# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion (July 13, 2014)

• Users discussed DIY hardware options for projects, with MakerSlide suggested as an alternative to 80/20 t-slot aluminum extrusion materials.

• A technical conversation about PDF metadata extraction revealed that only about 33% of tested PDFs contained readable title metadata, with participants sharing code snippets and testing GitHub's CrossRef/pdfextract tool.

• A scientific paper on imidazole-based small molecules promoting neurogenesis in pluripotent cells was shared, demonstrating the channel's focus on cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine.

• The channel featured critical discussion about DIYbio communities, with arguments against the institutionalization of these groups and suggestions that simple email lists are more effective than formal organizational structures.

• Participants shared resources for newcomers interested in transhumanism and DIYbio, including a comprehensive wiki of DIYbio groups at diyhpl.us/wiki/diybio/groups/ and references to the DIYbio Google Group.

• Emerging autonomous drone technology was discussed, specifically the AirDog and Hexo autonomous aerial cameras, along with practical limitations like battery life for quadcopters and potential solutions.

• The channel demonstrated the use of "paperbot," a tool for retrieving scientific papers through alternative access methods when users post academic paper URLs, highlighting the community's focus on open access to research.