Introducing Minot Makers
December 9, 2011
Minot Makers is basically a group that shares resources to explore and shape the world. The goals are elusive and project types can shift based on the current membership. Most ‘hackerspaces’ are tech friendly and members focus on learning new things, building cool projects, and sharing ideas.
Whoah! a ‘hacker’-space? Are you cyber computer criminals breaking into my accounts?
No we’re not computer criminals. There is a difference between a banker and a bank robber, and there is a difference between a hacker and a malicious cracker.
A Hacker will take something apart and start building, rebuilding, modifying, and creating software or electronic hardware (hardware hacking, modding), either to make it better, faster, to give it added features or to make it do something it was never intended to do.
Steve Jobs & Steve Wosniak were hackers. Bill Gates and Paul Allen were hackers (not so sure about Steve Ballmer though!). Thomas Edison and his rival Nikoli Tesla were hackers as was Benjamin Franklin, and it goes on and on. We’re personally not super interested in trying to redefine the word to ‘hacker’ the public. Many good articles are already written on the topic. Take a look and decide for yourself.
The bottom line is we explore technology to build worlds, not tear them down.
Fine, you’re not computer criminals, but what is a hackerspace?
It’s our shared workspace, laboratory, classroom, factory, and demonstration place… thing. This quick 5 min video does a great job explaining what’s going on with hackerspaces. We’d love to have you join us.
Video via wired.com
Cool! Can I get involved?
Sure! Currently we’re meeting up every week as we get things rolling. At each meeting, we’ll have a demonstration of some technology or idea with a target time of 10 to 15 minutes.
But I’m not good enough as a programmer/hacker/builder/welder/chainsawer/tinkerer/artist/other interest
That’s fine, you don’t need to be the world’s best at something to enjoy doing it. As long as you are interested in experimenting and diving in, you are welcome to join us.
So now what?
Come by our next meeting.
Register an account.
Hop on the IRC channel.
Start building your next project.
Post about your projects and ideas.
We’re looking for great people – interested and interesting people – to join us.
