Why Danbury Needs a Hackerspace By Mike Kaltschnee Hackerspaces, also known as makerspaces, are places where people can get together to learn, make things, and share information. Every hackerspace is unique, but many have a wood shop, metal shop, electronics labs, and a community table where people work together. Hackerspaces are typically setup as a co-op where the members share the cost of rent, heat, electricity, insurance and other expenses. A lot of the equipment is scrounged, fixed or purchased. There are more than a hundred around the world (even libraries are adding hackerspaces), and you can find a list of them a http://hackerspaces.org. There are video tours of hackerspaces on http://hackaday.com/category/hackerspaces/. Hackers, a term maligned by the press, are people who like to understand how things work and build things, and "crackers" are the guys who try to steal credit card numbers. Hackerspaces are part of the "Maker" movement, where people are trying to get back to our manufacturing roots. We have a strong history in the U.S. of hackers: Franklin, Tesla, Edison, Ford and Wozniak are just a few famous hackers. The Danbury School System even has a program for middle school students focused on science, technology, engineering & math (STEM). The maker movement has been developing momentum, with shows like Mythbusters (their workshop is an incredible makerspace), Make Magazine, Wired Magazine, and the Geek Dad & Geek Mom websites. Sites like Kickstarter.com enable people to propose a product, get funding and give backers updates on the development process. A recent Kickstarter watch project raised more than $10 million in advance of production. Quirky.com lets anyone propose a product or enhancements, and then distributes the product at Bed Bath & Beyond. Even Radio Shack is getting back to its roots and is selling Arduino processors and electronics kits again. What do people do at a hackerspace? Some people work on projects and use the metal shop, wood shop, or electronics lab to create things, and others use the 3D printer (example: http://makerbot.com), laser cutter or other equipment that they might not otherwise have access to at home. Most makerspaces offer classes on how to use the equipment, learn to solder, build electronics projects, and much more. Crafts are another popular activity, and I've seen sewing machines, pottery wheels, and other craft supplies at hackerspaces. The site http://Instructables.com has a lot of fun projects for both kids and adults to try. There are several hackerspaces already established in the area, and many have open house events where anyone can visit for free. CT Hackerspace has more than 4,000 square feet in Watertown, and the members are building a 3D printer, CNC router, chain mail armor, electronics, and more. Resistor, in Brooklyn, was one of the first in the USA and was the birthplace of the Makerbot 3D printer, a company that now employs more than 130 people. Nesit.org in Meriden is more focused on electronics and computer security, runs free computer repair events and even held a technical conference last summer. AS220 Labs in Providence is part of an artist community, and is located next to an old-fashioned type setting shop. Why should DACS get involved? Despite the "Danbury Area Computer Society" name, a hackerspace could expand the type of people interested in the group, bring in new members, be another site for SIG meetings, and get some press coverage for the group (CT Hackerspace was featured on a recent TV show). At the last DACS meeting a large number of members showed interest in a Hackerspace when quickly polled during the meeting. There will be a hackerspace in Danbury, and I feel strongly that DACS should be involved. If you're interested in getting involved in the Danbury Hackerspace project visit DanburyHackerspace.com and sign up for the email list. The second planning meeting will be held on June 4th at 7pm at the DACS Resource Center. You can also follow our progress on Twitter (@DanburyHackers) or Facebook (https://facebook.com/DanburyHackerspace).
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