The Observer Embraces the Raspberry Pi
British newspaper The Observer checks out the RaspPi and asks the question: “Will it encourage kids to teach themselves code, or just end up in the hands of nerds?”
young makers
Lego iPad Stand
Jason Devine of Ireland wrote in with another project by his two sons, ages 11 and 9. Last time they built a clenching Lego hand. This time, Jason challenged his kids to make an iPad stand with as few bricks as possible. Check out the boys’ website for more projects.
Hummingbird: “Pre-Arduino” for Kids
Arduino was conceived as an open source microcontroller for artists, designers, and others who aren’t necessarily techie/programmer types. Of course, all sorts of makers have flocked to this technology because of its versatility. But in spite of its relative ease of use, there’s still a barrier to entry for new users. Like kids. For that reason, BirdBrain Technologies’ Hummingbird looks promising. They call it “pre-Arduino.”
Whole Food’s Dark Rye profiles MAKE editor-in-chief Mark Frauenfelder
This summer the folks who produce Dark Rye, the online magazine for Whole Foods Markets, came to my house in Los Angeles, and shot a video profile of my daughters and me working on different projects. We made a guitar out of a metal lunchbox, a skateboard, and soap molded from our toes and fingers.
Nerdy Derby is where it’s at
Crowds are flocking to this year’s latest hit activity, the Nerdy Derby. Brought to you by the students of NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, this no-rules miniature car building area is inspiring a lot of young makers to stop by and make their very own derby car. Cars are then RFID-tagged and sent down the giant […]
Maker Faire New York: Kelvin Doe
Kelvin, AKA DJ Focus, helped create a DIY youth radio station made from discarded consumer electronics salvaged from local garbage bins. He designed his own generator to power the station’s amplifier and other components. The station’s 12-volt generator is made from a home-made battery which in turn is charged by broken DVD players. In his spare time, Kelvin DJs at kids’ birthday parties.
Maker Ed Covered by the NSTA
The National Science Teachers Association posted a great piece on Maker Ed, Spreading ‘Making’ With a Passion: The “maker” movement’s roots are scattered across the country, in garages, basements, and workshops; the seeds sown among spare parts, untried ideas, and experiments—successful and failed. “From a science and technology point of view, [making is] a gateway […]
