Tech Industry

A magical Maker Faire

By // July 18, 2006, 8:41 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • 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.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

  • A little girl prepares to throw her paper airplane.

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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

    Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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.

Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...