Category Archives: Tampa Bay inventors

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire in Review: Learning by Doing & Creating!

IMG_3002Under the roof of The Concourse in Hudson, a celebration of innovation and the DIY culture is under way on a sunny Saturday in March. Mini Maker Faire exhibitors and attendees are largely indistinguishable. From the very young to the very old, participants flow through together, engaging each other and all the wonderful things their minds can conjure up. It is human creativity on full display, just waiting a chance to play.” Mitchell Brown, Tampa Mini Maker Faire: Nirvana 4 Geeks & Nerds

With these words, Mitchell Brown, a reporter for 83 Degrees, a Tampa Bay media group devoted to creating “ a new narrative for a new economy”, perfectly captured the spirit and intent of our 2013 Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

“It’s impossible to leave the Mini Maker Faire uninspired,” writes Brown. “Ultimately, that’s the whole idea.”

Read the complete article at : http://83degreesmedia.com/features/makers040913.aspx and stay inspired with us all year long!

 

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013 – The Day in Pictures

slide show

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Program Online!

Event map

Our 2013 Event Program is now online!  Hardcopy versions are being printed courtesy of Dex Imaging in Tampa, who graciously donated printing services last year, too. ! Thank you, Dex Imaging, for your support of the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

Program schedule

Meet Our Makers!

poster 3 copy

At least some of them – More are coming on board in the next couple of days, bringing a rich variety of science, art, craft, engineering , music, food, and more, showcasing and celebrating the inventive spirit and the amazing work of all kinds of makers across Tampa Bay and beyond.

The great folks listed here are bringing art, music, robots, games, puzzles, inventions, ham radio, crafts, trades, jewelry, electronic gadgets and gizmos and much, much more for everyone to experience and enjoy!

Keep watching our Maker page throughout the rest of the week, to see the growing list of Makers!

Our 2013 Makers so Far…

Commercial Makers

gabotronics

Origami Owl

Upcycled Studios

Makers

backyard workshop

chuck stephens

Frets1

FIRST

GCARC

inanimate reason

in10didLI4E

Mentagy

MEOWSER

Pasco Teens

USF RIG

thinkamingo

urban conga

USGS

fur and taxidermy

young makers

See you at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013!

Happy New Year!

IMG_0689To celebrate  the New Year, we’ve gone live a day early with our Maker application!

So have at it! Get your Make on!  Wow us with your incredible ingenuity and creativity!

Set our collective minds afire with your amazing DIY inventiveness, and let’s show the world how absolutely amazing Tampa Bay is – not just for our magnificent weather, views,  and recreational opportunities – but for our unstoppable creative, entrepreneurial and inventive productivity, energy and intellect.

makers-apply-here

Exhibits that are interactive or highlight the process of making things are especially desired. Here’s the process… 

ENTRIES

The first step to participating in our Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted by individuals or groups like hobbyist clubs and schools. You can apply as a Maker, Commercial Maker (individual makers primarily selling —$50 booth fee), Workshop or Presentation, or Performer.  The application asks you to to provide a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire. Photos, links and videos of exhibit  ideas are very helpful. The more we can see and learn about your exhibit, the better your chances of getting Maker space at the Faire.

 Here are just some of the things that we’re looking for:

  • Robotics
  • Kinetic & Installation Art
  • Music Performance
  • Hacks of Any Sort
  • Homesteader Projects
  • Workshops and Speakers
  • 3D Printers & Digital Fabrication
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Student Projects
  • Rockets and RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles and Human-Powered Machines
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)
  • Food and Beverage vendors please write info@ebmakerfaire.com for more information.

Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is a 10′x10′ space.  If you need more space for your exhibit or project, please let us know. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something.

If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact us by email: info@learningis4everyone.org

OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Exhibitors and Sponsors: We welcome exhibitors and sponsors at our Mini Maker Faire. For more information about becoming an exhibitor or sponsor, please check out our Sponsor page or contact us at info@Learningis4everyone.org

 Volunteer: For information about volunteering at East Bay Mini Maker Faire, please email us at the above address.

