I admit it, I’m a Maker Faire slut, I can’t say no to anything Maker Faire.
Before there was hacking there were DYI hobbyists. And hobbyists made things. They didn’t hack. Those involved in making electronics, computers or other electrical devices Radio Shack was their home of homes. Before the Internet, before, microprocessors, hobbyists, build and shared information on their hobbyist creations at the local Radio Shack or hobbyist clubs. Like the Home Brew Club where the two Steves met and in later years formed Apple. Today the Internet buy parts and to find locals with similar interests.
As they say we live in interesting times. Which really means turbulent, not boring times. The world is getting bigger, faster, and for Americans it’s changing in both good and not so good ways. One of the good ways is that Americans are taking more responsibility. One way is by DYI, do it yourself, taking responsibility for finding solutions. It DYI as education. As Thomas Edison said, “You never fail you just learn what doesn’t work.
The closest I’ve ever come to attending Burning Man is attending Maker Faire. I don’t like deserts and I don’t like what Burning Man has become. Why is it that some of those attending have to define their attendance by their ability to separate themselves from those with not as much money. The 1% of Burning Man is totally aghast of the Burning Man experience. It’s not Burning Man, it’s the self professed Techno Elite playing Marie Antoinette when she dressed up and played peasant. There would be poetic justice should the Burning Man revolution start with the 99% expressing their dissatisfaction with the !% Burning Man. They will disrupt them.
Back to Marker Faire. For those of you missing Burning Man last year at Maker Faire there was a large robot spewing mouth flame while moving its assorted body parts.
Maker Faire is a lot of things. It’s a snapshot of American creativity of technology of and for all ages. It’s your wonderment of what’s possible and it’s the face of the creator success. The younger the better. All the makers are taking responsibility of creativity of their imagination. Isn’t life wonderful. And in these days of lack of leadership of American schools, institutions, education, government, etc. It’s great that there are more Makers making stuff and figuring it out because they want to, they want to win, they want to find answers. And isn’t that what life is all about.
Just go, bring your kids, bring your parents. Humans repeat the same behavior. I would like to hear your multi generation stories of creativity.
I’m not going to tell you what you will see. I will tell you to expect surprise. Expect reactions which will bring a smile to your face. Follow the crowds. Ever if you don’t know or don’t thing you don’t yet have an interest in what the crowd is viewing give it a few minutes. You will share with your significant other, your children, extra points if you bring your parents. Download the app. There is much to do and you can’t see everything.
Maker Faire is really another form of media. It’s the media of imagination. It’s the media of responsible DYI imagination. That’s a Maker.
For those of you in NYC area next weekend is Maker Faire in Queens, NY.
Im sharing this today to give everyone a little more notice to wrangle the family to go. Its very cool way to see whats child friendly and accepted in the STEM world.
Maker Faire Program Guide HERE
Heres some Press Releases:
– Sept 14: “Maker Week” Returns to New York City Ahead of World Maker Faire New York 2016
– Sept 7: Bioengineering, Making for Good, and Education Top the Program Lineup at World Maker Faire New York 2016, October 1 & 2
– June 28: World Maker Faire New York Returns With Exciting Program of Makers & Speakers to the New York Hall of Science for 7th Annual Faire on October 1 & 2, 2016
Here’s more
All Makers can be found on the Maker Faire web site at http://makerfaire.com/new-york-2016/meet-the-makers. Highlights of World Maker Faire New York 2016 include:
Maker Health Tent – Showcasing hospital makerspaces, hacker nurses, Arduinos in clinics, innovative prosthetics, and more, this area will demonstrate how the Maker mindset is making big changes in the healthcare space. Lego Medical Models, 3D Print for Health, and Atlas Arm are just a few of the exciting Makers in this area who will be spotlighting advancements in the healthcare industry.
Sustainability Area – Attendees can take in the latest on green technologies and innovations around making our world more sustainable. Makers such as Green Bronx Machine, Home Scale Biodiesel Production, CitizenSpring, and Food for All will be on hand, with others, to share their projects and visions.
Maker Pro – Learn from companies that have taken their projects from idea to market. Makers include Kickstarter’s “New Age of Digital Fabrication” Pop-Up with start-ups like Wazer, Kniterate, and others.
Young Makers – This area will highlight innovative and inspiring projects all created by Makers under the age of 18. RoboFun, LockBox, and http://makerfaire.com/maker/entry/58160/ are just a few of the Young Makers who will be delighting attendees with the incredible level of ingenuity and creativity that will be on display in this special area.
