HobbySpace.com was founded to make the case to the public that space was not an area only for engineers and scientists in the government and big companies but that there were many real and tangible ways for regular folk to participate in space. AMSAT and student satellite projects, rocketry, space radio, astronomy, and many other space related activities have long involved hands-on building and operation of hardware by enthusiasts and not just specialists. With the cost of access to space dropping, we will see  increasing participation of the public with space activities.

Meanwhile,  in the past decade the Maker Movement, in a similar spirit, has has sought to convince the public that building and modifying real, tangible things is not just for those with elite knowledge but something they can do as well. Below is an infographic sent to me that outlines what the Maker Movement is all about: