Mini Maker Faire Draws Those Interested In Hands On Displays
LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - High-tech gadgetry and low-tech displays of fun were available to all interested minds in Longmont this weekend at the first Mini Maker Faire in Boulder County.
Maker Faires have been held at more and more cities across the globe in recent years. Their goal is to entertain and inform the community, and they allow the general public to participate by showing off or selling their wares.
This weekend's festival took place at the Boulder County Fairgrounds and was open to all ages. Some of the things people of could do at the faire included:
- Build a computer
- Learn how a robot works
- Learn how to pick a lock
- Forge coins
- Solder a circuit board that makes music
The goal is for everything at the event is to be hands on, with people learning and making something at various booths.
"The Maker phenomenon is a celebration across the United States -- around the world, really -- of people who make things," said Martha Lanaghen, cofounder of Maker Boulder.
Lanaghen said the trend stems from Make magazine, a do-it-yourself magazine that also sponsors faires around the world.
"This year they're expecting to do over 140 fairs around the globe," Lanaghen told CBS4.
LINK: makerboulder.com
One of the booth showcasing a high-end product this weekend was called Decibullz.
Loveland-based Kyle Kirkpatrick came up with the idea for the product two years ago.
They are earphones that feature a patented plastic mold. The mold softens in hot water and then dries and cools to fit in customers' ears. They only take about 3 minutes to dry.
"I am an elite and Olympic level men's gymnastics coach and I really needed some earphones that would stay in for the activities that I did," he said.
Kirkpatrick said Decibullz are designed to be comfortable and they don't ever fall out of your ear.
"You're left with an earphone that's made just for you," he told CBS4.
Denver is hosting a Maker Faire in May. Boulder County hopes to host another faire in the late summer.
