American Maker Debuts in Chicago
A "Show-and-Tell" Program to Showcase Grassroots Innovation
September 20th, 2008
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
Make Magazine has portrayed the work of thousands of makers across America. Now we're looking to discover the most innovative makers whose work has the potential to benefit others. We've created a new event called American Maker that will debut September 20th at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago as part of the launch of Science Chicago, a year-long celebration of science.
Organized by the editors of MAKE magazine and the producers of Maker Faire, American Maker is a live, day-long program that highlights grassroots innovation in local communities around the country.
Mister Jalopy, a contributing editor for MAKE magazine, will host the program.
We will have three panelists interviewing makers:
- Colleen Ludwig, Artist and Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Marc de Vinck, Product Designer and MAKE blogger
- Dale Dougherty, MAKE, Editor and Publisher
Our panelists will choose their favorite American Maker in Chicago, and this maker will receive a $500 prize along with publication in an upcoming issue of Make magazine.
| 10:00 AM | Silkscreened pancakes - Robotics Redefined Inc.Robotics Redefined Inc.Pancakes are great, but personalized pancakes are the future of breakfast technology. |
| GROUP ONE | |
| 10:45 AM | Pico-ITX Johnny 5 - Andrew AlterAndrew AlterThe Pico-ITX Johnny 5 is a solid example of how shrinking personal computer technology can be applied to robotics. It is advanced, using 17 servos, 2 DC motors, a 1ghz Pico-ITX cpu-motherboard that runs Windows XP. |
| 11:00 AM | Ferrofluid Magnetoscope - Michael FlynnMichael FlynnA glossy black puddle of magnetic liquid gathers into beautiful organic shapes when kids cooperatively adjust the positions of two super-strong magnets. The top magnet is illuminated in red and the bottom in blue as they move toward the puddle via hand-cranked mechanisms. |
| 11:15 AM | Bloxes - Scott RobbinScott RobbinBloxes are building blocks made of interlocking pieces of corrugated cardboard, folded together. Their unique shape and structure make them exceptionally strong and lightweight -- you could build yourself a platform to stand on, and then pick it up and move it wherever you need to. |
| 11:30 AM | Alchymical Analyser - Brett BaloghBrett BaloghThe Alchymical Analyser is a relay-relay logic implementation of a finite state machine that models the Aristotelian alchemical system. The tactile, visual and aural components of using the machine make sensuous the oft-mysterious calculations that take place behind the scenes of our daily life. |
| 11:45 AM | BAGIZZLES - Gregory DiazGregory DiazBAGIZZLES are handcrafted copper wire figures that are fully posable. Embellished with jewels or together with miniature artifacts, BAGIZZLES appeal to people of all ages. Children love to enter a world of miniatures, while adults marvel at the skill, patience and creativity it takes to make just one figurine. |
| 12:00 PM | Canvas 219 - Benjamin Carney, Cassandra JacksonBenjamin Carney, Cassandra JacksonA viewer walks in front of the installation, which retrieves and sends data of their position. This data is used to generate sound by adjusting a sound file according to the viewer’s speed and direction. The body becomes an audio scrubber, manipulating sound as it walks through the space. |
| 12:15 PM | Portable Work Shop - Mark KastigarMark KastigarA portable work bench complete with band saw, drill press, vises and tools needed to complete almost any project in the field. It has a first aid kit and speakers. It was hand built to suit the needs of working in remote locations. This bench is a real "Head Turner" at every job site! |
| Special Presentations | |
| 12:30 PM | American Made: From the Collections of MSI - Museum of Science and IndustryMuseum of Science and IndustryKathleen McCarthy, Director of the Collections at MSI, will present a number of different objects from the vast collections of the museum. |
| 1:00 PM | Inventables - Zach Kaplan, Kyle Roberts, Mary LucasZach Kaplan, Kyle Roberts, Mary LucasInventables helps companies innovate. Our mission is to build a living showcase of what's possible to deliver inspiration and innovation to the dreamers of the world. We do this by making sourcing and selling materials and technologies easy. |
| Group Two | |
| 1:30 PM | Airheads Air Drums - John FolaronJohn FolaronAirheads allows anyone to create music by simply playing the air. This touchless gizmo has two sensors sticks that are placed 2 ft. apart. The sensor sticks act as a hands free Midi controller and are able to sense both position and velocity. A player’s hands are able to generate different notes and different velocities that have been preselected from any type of drum trigger MIDI and synth. Make music with this compact air instrument. |
| 1:45 PM | Tenuis - Gerard OnyszkoGerard OnyszkoThe project is a floor lamp for home use. The light source is provided by led's. Since led's are used, very little to no heat is emitted and the lamp will not burn you if it is touched. No incandescent bulbs are used so very little power is consumed and no glass can be broken if the lamp falls over. The lamp is also dimmable. The actual body of the lamp is made of extruded aluminum which can be painted to any color. The main objective of the design was to create a lamp that would be thin and not noticible when placed in a corner or against a wall. |
| 2:00 PM | Human-powered Submarines - Bruce PlazykBruce PlazykFaux Fish swims like a fish. It was entered in the 7th and 8th International Submarine Races held in Bethesda, Maryland in 2003 and 2005. Bogus Batoid is a human -powered submarine modeled after a manta ray that moves thru the water by flapping its wings. |
| 2:15 PM | Wireless Digital Racetrack Lap Timer - Edward WrightEdward WrightI am a member of the Chicago Area Robotics Club and we hold semi-annual robotics competitions. I built this lap timer for the racing competitions. |
| 2:30 PM | DIY laser cutter - Robotics Redefined Inc.Robotics Redefined Inc.A laser cutter made from two scanners and a DVD-R diode. Computer automation made simple. |
| 2:45 PM | Where's The Party At? - Todd BaileyTodd BaileyWTPA is an open source 8-bit digital sampler kit, designed to be hacker and bender friendly. Inspired by the preponderance of wack samplers proliferating in music today, WTPA brings back the fun, the danger, and the aliasing errors. |
| 3:00 PM | Das Kraftwerkkleid - Corinna CuetoCorinna CuetoA prototype for a dress made of electroluminescent wire that lights up in reaction to sound. It is based on the idea to wear at a Kraftwerk concert in which the band's glowing wire frame outfits are the inspiration. |
| Finale | |
| 3:15 PM | The Maker Movement - Mister JalopyMister JalopyMister Jalopy will talk about makers and the role that they play in grassroots innovation. He will then present the winner of American Maker Chicago. |
NOTE: American Maker will take place as part of LabFest, which is the kickoff of Science Chicago on September 20th. The hours of LabFest are 9:30am to 4:00pm. Admission to the museum is free.
Upcoming:
Maker Faire Austin: Oct. 18th and 19th, 2008, Austin, TX
