Source: Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers
You’re reading our weekly Maker Pro Newsletter, which focuses on the impact of makers in business and technology. Our coverage includes hardware startups, new products, incubators, and innovators, along with technology and market trends. Subscribe today and never miss a post.
“A robot is one of the hardest pieces of tech to get out the door.” –Robotics Entrepreneur Gui Cavalcanti
Scooter Madness
They’re already old news on the West Coast, but electric scooters like Bird (@BirdRide) and Lime (@limebike), which you can rent on the street with a smartphone, are landing in cities across the country this month, from Boston and Austin to Chicago and Washington, DC.
On one hand, the scooters are a testament to the democratization of hardware. Under the hood, the devices are patched together with a hackable Particle Electron (@particle) board, a hefty battery and other off-the-shelf parts. And the scooters, which can zip at a clip of 15 miles-per-hour, build local ecosystems of subcontractors — often entrepreneurial teens — who are paid by the companies to gather the scooters at night and charge them.
On the other, residents have balked at the way the scooters contribute to sidewalk congestion — and injuries have spiked. In Massachusetts, the scooter companies didn’t even tell city officials before rolling out in their municipalities.
The takeaway: it’s easier than ever to bring an idea from concept to viable venture — but consider your new gadget’s unintended consequences for users and their communities early and often.
Make: contributor Joel Leonard (@SkillTV) suggests a way for makerspaces to connect with their local communities, build connections between the business and hacker sectors, and explore sponsorship partners: host a job fair for regional businesses.
“Learn how candidates can succeed at securing opportunities,” Leonard wrote. “Modify for your target industry segment. Discover what jobs are in high demand in your area. Focus on attracting candidates that fill those needs.”
Leonard’s…
The post Maker Pro News: Why Your Makerspace Should Host a Job Fair appeared first on FeedBox.