Obama becomes Seller in Chief for new inventions

Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama opened the first 'Maker Faire' at the White House Wednesday, by asking why there was an 'e' at the end of ‘Faire’ He then quipped, “This is America, we don't have 'e's at the end of 'fair'."

He then asked jokingly if there would be jousting.

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With that, the President explained that the fair(e) was designed to help American innovators show off their ideas and inventions and team them up with companies that can help manufacture and market those goods.

“Across our country ordinary Americans are inventing incredible things and then they are able to bring them to these fairs like 'Makers Faire' and you never know where this kind of innovation and enthusiasm and creativity could lead.” Obama said.

The President also used Apple computers as an example of what can come from small ideas, saying ”In the 1970's Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I to show off for the members of the Home Brew Computer Club and today Apple is worth about $550 billion. I wish I had been there.”

While some of the inventions at the White House could produce the next Apple, Obama said, ”This is a smart group right here, these are some innovative folks… I have to ask, what on Earth have you done to my house?”

He joked, that “There's a mobile factory on the South Lawn, there's a robotic giraffe, there's a giant red weather balloon in the Rose Garden, there's a paper dinosaur head in the hallway.”

Earlier the President toured those exhibits on the South Lawn and met with their inventors and, according to press pool reports, he viewed electric guitars, a skateboard, a prosthetic foot, slippers, a toy robot, and a large bicycle suitable both for carrying cargo and charging electronics- all fabricated using some or all of the 10 machines inside, including 3D printers and a variety of digital fabrication devices.

Back inside he turned a little more serious and said, “We've got to make sure that more Americans have the skills and opportunities to land a job in a growing industry or to create entirely new industries so that's why I'm declaring today a national day of making.”

The President said he's asked Congress to expand programs that would help American innovators, but “In the absence of much action from Congress we are doing what we can. I'm doing what I can on my own to keep that process going so I've launched four new high-tech manufacturing hubs across the country with more on the way.” He said.

Fundraising first for Obama

On Tuesday Obama visited Pittsburgh to tour a TechShop facility that allows would-be inventors to rent out machining equipment like 3d printers, laser cutters, tools and design software on a shared access basis. It also offers classes to would-be inventors. That visit kicked off the ‘Maker Faire’ theme, as the White House announced a collaborative effort with 90 mayors and local leaders from cities and towns across the country who have pledged to provide physical locations to spur local inventions. " If you want to put in some sweat equity you can make it here in America and live out your American dream," the President said at the Pittsburgh event.