TechShop lets 'makers' tinker and innovate

Back at MIT, Gershenfeld built on the success of his machine tool class by launching the first fab lab, or fabrication laboratory, in 2001.

These community workshops, following rather strict guidelines, allow participants to carry out their projects, from simple everyday hacks to pre-commercial prototypes.

A fab lab is open to the public, has several basic machines available (3-D printers are recommended but not required) and participates in a global network of labs by sharing manufacturing plans and techniques.

But the term is a victim of its own success, and now is used to describe a wide variety of workshops in Europe that don't always follow the MIT guidelines.

In one extreme example, MyDesign at Carrefour supermarkets in France is a simple stand where users can get photographs and logos printed on products. That's quite a few steps removed from the DIY spirit.

Among the different types of fab labs available, TechShop is among the most commercial.

A subscription costs $150 per month, or $1,650 per year.

And while the machines, services and training provided may justify the cost, it's more commercial than other participatory workshops elsewhere that tend to be free, or almost free apart from the cost of materials.

Regardless, these public workshops to reappropriate manmade objects are taking flight - the number of makerspaces around the world doubles about every 18 months.