There are lots of great tools out there that can help you get started on a DSI project. But where do you actually do it, and how can you find people to co-develop and test out your ideas with?

Lots of DSI activity naturally occurs online, and often all you need is a laptop, collaborators and time, but sometimes you need a physical space to meet with and work with your peers.

There is a growing movement of spaces such as Fablabs, Hackerspaces or hackathons and Living Labs where, for free or a very small fee, you can access workshop and co-working spaces that, in addition to potential collaborators, will have many of the tools you need to begin your project.

At hackathons, computer programmers, software developers and designers collaborate intensively for a short period of time on developing software projects.

One example of this is hackthetownhall which is bringing people together to develop apps that can be used in disaster relief, as a response to the UK flooding disaster.

Fablabs are probably the most widely known spaces for making, and can be found from inner-city Boston through to rural India, South Africa and the North of Norway (have a look at this great map to find a Fablab near you).

A core requirement for each Fablab is that it has 3D printers and laser cutters milling machines for making circuit boards, as well as precision parts and large wood routers for building furniture and housing material.

The blueprint for a prototype of a 3D printed $50 Prosthesis which was developed by Fablab Amsterdam demonstrates the kind of digital social innovations that these environments can foster.

Contact Peter Baeck or Alice Casey to find out more about DSI and add yourself to our map.

Photo credit: iMAL.org on Flickr