A great idea with a half-hearted approach.
I expected so much more. I wanted to come in to the MakeShop and be wowed with what I saw upon entering the premises. I wanted to see displays that moved, twirled, beeped, flashed, and generally showcased what can be done with a couple of components wired together. I wanted to see shelves stocked with the latest mechanical and electronic modules, along with all the tools one would need to make something cool out of them. I wanted to be in a place that would inspire a budding engineer or scientist and keep them coming back for more.
Instead, I saw a few storage shelves with stuff on it, a big table in the middle of the shop, and a pile of empty cardboard boxes to the rear. It could have been an off day so I was more than willing to overlook certain things. However, upon closer inspection, things began to dawn on me. What they had on display seemed to be made up of boards from ancient televisions or radios, without so much as a description of what they were or why they were interesting. They was just there, collecting dust. Their stock seemed to consist mainly of kits geared at the under 12's, like vibrating wind-up bugs and solar beetles, which is fine for under 12's. But where were the Arduino's? The Raspberry Pi? Where were the cool displays? Where were the robots that spoke or made cool noises or did cool things? Where was the guide to inspiration and creativity? How were you expected to be creative when there was nothing creative around you?
I left disappointed, almost furious that such a great idea was, once again in the capital city, executed without a shred of creativity or passion. read more