One of the most exciting speakers at this year’s Create WV Conference is Dale Dougherty. You may not have heard of him, but those in the publishing and Internet worlds certainly do. He was the co-founder of O’Reilly Media, one of the earliest and largest publishers of computer and software manuals. Today, he is credited with coining the term “Web 2.0” and is the publisher of one of the hottest new tech/innovation magazines, Make.
Dougherty spotted a new trend in 2002 that incorporated many diverse elements:
- Powerful, cheap electronics
- A software development and “hacker” community
- The crafting industry
- The green/recycling rage
The result? Make magazine, called a “recipe book of invention” by Forbes. It now has a paid circulation of 120,000 and is growing fast. Even more impressive, “Maker Faires” are popping up all over the country (one in San Mateo, CA, drew 65,000).
Dougherty says that “stuff”, or physical objects, are becoming as customizable as software. He believes from innovative hobbyists will spring new technologies, companies and industries. “Why can’t I do to my car what I do to my computer,” he says. “We’re seeing the collision of computers and stuff.”
This is a keynote that you don’t want to miss. We’re even going to have a mini-Maker session of our own at the conference. What ramifications does the intersection of the physical and digital have for West Virginia and our heritage of handmade “stuff”?
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