Technology community center has a space for everyone
When I first walked into the Omaha Do Space, a community center filled with desktop computers and 3D printers, an overwhelmingly huge crowd greeted me.
The staff members, many of who had hipster beards with glasses, handed out donuts and coffee as well as a scavenger hunt worksheet. I even recognized some of the beardless staff members as peers at Westside High School.
One of the main rooms was a computer lab with several rows of computers, both Microsoft PCs and Macs, some of which had dual monitors. The Internet was also extremely fast, reaching almost a one gig a second in downloading speed. The computers even came with Minecraft.
Beyond this room, there is a hallway that connects to a few different rooms. One room had some 3D printers, which could be used for a small fee, to bring your ideas alive. A printed astronaut was even above the cabinet as an example of such creations.
Across from a lounging area for members was a teen hangout room. This space had several bean bag chairs as well as a few tables to do homework. The main attraction was the screen, which could play four separate video games at a time. The space is meant for teens 12 and up, which seems a little weird at first glance to include 12 year olds, but it would be a shame to exclude seventh grade friends.
“These chairs can be adjusted and moved for comfort,” Jesse said, a teen volunteer at Do Space.
“It’s a great place to hang out and relax with friends.”
There was another room in the hallway for kids. They could draw and play games under the watchful eye of an adult guardian. Just watch your step, because kids will be running everywhere to play.
Upstairs, Metropolitan Community College has there classes, many of which are artistic or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) oriented for students to learn, but there is also meeting rooms that can be reserved and accompanied by useful and new smart boards.
Overall, the space is very useful and fun for people of all ages. Though I’m unsure how it will hold up in the future, for now Do Space is a marvel for Omaha geeks.
Do Space is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. It is on 72nd and Dodge on the southwest corner. For more information, go to www.dospace.org.
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