Makerspaces: More Than a FadTony Cartalucci At first, makerspaces also known as hackerspaces, techshops, tech centers, and many other names seemed to be perfect storms of local talent converging and organizing into something impressively novel and innovative. NYC Resistor, for example, served as the foundation from which the now prolific Makerbot rose, as well supporting the creation of one of the most prominent DIYbio labs, Genspace. But what was at first a novelty, has increasingly become a successful art and science the creation, organization, and expansion of makerspaces and orbiting local institutions from microfactories and design houses, to DIYbio labs. In Makes article, Makerspaces are Working Out, it states: While the business model aspect of a makerspace can be compared to a health club, the output of a makerspace is quite different. While makerspaces are meeting and workspaces where both business and socialization (and a combination of the two) can occur, they also serve as local educational institutions, SME (small and medium enterprises) incubators, skill training centers, as well as a focal point where communities can gather and collectively pool resources and pragmatically, technologically solve problems. A makerspace can start out with something as simple as a room with a table in it around which friends gather to brainstorm. Tools and small projects can be brought in on a weekly basis as can new members until critical mass is reached either to expand into a permanent location with regular hours, or formalize the structure of these initial meetings into something more resembling an organization. The world of tomorrow is being built now, every day, with everything we do, say, and pay into in terms of attention, money, effort, and time. We can choose to be passive spectators supporting the ideals and visions of others and their institutions, or we can roll up our sleeves and begin building the world we want to live in tomorrow, with our own two hands today within our own, local institutions. The perfect place to begin is locally, within a growing, technologically literate community, at a makerspace either one that exists already, or one we will into existence along a now well established and successful model of pragmatism in practice. Tony Cartaluccis articles have appeared on many alternative media websites, including his own at Read other contributed articles by Tony Cartalucci here. 