Dash0812's Blog

I went to Maker Faire in Queens, NY on September 20th. I have to say, it was pretty interesting fair – there was lectures, gift shop, food vendors, and demonstrations all over and all day. When my boyfriend and I got to the fair, there wasn’t that much time to look

around before the first lecture. So when we got to the first lecture, “A history of Hackers” lecturer by Steven Levy. He was a pretty cool guy talking about the history and origin of hackers. His 30 minute presentation was pretty interesting, especially when he mentioned that hackers share information. They can read, edit, and use the program for free. He had mentioned that hackers have ethic. The main points for the hacker ethics are the access, free information, and improvement to quality of life. After the lecture, Mr.

Levy went outside and signed his new up-to-date book, which was originally printed 25 years ago, “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution – 25th Anniversary Edition”

My boyfriend and I walked around the fair, and what caught my eyes were all the opportunities kids could do. One “ride” that was interesting for me to see was that a kid had to ride a bike, and on top there were 4 guitars that moved in circular movements andplayed a chord on the guitar. Just like the lecture, hackers and kids were allowed to use the program for free.

There were other booths that kids were allowed to participate for free, such as riding a bike to produce air through a fan, a big arcade claw machine, and a booth for kids to make plastic guns with plastic pipes. And the ammo used for the guns was small marshmallows.

Another demonstration we saw was the “The LIFE SIZE MOUSETRAP”, which is a re-creation of the board game, Mouse trap.  It was interesting to see because I have played the board game, and it was the exact replicate of the game.  When they started the operation, it was going well….and like the board game, the process never finish in one try.  But it was interesting that it had the audience be part of the operation.

One interesting demonstration that was cool and LOUD was the Jet ponies.  I would download the video, but it’s a big file…but you can see on the video on youtube..and you can hear that it was a very loud and the guys were having fun riding “out of scrap metal and home-brewed jet propulsion” (according to switched.com).  And there was a sign on the fence stating, “Warning: This Ride Will May Kill You.”

Overall, spending the day at the Maker Fair was interesting because I got to see inventions created, demonstration displayed, and just had a fun day at the fair.  My favorite was the Mousetraps – a real life size board game – and my boyfriend has to be the jet ponies.  But one thing I was very happy about – the WEATHER – it wasn’t HOT or rain (which was predicted to rain on Sunday)!!!