We look forward to seeing you at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013!

 

Are You Ready?

We are!  Maker applications and ticket sales go live January 2, 2013!  Click here to see what we’re looking for in Maker applications, for a head start on your application.   We’re deeply grateful to our event partners, The Concourse, Pasco County Libraries and Learning is for Everyone, and to our fantastic event planning team who will be working behind the scenes to do everything possible to help Make Your Day, at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2013

2013 event flyer

Clearwater’s Grumpy Owl Gamery Launches Keep System

Robert Groller, of Clearwater, is the mind behind Grumpy Owl Gamery‘s Keep System – a method for organizing and mobilizing  hobby games. According to the recently launched Kick-Starter campaign for the project, “ The Keep is a custom messenger style bag that carries a set of special game organizers. It can carry numerous games, even the hard to handle expandable games, in an organized and labeled manner.”

Wired’s Geek Dad gave Groller’s effort a little press this week, and in just three days, he’s raised over $30K!

Way to go, Grumpy Owl Gamery! Visit Groller’s Kick-Starter page for details and to help out a fellow Maker.

Mentagy: The App

Local educator Allyn Kahn, of New Port Richey, FL, is well known as a math, statistics, philosophy and critical thinking instructor, as well as a popular chess coach.  He’s also an award winning game inventor, whose signature puzzle game, Mentagy, has been awarded multiple awards, from Creative Child’s Puzzle of the Year Award to the Brain Child Award from Tillywig.

Now Mentagy Puzzle eBooks have been released as part of an Apple iOS app launched by the Puzzazz eBookStore for iPhone and iPad. It will soon be available for Kindle and Android devices, as well.

Kudos to another great Tampa Bay inventor!

Dade City Inventor Takes on Federal Patent Law

MadStad Engineering, Inc. , of Dade City, was started in 2006 by Mark Stadnyk, a biker who loved to ride but “hated having his head beat to death by turbulence, air pressure and wind noise.”

After abundant research, he eventually came to the conclusion that “the problem isn’t the windshield, it’s the way the windshield is positioned” and he developed the MadStad adjustable windshield system, which reconfigures the angle of the windshield to make it more aerodynamic, eliminate any vacuum, and adjust the height to better direct airflow.

Today, MadStad employs eight people, including Mr. Stadnyk and his wife, Patty and his windshield system is sold throughout the world and used on dozens of makes and models of motorcycles, with annual sales of more than $500,000.

He also holds three patents, and is making headlines taking issue with a relatively new federal patent law called the  Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011 (AIA) .

In a federal court in Florida, Stadnyk and his counsel charge that “the legislation is a triumph of corporate lobbying power over the founders’ wishes, and that it threatens America’s stature as the world’s leading innovator.”

As recently as yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office moved to dismiss Stadnyk’s lawsuit , but it’s unlikely Stadnyk will stand down easily.  We’ll keep you posted!

Read the full story at the NY Times.

10 Yr. Old Tarpon Springs Inventor Win’s Nickelodeon’s “Figure it Out”

10 year old Alanna Meyers, of Tarpon Springs,  the inventor of the “Pain Free Bandage Remover”  was recently awarded the grand prize on Nickelodeon’s Game Show, “Figure It Out”, after stumping the show’s celebrity judges about her invention.

A fifth grader at Safety Harbor Montessori Academy in Clearwater,  Alanna’s Pain Free Bandage Remover was inspired by her long time dislike of the bandage removal process.  At the grand old age of 8, she decided that enough was enough, and experimented with several different combinations of safe, organic ingredients until she hit upon the perfect formula.  Her focus group was her then 2nd grade classroom, where kids and parents alike were immediately sold.

Since then, her product has been featured on “The Doctors”, “Rachael Ray” and several local news programs.  Alanna has applied for a patent trademark hopes to go into full production soon, marketing to childrens hospitals, pharmacies, health food and natural food stores, assisted living and nursing homes, with plans to donate 1% of all sales to the Arts for children.

Way to go, Alanna!