‘Maker’ stands for those who make what they want. They create, share, cooperate, and integrate knowledge regarding what to make and how to make based on internet open sources. They also advance goods development and manufacturing, as well as address all those who participate in making.
Makerspace stands for manufacturing space where ‘superintelligence’ such as governance, IoT (internet of things), and3D printer and ‘super connection’ are merged.
Makerspace, which resulted as an effort by the government for creating a platform for citizens to blossom their ideas, assists education, mentor, high price equipment for producing good ideas and creating a trial product(prototype). To raise funds for prototypes of high quality, they are establishing a founding platform for connecting crowdfunding or corporate investment. It has its branch not only in Yonsei University but also in other universities in Korea and abroad, including European Regions, United States, etc.
According to the purpose and object of Makerspace, the key to this year’s Makerspace would be changing the main agent of Makerspace from the government to citizens. Also, it aims to expand the user range from experts to citizens of all ages and social classes, and establish a platform for creative association, such as the association of cultural activity and technology.
In the process of achieving this goal, two examples of ‘Culture house of Bukgu’ and Korea University’s ‘X-GARAGE’ show how various activities embrace various ages as well as integration of culture and technology.
‘Culture house of Bukgu’: Opened on October 24th of Bukgu, it works as a cultural house where people of all ages have been longing for 20 years. What it aims is to contemplate on the essence of ‘Making’. Through activities such as cooperation of master’s arts and cutting-edge machines, self-making, and editing work, and sharing hobbies, it tries to contribute to the expansion of Makerspace culture.
In 2019, it implemented 15 projects. Above 15 projects, 3 projects received attention. The first one is the ‘Indoors Racer Project’. With a subminiature camera installed on RC cars, we can see the race going in real-time as well as control the car. The project is significant in that it tries to integrate RC car racing activities, which is culture, and technology through using miniature cameras and conducting the virtual race. It won the ‘2019 Grand Makerday’ cultural zone popularity vote.
The second project is remarkable in that it tries to endorse women who have not been able to continue her career. The project is that with women whose career has been broke as well as housewife, (5 in total), it fixes any electronic gadgets that cause discomfort in their daily lives.
For example, it created ‘Do not bear the discomfort’ as its slogan and ‘Housewife invention project’, fixing the households as their own. They created an air purifier that does not release harmful chemicals. This is remarkable in that the project tried to include women in their 40s and 50s, and did not limit the agents of Makerspace projects to university students.
The second example of Makerspace is Korea University’s X-GARAGE. X stands for unknown quantity x, which represents the possibility of making anything and growing.
One remarkable project that deals with the combination of culture and technology is ‘Team Lattice’, where it created a drawing robot for drawing murals.
The second project was ‘X-DAY: EX-KIDs’, which deals with ‘Kidults’ whose legal age is adult but personal interest is rather close to kids. Making keyring of one’s own using the inner space and device, puzzles, assembling puzzles, and RC car racing contest allowed them to enjoy activities with other makers.
Although Makerspace is a space for creation and interaction with makers, there is a clear trend in its implementation. First, Makerspace tries to embrace possible Makers of all ages, and second, it tries to fuse culture and technology. With its piece of ethical effort, it is expected to improve onwards.
Sources
European bio-energy research Institute (EBRI and STEAMhouse. “Urban Manufacturing.” COLLABORATIVE MAKER SPACE CASE STUDY SUMMARIES, 2017, pp. 2–3. Interreg Europe, www.interregeurope.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/tx_tevprojects/library/file_1556879611.pdf.
“2019 Makerspace Examples ‘Culture House of Bukgu’ and Korea University’s X GARAGE.” MAKEALL, www.makeall.com/network/storyview.php?tsort=3&msort=10&no=295. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
- By Do Yeon Lee (Academic Affairs Department)