Synopses & Reviews
The ultimate DIY project guide for techie dads raising kids in their own geeky image, in the spirit of The Dangerous Book for Boys Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery.
Enter supergeek, and father of two, Ken Denmead. An engineer and editor of the incredibly popular GeekDad blog on wired.com, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any timeframe or budget. With Denmead's expert guidance, you and your child can:
•Fly a night-time kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons
•Construct the "Best Slip n' Slide Ever," a guaranteed thrill ride
•Build a working lamp with LEGO bricks and CDs
•Create a customized comic strip or your own board game
•Transform any room into a spaceship
•Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links
Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, GeekDad helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid-and bond with the next generation of brainiacs.
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Synopsis
The ultimate DIY project guide for techie dads raising kids in their own geeky image, in the spirit of
The Dangerous Book for Boys.
Today's generation of dads grew up more tech-savvy than ever. Rather than joining the Little League team, many grew up playing computer games, Dungeons and Dragons, and watching Star Wars. Now with kids of their own, these digital-age dads are looking for fresh ways to share their love of science and technology, and help their kids develop a passion for learning and discovery.
Enter supergeek, and father of two, Ken Denmead. An engineer and editor of the incredibly popular GeekDad blog on wired.com, Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination. With illustrations throughout, this book offers projects for all ages to suit any timeframe or budget. With Denmead's expert guidance, you and your child can:
- Fly a night-time kite ablaze with lights or launch a video camera with balloons
- Construct the Best Slip n' Slide Ever, a guaranteed thrill ride
- Build a working lamp with LEGO bricks and CDs
- Create a customized comic strip or your own board game
- Transform any room into a spaceship
- Make geeky crafts like cyborg jack-o'-lanterns or Ethernet cuff links
Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, GeekDad helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid-and bond with the next generation of brainiacs.
Synopsis
Brimming with endlessly fun and futuristic tidbits on everything from gaming to gadgets, this ultimate DIY project guide helps every tech-savvy father unleash his inner kid and bond with the next generation of brainiacs.
Synopsis
In the spirit of The Daring Book for Girls, the first DIY project guide for fathers and daughters from the founder of Boing Boing and editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine.
Synopsis
As the editor in chief of MAKE magazine, Mark Frauenfelder has spent years combing through DIY books, but heand#8217;s never been able to find one with geeky projects he can share with his two daughters. Maker Dad is the first DIY book to use cutting-edge (and affordable) technology in appealing projects for fathers and daughters to do together. These crafts and gadgets are both rewarding to make and delightful to play with. Whatand#8217;s more, Maker Dad teaches girls lifelong skillsand#8212;like computer programming, musicality, and how to use basic hand toolsand#8212;as well as how to be creative problem solvers. The bookand#8217;s twenty-four unique projects include:
and#8226;and#160;Drawbot, a lively contraption that draws abstract patterns all by itself
and#8226;and#160;Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace
and#8226;and#160;Friendstrument, an electronic musical instrument girls can play with friends
and#8226;and#160;Longboard
and#8226;and#160;Antigravity Jar
and#8226;and#160;Silkscreened T-Shirt
and#8226;and#160;Retro Arcade Video Game
and#8226;and#160;Host a Podcast
and#8226;and#160;Lunchbox Guitar
and#8226;and#160;Kite Video Camera
Innovative and groundbreaking, Maker Dad will inspire fathers to geek out with their daughters and help girls cultivate an early affinity for math, science, and technology.
and#160;
About the Author
Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of BoingBoing, one of the world's most popular blogs, and the editor in chief of MAKE magazine, which sparked the current DIY movement and remains its spiritual center.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Say Yes to Mistakes. . .01
Maker Dad Toolbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
(E) Antigravity Jar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04
(M) Drawbot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
(C) Longboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
(C) Mid-Century Rocking Chair. . . . .24
(E) Soap Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
(E) Giant Bubbles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
(C) Create a Podcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
(M) Silkscreen T-Shirt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
(M) Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace. . 64
(M) Paper Bowl Speaker. . . . . . . . . . . . .74
(M) Peg Trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(E) Rubber Stamps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
(C) The Friendstrument. . . . . . . . . . . . 90
(M) Mixie Sticks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
(C) Retro Arcade Video Game. . . . . .110
(E) Crazy Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
(C) Lunch Box Guitar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
(E) Seven-Piece Puzzle Cube. . . . . . .148
(E) Rainbow Pops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
(M) Astro Ice Cream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
(C) Kite Video Camera. . . . . . . . . . . . .172
(m) Mu Torere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
(C) Getting to Know Arduino. . . . . . 190
(E) and#8220;Canand#8217;t Loseand#8221; Dice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ackowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
PROJECTS KEY
(E) easy and quick
(M) moderately challenging
(C) challenging. a real skill-builder!