Hack This (Paperback)

From the Publisher: Hackerspaces are emerging as one of this generation's most exciting technical and cultural phenomena. Wikipedia defines them as "open community labs incorporating elements of machine shops, workshops, and/or studios where hackers can come together to share resources and knowledge to build and make things." The breadth of projects they're hosting is mind-boggling - from sandwich-making robots to homebrew DNA sequencers. "Do it yourself" hackers launched the personal computer revolution in the 1970s: this new generation of hackers may have a comparable impact in fields far beyond computing. Hack This is a glorious, immersive, full-color tour of the new world of hackerspaces: what they are, who runs them, what they're building, and what motivates their passionate participants. John Baichtal, founding member of the Twin Cities Maker hackerspace, takes you inside 24 hackerspace projects, describing them through the thoughts and words of their creators. The projects he profiles range from weather balloons to musical instruments and interactive Christmas trees. Each is illuminated with several pages of photos, illustrations, and text - so readers can see for themselves, and even follow the directions to re-create or improve each project on their own. Baichtal offers practical guidance on tools; additional sources of information and (where needed) software code; and even practical step-by-step guidance for launching a new hackerspace of one's own.