Celebratinig hands-on innovation

The Maker Faire is coming this week to the New York Hall of Science in Queens, New York. The family-friendly festival attracts thousands of visitors in events across the country, and brings together people who are enthusiastic about creating 'stuff' with technology. It promotes hand-on, grass roots innovation in a spirit of fun and collaboration.  Projects range from the serious (e.g., robots, tools) to ridiculous (e.g., computer-controlled singing fish choir).

I'm looking forward to bringing my children, and seeing what captures their imagination.  I also love the idea of people pouring their personal time and creative energy into projects they're passionate about. There may not be a practical goal in mind from the outset, but the out-of-the-box thinking just might lead to the next big discovery.

Dale Dougherty, editor and publisher of MAKE magazine, talks below about the how the festival evolved. This presentation was made to the Kaufman Foundation for entrepreneurship.




See also:
Punkin Chunkin (www.punkinchunkin.com)- Its a bizarre, pointless, and funny annual event, but it draws 20,000 people and has an oddly addictive show on the Science Channel. (Could I really be thinking of going to see this in person?)  People build enormous catapults to see who can chuck a pumpkin the furthest distance.