The term maker has been used a lot in the media these days, but not everyone can truly grasp the meaning of the word. Broadly speaking, maker can be a movement, a culture, and people that have passion and enjoy learning and making things with their own hands. A Painter is a maker. An inventor is a maker. A programmer, a designer can all be defined as maker.
Maker Faire 2007
Photo courtesy: wikimedia. Apr. 1, 2016 Retrieved from http://bit.do/bViNi
Makers have contributed much to solving problems and driving us forward. They make technological progress, breed new industries, and improve the way we live, like early inventors-James Watt and Tesla and information technology pioneers-Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. The former brings industrial revolution and the latter devotes themselves to prospering the information technology.
To solve problems, modern makers would build their inventions from ideas to completion with their own hands and passion. However, their works can be done faster with the assistance of modern technology. If you are interested in being a maker to make your own stuffs, but have no idea of what to do. A story below may inspire you how to be a maker:
If James Watt lives in modern times, he would not have to spend 13 years to make his first steam machine. At present, he can check the issue of Newcomen steam engine online and discuss the problems of fuel consumption and piston rotation time in the online community, and then sketches his blueprint with open source software. Once the blueprint is finished, he can go to the nearest maker space and build his prototype. Meanwhile,he can examine the others’ works and maybe receive suggestions from the other makers. When his prototype is done, he can post some pics of his work on social media to share his idea. Some experts or makers may modify his work and give him feedback. In the end, once he needs funds to build his machine, his can put information on Kickstarter to ask for support. With this process,it may only take him 6-12 months to create his first steam machine. (Paragraph 1, http://bit.ly/2367dOv)
Maker space
Photo courtesy: Mitch Altman. Apr. 1, 2016 Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/maltman23/6954963007
In the story, makers around the world can interact with each other, give advices, and solve problems altogether via online community. With the open source hardware and software, makers can build customized, small-volume, and large-variety production prototypes with low cost. “Maker spaces” are communities where makers can build prototypes, share their DIY process, search for inspiration, and connect with fellow makers. Moreover, some of the maker spaces provide basic courses to help makers. There are even fundraising platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo that support makers for quick funding and bring new products to the market.
3D Printing
Photo courtesy: CSM Library. Apr. 1, 2016 Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/collegeofsanmateolibrary/15373589050
Invention and creativity are in our DNA. Thanks to modern technology, creating things are a lot easier than they’ve ever been. Let’s start to make something that can change and benefit the world.
Reference: http://www.bnext.com.tw/article/view/id/36387