Makers

Full video of William Kamkwamba speaking at MIT

A few months ago, William Kamkwamba spoke at MIT as he wrapped up a speaking tour of the US with coauthor Bryan Mealer. This video is the whole evening’s presentation, and includes the introductions and question/answer session afterward. William starts at around 11 minutes.
The talk was sponsored by MIT’s Technology and Culture series and he was introduced by Amy Smith of D-Lab. There is a brief segment in the evening on Moving Windmills, a documentary film about William and his story.

Continue Reading Chris Connors
Life-size Operation game tournament

Life-size Operation game tournament

On Saturday, December 19, The Franklin Institute and Body World 2 will be hosting an Operationร‚ยฎ game tournament. Body World 2 teamed up with our pals at MakePhilly and Hive76 to create a life-size ‘Ben Franklin’ version of Hasbro’s popular game Operation. Quoth the PR: Competitors will play on regulation-size Operation boards during the preliminary […]

Continue Reading Gareth Branwyn
Life-size boat model kit sprue

Life-size boat model kit sprue

Swedish artist Michael Johansson made this life-size dinghy “model kit” from a real boat and related equipment. The pieces of “TOYS’R’US,” as it’s called, are fastened together by a welded tubular frame and painted a uniform gray. Michael has done several of these 1:1 “model” kits made from life-size original objects. [via Dude Craft]

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan18

2-axis printable shaftless linear actuator

I have written before about Thingiverse user fdavies’ ongoing project to produce a 3D-printer that requires no precision-ground shafting or bearings using printable hinged actuators based on the Sarrus linkage (Wikipedia). Why would you want to do that? Well, because precision shafting and bearings are currently beyond the abilities of most 3D printers, and if you can build the printer itself using printable substitutes for them, then you’re that much closer to a truly self-replicating home fab system. Keep it up, man!

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan15
Tactical assault carriages for babies

Tactical assault carriages for babies

I recall late great UT-Austin Philosophy professor Robert Solomon once saying in lecture, “We’re lucky babies are so helpless, because if they had any power at all they would destroy the world.” Well, Chinese artist Shi Jinsong is apparently trying to immanentize that particular eschaton by arming the world’s infants with engines of destruction worthy of a Space Marine Terminator. Way to go, dude. [via Dude Craft]

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan2