World Maker Faire: The Evolution of Making

As I walked through the World Maker Faire in Queens, New York, this past weekend, I was struck by how the maker movement seems to be evolving. In past years, 3D printing and drones took center phase at the upshot; this year, although there were still a variety of 3D printers and related techniques on brandish, as well every bit a few drones, they weren't almost as ubiquitous. Instead, a more diverse group of makers presented a little of everything, from robotics, which seemed as large as ever, to items and ideas that reflected a new emphasis on infinite and sustainability. Of course, at that place was the usual selection of unusual projects, which assist give the Maker Faire its unique personality.

Dale Dougherty (above), who founded the Faire and Maker Media, said the goal of the Faire is to "make more makers" and promote "maker civilization" equally opposed to consumer culture. "I want people to accept this in school, similar math," he said.

While the show seemed somewhat less crowded than in past years, it'southward likely about eighty,000 attended over the weekend, which is similar to previous years. Dougherty said this including 600 exhibitors, presenters, and other makers. This was the eighth almanac Maker Faire in Queens; ix years later, the concept has grown from a unmarried event in San Mateo, California, to 212 Faires in 44 countries.

Dougherty said the organizers don't consciously search for a theme for each yr's show; it depends on which makers use to present. He as well observed how the Faire has evolved, and noted the sustainability area and a tiny homes section, more cosplay vendors, and even a fashion show.

Hither are some of the things that caught my eye:

Perhaps the most visible new sit-in was the so-called "Hand of God," essentially a very large robotic hand that users could control by wearing a special glove. As you moved your hand, the robotic paw moved as well. Mostly, this led to kids picking up and dropping junk cars. It really worked equally a robotics sit-in, and was a lot of fun.

Another section included a number of exhibits featuring infinite experiments. This expanse featured organizations that participate in Space Station Explorers, a plan designed to involvement students in science by designing experiments that will exist performed on the International Space Station. These projects are part of CASIS, the Centre for Advocacy of Science in Space, and the people who ran the booth explained that more than 2 million kids have gone through such programs.

Zero Robotics, which produced one of these programs, runs competitions for heart and high schoolers, and I was impressed by the dedication of the teachers and organizers.

A big area was devoted to sustainability, where in that location were a number of "tiny houses" of various kinds, including one that involved converting a school coach into a tiny apartment, called "Apt 84."

One project I was specially impressed by involved using water bottles to build temporary housing to aid in emergency situations, such as storm recovery. Since lots of h2o needs to exist sent to areas recovering from storms and other natural disasters, the idea is to convert plastic water bottles, which often end upwardly as waste, into something useful later on the water is consumed. This ultimately means reshaping the bottles so that they tin can interconnect and be easily assembled into larger shapes that can be turned into shelter.

This idea has been around for a while, but according to Tim Carlson of Friendship Products, the Friendship Bottles weren't produced until last November. Since and so, the civil and environmental engineering and architecture departments at Rensselaer Polytechnic Found have been testing them, looking at how strong they are, and how they might protect people from hot and common cold temperatures. One new idea is to use the water bottles as filling within concrete blocks for more than permanent structures. It's a very interesting concept.

A lot of the displays included products designed for makers, either for producing real products or for teaching basic skills.

Joebotics reuses the tablets that most schools accept to teach students both hardware and software. Using a screen protector and a USB connector, you lot adhere BadgerBoard, a small electronics breadboard, to the tablet, and then follow instructions on the screen to build electronics. You can then utilize Blockly for programming the hardware.

MakerHart had an interesting platform for connecting various devices to create musical instruments.

Wazer had a $7500 desktop waterjet that uses abrasives within h2o to cutting apartment surfaces. This works with harder materials – such every bit steel, aluminum, and stone – and is designed for schools and maker spaces.

I'k interested in the concept of combining a hologram with vocalism recognition to become an animated personal assistant. Sidekicks Co. has such an assistant, with a bit of an attitude, which uses its own voice recognition and natural language processing; while it'southward even so a piece of work in progress, information technology was interesting to see.

Some projects are just for fun, and Tetsuji Katsuda has designed what he called Robot Band ++ with a total of v robots, measuring from xl to 80cm.

CityTech Hackers, a local robotics lodge, presented a multifariousness of projects, including this Robo Queen.

The "I Lug NY" Lego users grouping showed off its Peachy Ball Contraption, which involved unlike users making multiple Lego modules that all interconnected and moved balls effectually and around in a Rube Goldberg fashion.

At that place were lots of radio-controlled robotics, include a giant radio-controlled chicken.

There were too a number of larger, more visible projects.

Dungeon Studios has made a behemothic Skee-Ball machine where you could effort to roll 10-pound bowling bowls up the ramp and into the holes, in what they called SkeeBowling. It's harder than it looks.

Tapigami created a metropolis replica made out of record in the rotunda of the Hall of Science in Queens.

There were too some traditional demonstrations, such as a large Google-sponsored expanse where kids could learn how to solder; while the maker motility may continue to evolve, some skills seem eternal. I noted that the Hall of Scientific discipline Amateur Radio Club was demoing ham radio, and another group had a demo on how to build a kite out of paper and wire. Every year, I run into children for whom these are cool new projects to make.