A compelling book about how technologies are now at a point to allow us the move away from mass production to individual problem solving and creation, using laser cutters, 3D printers, computers and software. ( )

This book considers how the industrial revolution has almost gone full circle.

From the early days of artisan and craft production, to the massive factories that can turn out numerous copies of the same item, the future of production will start to be possible from your desk or office.

He considers the new rapid prototyping machines and looks at the way the developing world can use these tools to make their own lives easier. The author goes into some detail on some basic projects that anyone can undertake.

It’s not too bad, but technologies have moved on swiftly since it was published, and I think that Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson will give an more up to date point of view ( )

I had looked at this before. I'm not nearly as excited about this as this guy is. This isn't ' moleculr fabrication ' keep in mind. It's machine tool computer control , basically shop class the internet. Very vague overall ( the whole thing still is really ) ( )

I had looked at this before. I'm not nearly as excited about this as this guy is. This isn't ' moleculr fabrication ' keep in mind. It's machine tool computer control , basically shop class the internet. Very vague overall ( the whole thing still is really ) ( )

Gershenfeld, who runs MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, foresees a time when computers will upgrade from PCs to PFs, or personal fabricators. This eye-opening survey of "fab labs" completes the progression in Gershenfeld's earlier studies of the overlapping of computer science and physical science, such as When Things Start to Think (1999).

This book was alright. I like the idea of the democratization of content going all the way to the democratization of the production of content. ( )

I can't wait for the era of personal fabricators -that is the topic that this book is about- to dawn. The subtitle of this book summarizes this book nicely: "The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication". Yet, I feel anyone who decides to read this must be forewarned: it will drive you crazy that this technology isn't readily available right now. Imagine a device that enables you to download and print out 3d items just as you download software and print out pages now. That's what this book is all about. In the future, people will manufacture their own goods and we really will have mass customization. If this interests you, I recommend that you read this amazing book! ( )