Why do we need makerspaces

So many great ideas have been realized in makerspaces. Some ideas have improved the life of one person, others have changed the world. Here are a couple of stories. Please add your own.

Square

A mobile payment device and app that revolutionized the transfer of money for merchants and private persons. The first prototype device was created on an injection molding machine at a makerspace. Square

Oru Kayak

High performance, folding kayaks for all types of paddlers. Oru kayaks are easy to transport and store, letting you explore like never before. Many prototypes were created at a makerspace. Oru Kayak

Embrace Innovations

An India based social enterprise that develops disruptive healthcare technologies focused on reducing infant and maternal deaths in emerging markets. The team developed a blanket that is used to keep premature infants warm for several hours while they are transported to a facility with an infant incubator. The team developed prototypes in a makerspace and the chance interaction with another maker member led to the selection of a high performance polymer to fill the blanket. Embrace Innovations

As told to me by Raffi Colett:

Some Stanford students had taken a social good class. They identified a serious need. When a baby is born prematurely they need to get to an incubator quickly. In rural areas, especially in undeveloped countries, the nearest incubator can be hours away. These students developed a concept to create a blanket filled with some heat holding material that could be wrapped around a premature infant while it was transported to an incubator.

These students were working at TSMP to develop a prototype. They were puzzled over what would be the best material to use. It just happened that a polymer engineer was working on his own project at TSMP and overheard their conversation. He offered his expertise on the correct material to use. It worked.

The Embrace blanket is now used in rural India to save lives.

Stanford project page

Fit3D

A body fat measurement and fitness assessment system using a whole body 3D scanner. The scan allows body shape measurement and visualization. Developed in a makerspace.

An athlete could take a series of scans over time to see improvement in targeted areas. One could even compare their body shape to that of an idealized version of a person in their sport.

The prototype was done at TSMP when it was in San Carlos. Jim Schrempp remembers Raffie Collet and his wife were both scanned one day. Fit3D

Boosted Boards

An electric longboard for commuters. Revolutionizing the personal transportation sector. Developed in a makerspace. Boosted Boards

Lumio

A desk light in a book. Lumio

Dodo Case

A novel bamboo case for the iPad. President Obama had one. Dodo Case

Has Bags

Handmade bags of unique design. Often with laser cut panels. Used to develop and produce her products at a makerspace. Has Bags

Robbie Cuthbert Furniture

Robbie was an active maker at a local makerspace. His beautiful wooden furniture inspired many people. Robby Cuthbert