience, as part of the Academy of the Impossible’s effort to bring virtual developments into our physical space.

We welcome advance requests from anyone who would like to show off what they’ve got. The attendees will range from gadget hounds and code ninjas to those who are just starting to explore their way around the world of technology.

To request a presenter slot at Test the Impossible, or for more information, write to: academy@impossible.ws

Facebook page for this event

"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
—Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland

“Be Realistic:
Demand the Impossible"
—political slogan used by
the Situationists in 1968

“Let's set our sights beyond the abominations of today to divine another possible world.”
—Eduardo Galeano

"Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."
- Muhammad Ali