X

A magical Maker Faire

Maker Faire, a weekend do-it-yourself-o-rama, attracts hundreds of exhibitors to San Mateo Fairgrounds.
By Bill Detwiler, Contributor
15370.jpg
1 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Wozniak polo

The Maker Faire, which took place in San Mateo, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday, was a smorgasbord of geek fare. Here, Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak and fellow enthusiasts play the relatively new sport of Segway polo.

15371.jpg
2 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Segway polo

For more than two years, Segway owners have been playing polo on their gyro-stabilized, two-wheel transporters. Here, players take each other on at the Maker Faire.

15372.jpg
3 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Crucible

The Crucible, a Berkeley, Calif.-based fire-and-metal arts organization, brought its Educational Response Vehicle to the Maker Faire. The "fire truck" repeatedly spewed giant fireballs.

15373.jpg
4 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Rave 'Raff Tall

Lindsay Lawlor brought his robotic giraffe, the Rave 'Raff, to the Maker Faire. Lawlor is pointing to the Rave 'Raff and wearing the giraffe-theme shirt.

15374.jpg
5 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Rave 'Raff kneeling

The Rave 'Raff comes complete with a sound system and a ton of LED effects. Here, the giraffe kneels down low for Lawlor to show off.

15375.jpg
6 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Ripping apart computers

One of the biggest attractions for kids at the Maker Faire is a room filled with computers brought especially for ripping apart.

15376.jpg
7 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Robot Fencing

Far in the back of the Maker Fair's main hall, attendees could find two robots programmed to fence.

15377.jpg
8 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Little girl and 'Simon'

A little girl plays on Alec Bennett's "Trampoline Simon."

15378.jpg
9 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Animation

A family works at Thomas Zimmerman's "Z's Stop-Frame Animation" table.

15379.jpg
10 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

8-ball

A giant 8 ball floated over the entrance to the Maker Faire.

15380.jpg
11 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Tim Robinson calculator

Retired computer engineer Tim Robinson shows off his "Difference Engine," a mechanical calculator based on Charles Babbidge's 1848 design.

15381.jpg
12 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Little boy and paper airplane

One of the most popular demonstrations at Maker Faire taught people how to make highly effective paper airplanes. Here, a boy prepares to throw two creations at the Maker Faire.

15382.jpg
13 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Little girl and paper airplane

A little girl prepares to throw her paper airplane.

15383.jpg
14 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Bubbles

Tom Noddy shows how two bubbles, one filled with smoke, can merge.

15384.jpg
15 of 15 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Bubbles too

Perhaps the best-attended presentation at Maker Faire is Tom Noddy's exhibition of how to make incredible soap bubbles.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos