A LOOK
INSIDE THE MAKER MOVEMENT
You may
or may not have noticed, but there is a pretty strong wave in the direction of
making things. People who enjoy
inventing and building have joined forces with others who like to do the same. Blogs became websites. Advertising--a sign of high
traffic--followed. Thousands, from all over the world, now show off their
things, share their ideas, and how they do it.
A movement was born.
One of
the very first to show interest in this direction was a small community at MIT
in the 50s and 60s. Their eye was toward technology. They called
themselves "hackers." Despite
the rather thorny tag we so often hear about, the name was actually meant to
express themselves as people who have a deep inner drive to create. It has now
grown into a worldwide community called "Hackerspace." Hacking, as
these people now describe it, "is creating something to the best of your
ability, and then sharing it."
From a
mostly geeky beginning, the movement draws a collection of individuals who
apply the model to fit their own interests.
Scientists collaborate with artists.
Practical is blended with beautiful. Sites, such as Instructables, Make
and Craft Magazines, Pinterest, WikiHow, and YouTube, feature thousands of
people's ideas plus tutorials on how they created them. From recipes to homemade cleaning solutions;
how to draw to how to building a catapult; how to sew to how to how to solder,
these sites are enlightening, informative, and awe inspiring.
While
some use bigger ticket items (such as 3D printers), most take special pleasure
in creating things from items found around the house. A drum set, for example, was created using a
heat gun, recycled water bottles, and some aluminum cans. Others have incorporated a few inexpensive
store bought items finding new uses for old things. Still others practice the art of
deconstruction--a way of looking at old things in new ways.
Maker
Faire (with events all over the world) provides the maker community with a
venue. Here, they can present their latest creations. It's an opportunity to
show off products to a community that is very interested in design, features,
and quality. They also learn from the
creations of others. Maker Faire has also been known to work with companies.
Makers help companies to find completely new uses for their products.
To me and
to many others, making things, sharing ideas, and this type of learning is more
than an interesting and fun pastime. To
quote a few in the movement, we see it as a necessity in this new economic
atmosphere because being creative helps us adapt. It is real education that
fills a void. And from our point of view, we think everyone has something to
offer.
