I would like to very strongly recommend you give a look at Make Magazine (http://makezine.com/).
I have a friend who’s into Maker culture. He also is the reason I now lust for a 3D printer, and he got me to go to Maker Faire (http://makerfaire.com/). One of my interests now is to examine the connections and possible connections between geek and maker culture.
In that spirit, trust me, go buy a copy of this and take a look at it and see if it’s you.
Essentially it’s a collection of projects, reviews, and interesting stories by Makers doing what they do – making, repairing, and molding stuff at home. It’s science, imagination, engineering, cooking, and double-reverse Mythbusters fused together in what is essentially a publication of applied home mad science. Decorative LEDs, books on fermentation, furniture from PVC, it’s all there.
Why you should check it out?
- Well it’s pretty cool.
- It’s pure geek culture, even if Maker culture is both geeky and it’s own distinct thing.
- There are a lot of things you probably have not heard about that you bloody well should as a geek. Programmers should know about systems like the Arduino. Cosplayers can find amazing tools and gizmos. Science geeks will just pass out with pleasure.
- It’a an examination of an evolving culture – finding out about the Makers has taught me a lot about an evolving “literati” culture.
- It’s a way to understand how people leverage and spread knowledge, and modern knowledge. Just notice how a guy can make a toy with his understanding 3D modeling and a 3D printer, upload it to a site, then everyone can make it. Now multiply that . . .
Now my “make” is books and cooking, not Quadracopters or coffee makers that turn on via the internet. But it’s still valuable for me (and exposes me to a lot of fascinating tech). Give it a shot.
And, yes, I plan to explore Geek/Maker/Career intersections more. You’ve been warned.
Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/