3D Printing Village – Filled with the latest on additive manufacturing, the 3D Printing Village is the place to be to get started as well as build on current skills, tools, products, and more. We The Builders, The Maker Economy, and Proto-Sauce are just a few of the many Makers that will be available to engage with attendees about 3D printing.
Attractions include:
Coke Zero & Mentos Fountains – Created and orchestrated by Eepybird, this live science experiment creates Bellagio-esque fountains of soda with Coke Zero and Mentos mint candies. It’s awe-inspiring. Doing two shows at the Unisphere open to the community at 5:30 SAT & SUN
Power Racing Series – Watch adorned and decorated kid-sized electric vehicles race their way around the track to compete for the win and celebrate engineering, technology, diversity, and above all, imagination. Get in on the game by signing up to participate with your own “vehicle!”
Cirque Amongus – Party bikes for lots of people, dicycles, bikes with recumbent swings, and more! Attendees can ride around the Faire in these magnificent creations or work with Cirque Amongus instructors to learn a few circus skills.
Aerial Sports League Drone Sports World – “The Nascar of Flying Robots,” this arena makes drones the spotlight attraction. It’s dedicated to drone racing and education for the drone enthusiast and tinkerer.
A lot of great speakers including:
Grant Imahara will be speaking at 11AM on Sat
And Massimo Banzi is speaking at 1:30 on Sat
Dale Dougherty Maker Faire CoFounder has a new book he will be speaking about called “Free to Make” SAT at 12:30
All of the World Maker Faire New York 2016 presentations, speakers, stages, and schedules can be found here: http://makerfaire.com/new-york-2016/schedule. Highlights of the program include:
Bioengineering – This area shines the spotlight on new and bleeding edge technologies in the realm of neuroscience, DIY bio, bio security, tissue engineering, and more. A fascinating look at what the future holds.
* “Panel: Making & the DIY Bio Frontier” including Christal Gordon, professor, engineer, and neuroscience consultant; Ellen Jorgenson, molecular biologist, and co-founder and executive director of Genspace, New York’s DIYbio Makerspace; Erika Milczek, co-founder of Agem Solutions, Inc.; and Karen Ingram, creative director and artist using her skill set to promote scientific awareness.
* “Panel: The Accessible Future of Neuroscience” with Melanie Segado, co-founder and science director of NeuroTechX; Conor Russomanno, co-founder and CEO of OpenBCI; Joe Burdo, lead educator and co-founder of NeuroTinker; and AJ Keller, founder of Push The World (PTW), a NYC based neurotech startup.
* “Surgical 3D Printing and Tissue Engineering” with Dr. Lee P. Smith, chief of the division of pediatric otolaryngology at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY.
Making for Good – Examples of how the Maker mindset and culture coupled with technology are making effective and meaningful change with tools and solutions inside refugee camps, with disaster relief response and efforts, in developing countries, and often closer to home in inner cities where smart solutions are needed.
* “Panel: Making for Good – An International Perspective” including Sam Bloch, founder of Communitere; and Rich Lehrer from the Enable Community Foundation.
* “Green Bronx Machine Pop-up Farm” with Stephen Ritz, an award winning teacher from the South Bronx and founder of Green Bronx Machine.
Maker Ingenuity – Whether it’s a new Maker or someone who needs to have their spark (or project!) reignited, these presentations give people a jumpstart with updates, how-to’s, new thinking, enlightenment, and more.
* “The MacGyver Secret” with Lee Zlotoff, creator of MacGyver and author of The MacGyver Secret: Connect to Your Inner MacGyver to Solve Anything.
* “The Shifting Landscape of Technology” with Zach Supalla, CEO, Particle.
* “Making Things Talk” with author Tom Igoe, co-founder of the Arduino Project and a professor at NYU’s ITP.
Making in Education – Leaders in Maker curriculum and hands-on learning will share the latest strategies for making in the classroom, from kindergartners to grad school.
* “Models for Launching a High School Makerspace” with select winners of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Makeover Challenge who planned, designed, and created Makerspaces at their high schools.
* “Makerspaces in Your School, Community, Garage, & Beyond” with Adam Kemp, Make:author and technology and engineering professor with Applied Engineering and Computer Science at the Princeton International School of Mathematics & Science.
The real surprise is the surprise of who you will meet. Trust me, Maker Faire will become a part of your NYC Fall schedule. BTW there are Maker Faires worldwide.
World Maker Faire New York 2016
October 1 & 2—New York Hall of Science, Queens, NY
Saturday, October 1 10am – 6pm
Sunday, October 2 10am – 6pm
http://makerfaire.com/new-york