What do you get when you combine an electronics hobbyist, hacker, garage mechanic, kitchen table inventor, tinkerer, and entrepreneur? A maker, of course. Playful and creative, makers are--through expertise and experimentation--creating art, products, and processes that are helping change the way all of us think and interact with the world. As you'll see from the 20 interviews in Makers at Work, inquisitive makers are just as apt to pick up a laser cutter or Arduino or Raspberry Pi as a wrench to fashion something new. One maker powered a scooter with a battery-operated drill. Another made a messenger bag smart like a phone. Then there's the guy who created a sensor that sends an alert to his phone whenever someone opens the door of his mailbox; the teen who made not just a motorized skateboard, but one with treads that works on grass; and the architect/builder who made a transportable front porch so he could move it to the rear of the house to enjoy sunsets. Crazy as foxes, makers--working in the spirit of Tesla, Wozniak, Edison, Gates, Musk and many others--can bring sophisticated products to the people or to the market as fast or faster than large corporations.In so doing, they are blazing trails tomorrow's inventors, programmers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs will wander down to come up with the next big things. And they are not just enabling new technologies and devices--they are changing the way these devices are funded, manufactured, assembled, and delivered. Makers at Work puts a spotlight on the maker mindset and motivation of those who are reinventing the world one object or idea at a time. It gives you a firsthand look at the maker culture from the people who are creating it. They may hail from many professions and industries but they are all united in their love of building things--and making life more fun, interesting, and profitable. You will: * Meet the individuals who define what it means to be a maker. * Learn about the tools and technologies driving the new industrial revolution. * Discover ways to scale your weekend project into a profitable business. The new masters of the Makerverse ask one question: Can it be done? As these interviews will show, yes it can. What you'll learn You will: * Learn about 3d printing and how it is changing manufacturing. * Discover new software tools for designing things on your own.* Learn how to source parts, code, or ideas for your creations. * Meet maker pioneers who helped open up a new world, and makers who have used crowdfunding to support their efforts. * Uncover recipes for success or failure when bringing physical products to market. * Learn ways to scale your weekend project into a profitable business from experienced entrepreneurs. * Learn how open-source hardware and software is enabling new classes of products by removing the barrier of entry for inventors. * Open your mind to new ideas, methods, things, and possibilities. Who this book is for This book is for anyone with an independent spirit, creative bent, or natural curiosity who believes you can create whatever your mind can conceive and wants to see how others have done just that.