Maker Faire Bay Area 2015

Last weekend I was in San Mateo for the Bay Area Maker Faire, an exhibition emphasizing the intersection of art, play & technology.

I was there helping out Chris Jefferies, who is a friend & an advanced hobbyist. At his booth he demonstrated how to build sensor networks suitable for home automation.

The faire has also become a fashion-forward consumer trade show, with lots of small vendors & startups offering productized versions of many of the technologies on display.

The fairgrounds were packed both days, & the lines were so long at the food stalls that we gave up trying to buy lunch during the midday hours.

The event attracts affluent families, & there are lots of activities for kids.

I was enamored with the Steampunk village, set up like a gypsy camp in a corner of the fairgrounds.

I always enjoy the fanciful Burning Man vehicles. They seem to belong to another world.

My favorite object at the faire was this magnificent orrery, showing the planets revolving around a sun spouting real flames.

When I arrived on Saturday morning, not all the planets were rotating correctly, so Neo had to climb a ladder & give them a push to get them going.

I've been at Mr. Jefferies's booth for most of the years he's been exhibiting, & I've clearly backed the right horse, because on Sunday he was awarded an Editor's Choice ribbon. His ability to explain technical concepts to attendees was cited particularly.

§ Maker Faire Bay Area 2015
Saturday May 16th   10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 17th   10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
San Mateo County Event Center