The Liverpool Makefest is an annual feast for those that love technology and makers who use it to produce innovative, useful and interesting products using it. It is held at the Central Library in the heart of Liverpool and features many businesses that make technical products of all types, for all ages, and local organisations where you can go and investigate, experiment and have fun with technology. Liverpool Makefest is the UK’s biggest single-day maker event.
Liverpool Makefest – back for 2022
Sadly, just like thousands of other events up and down the country, the Liverpool Makefest has been absent from the local calendar for the last two years. However, it was back for 2022 and opened its doors on Saturday, July 2nd. It was a great opportunity to get hands-on with live science experiments, activities using amazing technology, enjoy fun crafting sessions, get close up to the latest inventions and have a play with gadgets that might just be the next big thing.
Quantum Technology Club at Liverpool Makefest 2022
Whilst we are only a small local club, we look forward to Liverpool MakeFest every year and it sets the agenda for the year as we device and work on a project over many months.
Back in 2019, we revealed our Quantum Technology Club sign that featured an amazing light show that synch’ed with music to give a tremendous display and draw crowds to our stand to see what else we got up to.
So impressed were the organisers in 2019 that, for 2022, they gave us the main stage and we didn’t disappoint. The sign was present once more, but supplemented by a seven foot tall dropping blocks game, a desktop four-in-row game and a giant working game controller with built-in games library all controlled with a Raspberry Pi. These games were available for anyone to play and they really drew the crowds.
We also had a wireless communications display. Amateur Radio didn’t work to ell in the part of the building we were, so demonstrated some communications taking place over the Internet.
Each year were have a Morse Code related activity – kids love Morse, it’s a bit of magic and intrigue. This year we planned a Morse Treasure Hunt that involved youngsters scouring the event, and visiting other stands to discover a letter. When they got back to our stand, they rearranged the letters to form a phrase, tapped it out on a Morse ket and received a prize.
New for 2022 we were producing customised Quantum key rings using our new vinyl cutter. This proved very popular and raised a few pennies to help pay for all the items we had dedveloped.
It was a truly great day for all of the Quantum Technology Club members that attended and a huge thanks goes to all those that put so much time, effort and money into the projects to make our stand look unbelievable. So unbelievable, we’ve been offered central stage again for next year – that’s never happened to any other group before.
Many thanks to the organisers for putting on a brilliant event, once again, and we look forward to being there again in 2023.