Why We All Need to Be Makers

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the Maker Movement, the phenomenon of people who enjoy building things — whether using micro-electronics like Arduino or Raspberry Pi or using more traditional materials (e.g., wood, yarn) — which has taken the world, particularly the U.S., by storm. It’s hard to say for sure what has prompted the meteoric rise of this movement but Maker Faires and “Maker Spaces” are sprouting up everywhere and the Faires are drawing massive crowds.

We’ve demo’d Collaborizm at some Maker Faires (in New York and the Bay Area) and we highly recommend them to not only aspiring makers but to anyone with young, even young adult, children.

You’ll be amazed by the imaginative contraptions makers think of and build, and it is not only great fun but it is also very inspiring.

It’s also an incredibly social event; makers love demonstrating their inventions and even those with geek tendencies will surprise you with their warmth, intelligence and passion.

However, the Maker Movement is not a spectator sport.

It beckons all of us to get involved, to think of something we might be able to design and build, perhaps requiring us to learn some new skills like, perhaps, using Arduino, or for the most tech savvy, learning how to use 3dprinters. With the cost of high quality personal 3dprinters having dropped to prices most people can afford and Arduino and Raspberry Pi electronics costing very little,, there are no more excuses for not attempting to become a maker.

The upside to joining the movement is big. You will not only learn new tech skills but you’ll gain confidence in designing and building, and more importantly, you’ll join a community of passionate people, virtual zealots, who share the enthusiasm for “making stuff.” This community is not only inspired, they love meeting new people with whom to share knowledge and passions. In other words, if you want to network for fun or for your career, there are few communities better than the Maker Community to fulfill this purpose.

Go attend a Maker Faire, follow the hundreds of maker sites on Twitter, and figure out what kind of maker project appeals to you. Once you get involved, you’ll get the bug and will wonder why you waited so long.

Get on Collaborizm today and start making your dreams happen.