nykodemus

I recently had an opportunity to visit the fine people at hackerspace.sg in Singapore.

I won’t detail here everything about hackerspace.sg, you can find out all about them on their site (which I recommend doing). Or better yet, you could also ask them yourselves! They chat on freenode: #hackerspacesg .

I arrive at night. The entrance to hackerspace.sg is just a glass door with a logo (their version of the hacker’s glider) facing a small side-street in the south of Singapore. The humble facade belies the powerhouse of creativity, talent, and enthusiasm to be found inside. Outdoor seating for eateries impregnates the warm night air with the smells of many cultures’ cuisines.

I don’t have to knock or ring the doorbell. Just as I arrive, a busy member bustles out of the doorway on a mission of seemingly dire importance. I never found out what. I am greeted by another member with a hello and a quizzical look. I awkwardly ask “hackerspace?” which is countered with a smile and a beckoning “come on in!” Hackerspaces are friendly places.

I am led upstairs to the main area, where perhaps 20 or 30 people are engaged in discussion, tinkering with gadgets, and generally having a good time. There is some dancey/popish music playing over the low roar of conversation, and cake is being eaten. It has the feel of a party. I learn later that this is because it is a party.

After a few introductions and brief conversations, I come to realize that this is all very familiar. This place has an infectious energy, boundless creativity, a collaborative foundation, and a shimmering pool of talent in such high concentration that I am reminded of the legendary tales of Xerox Parc. Hackerspaces are hotspots of awesome.

The people here are excited. The Singaporean hackerspace is only a few months old, yet they have over 30 members. It’s not hard to see why. The leadership, creativity, and enthusiasm of the extremely friendly founding members will ensure hackerspace.sg’s continued success.

The projects here lean toward being media-related. There are graphics design people, video people, music people, social media people, and animation people. But there are also military people, ex-corporate people, and startup people. I see webcams attached to nerf-guns, gramophones, and gadgets and gizmos of all kinds. There is a lot of art, and a lot of ideas. And of course, what hackerspace would be complete without an entire wall covered with a printout of the unix family tree?

After an all-too-short visit, I must leave. I donate some money to the “food fund”. I take some pictures, collect contact information, and say goodbye. I am sad to go, but also uplifted and energized.

It’s an exciting time to be alive. What does it all mean? Why are these hackerspaces popping up all over the world? What’s next? I don’t know yet, but I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to it than Industrial Revolution 2.0. I do know that visiting Singapore’s hackerspace was a Good Thing(tm). I don’t know how many hackerspace members have the need to go to Singapore any time soon, but I definitely encourage visiting other hackerspaces whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.

It’s almost as if hackerspaces are a new form of life, and when members visit other hackerspaces, we get a glimpse of the evolution taking place. Maybe that’s it. Hackerspaces: we’re evolving.