Reflections on the MAKER Faire
Last Sunday, my Dad & I went to the first MAKER Faire, which was held at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. The location was really convenient, as it was took just a short drive from Oakland over the San Mateo to get to the event. There was a really good turn-out, and a broad range of displays. Some were interesting, others I could have done without.
One of the highlights was seeing the cast of the television-show "Myth Busters". Adam, a.k.a. "The Orange Guy" (Natalie's doing), was present. He is actually an acquaintance of Natalie's sister, Jill, which I find very amusing. I'm a big fan of the show, and think it reflects the creativity and ingenuity in the San Francisco Bay Area. I don't think the show's cast did much except pose for photos and participate in Segway Polo. My Dad and I found the polo event a bit obnoxious, as there were two people participating in the game who compete in an actual Seqway Polo league. I called it "a sport for geeks of privilege."
The display I enjoyed most was the Autonomous Light Air Vehicles (ALAVs). I had seen videos from the designer's website a couple months ago and was really excited by the concept and implementation. At the ALAV booth, the blimps were set free and allowed to roam about the hall. It was a very peaceful and intriguing presentation. I would love to create something similar to this project.
