Comments on: Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 – Center Stage

By: bicoid

bicoid — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 01:35:57 +0000

I had an interesting conversation this weekend about the reason Sparkfun pulled back from MakerFaire San Mateo.

As a refreshers, from Sparkfun’s website:
“Getting quotes for our booth (20×40) the price increased significantly from $15,000 to $60,000. We talked with Make and brought this down to $51,000. We are grateful for the discounts that Make has given us over the years but this was not an amount we could swallow.”
http://www.sparkfun.com/news/855

What this weekend’s conversation was about was Radio Shack was very active in increasing/leveling booth fees of to what they were paying as corporate sponsors, and that this sat very poorly with many exhibitors.

So can you tell me if there was any discussion by Radio Shack with Maker or O’Reilly about changing the price structures of booths fees away from what had been being charged for previous years?

By: julia

julia — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:24:11 +0000

I am so glad to see this on this site. A how to person, Finally!! I go to the store’s and ask so many questions about robotics and no one seems to know. Thanks for putting this on the web.

By: robert

robert — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:35:56 +0000

I just want to commend you on your effort to tie education with the products.

I am a computer engineer and an ex computer science teacher. I see `people around me who have wonderful ideas but, have fear of bringing them to realization. I keep stressing to them that education is the key. Especially self education.

A quick cople of suggestions:
1. Create tutorials that are very clear in their delivery and allow for clear levels of classification from beginner to advanced and, with a progression that will lead them through these levels.

2. Create local store events which encourage people to display their creations and encourage others to purchase, build and, participate.

We are in a period we people want to innovate but, are overwellelmed by complexity.

Seriously, I think that you can be the key to spur this on.

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:23:56 +0000

Nice information and coverage. Was pleasantly surprised, since the Radio Shack email called you a “social media extraordinaire,” which should be “social media user extraordinaire.” You could teach the copywriters a thing or two. I certainly picked up a lot more about Arduino and upcoming innovations from you.

By: Randy Schafer

Randy Schafer — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:27:47 +0000

As a sponsor of the Maker Faire Bay Area I was blown away. It reminds me of the fun days of the West Coast Computer Faire! I’m glad to see Radio Shack’s participation. The best thing you guys have done since the TRS-80 .

the only smart touch scree for the arduino:
http://store.earthlcd.com/ezLCD-301

By: The Shack® Blog » Blog Archive » Join Us For #RSChat: Amy Shineman

The Shack® Blog » Blog Archive » Join Us For #RSChat: Amy Shineman — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:57:39 +0000

[...] Comments » This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series #RSChatRadioShack spent the weekend at the Maker Faire. Amy Shineman, Director of Consumer and Product Marketing at RadioShack, was there to experience [...]

By: Ricky Cadden

Ricky Cadden — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:19:32 +0000

Robert,

The flasher circuit is built into the LED body. We carry the led used in this circuit. The SKU is 276-312, and should be available in most stores, or online. All you have to do is apply voltage to the LED not exceeding 5 volts to get the flashing.

By: Robert Thille

Robert Thille — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:42:31 +0000

I was at Maker Faire this last Saturday and my friend and I made the flashing robot pins in the Radio Shack “learn to solder” tent. I know a bit about electronics, so I was surprised when the LEDs flashed, given that there appears to be just the two LEDs and the battery in the circuit. Are there hidden elements (chip-scale-IC, or LRC) that I’m missing? Perhaps the flashing is built into the LEDs? Inquiring minds…