After reading what Lucas has been brilliantly putting out over the past 48 hours or so, the picture becomes clearer…we’re getting closer. If anyone needs a quick catch-up, the real edge of the sword is the reprap machine. As per this website:
RepRap is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. It is [a] practical self-copying 3D printer… – a self-replicating machine. This 3D printer builds the parts up in layers of plastic. This technology already exists, but the cheapest commercial machine would cost you about €30,000. And it isn’t even designed so that it can make itself. So what the RepRap team are doing is to develop and to give away the designs for a much cheaper machine with the novel capability of being able to self-copy (material costs are about €500). That way it’s accessible to small communities in the developing world as well as individuals in the developed world. Following the principles of the Free Software Movement we are distributing the RepRap machine at no cost to everyone under the GNU General Public Licence. So, if you have a RepRap machine, you can use it to make another and give that one to a friend.
So here we go. For better or for worse, the OSAT genie is officially out of the bottle (has been since at least May of 2008 when the first reprap machine self-replicated).
The reprap machine isn’t the only show in town, naturally. Of course Gershenfeld’s Fab Lab is of similar vein, and Factor-E farm is pushing ahead with this at a clip, too. But let’s admit it, let’s achieve consensus here: this is it, this is what we need to be working on for the next 18 months. If you haven’t yet grasped the revolutionary nature of the self-replicating, distributed, open-source machines, then you haven’t been paying very close attention to the debate, and you should go back and do some homework.
And the three things? I’m ready to take a shot at this one now:
- Distill the Model — make the path as clear, straightforward and short as possible for as many people as possible. Personally, I don’t have a stake in how this happens. Get the self-replicating, GPL, locally-based machines out there. Use books, videos, YouTube, blogs, use it all. Document it, standardize it, make it step by step and teachable.
- Build the Network — Ok, we’re on the Internet, and we’re for real. But are we in our geographic, local communities yet? I mean REALLY in them, visible, vocal, and credible? Engage the universities, the research labs, the community colleges, the backyard tinkerers, the neighborhood associations, the municipalities and county governments. Let’s be realistic, any single one of these would be fine to start if it makes things happen, or whatever combination works for each circumstance; this is realistic and achievable. Despite pervasive cynicism and bad press, our communities are still capable, full of a variety of skills that we need now to put this stuff together: welding, carpentry, engineering, architecture, mechanics, etc.
- Institutionalize — Even GNU/Linux has institutions that protect and further the movement: The Gnu Project, The Linux Foundation, the various distros like Ubuntu and Debian (some more communal, others more organizational), and a suite of software projects/companies that drive the expansion of free software, like Apache, MySQL, PHP, SugarCRM, and AsteriskPBX. At some point, we’re going to need to make a move to professionalize. I don’t know if this fits into the 18 month time-frame or not, but clearly it’s time to start thinking and discussing how we are going to further formalize this movement. Helping to grow and formalize Appropedia might be a good start. And developing real business models like the folks at MySQL and SugarCRM have done won’t hurt, either.
Bring on the commentary.
10 responses to “Self-Replicating Machines and the Edge of the Sword: A Distillation”
Count me in. http://www.globalswadeshi.net/xn/detail/2097821:Comment:7921
(Sorry not to post here directly, but I just love the “15 minutes to edit after you post” feature. :blush:)
Plus you want Marcin and Vinay on that, I’d say. And Larahna for convertible communities. And someone from the reprap/fablab world (Smári from fablab).
As for “revolution sponsors” and stuff, I wonder if cellphone makers would be a good ally, an extra one on top of the ones you mention, if they want new customers doing nifty things all over the world, including all sorts of pop-up currencies? I don’t know.
It may be temporary and fictional and delusional, but as of this very second, I find your call has kinda sparked a mindblowing picture to gel.
Delusional? We have 18 months to find out, so not much lost. Thanks!
First of all, I don’t care where responses are posted, just try to keep the thread alive by linking in the comments section. Obviously this is my forum, and I don’t want to be repeat posting everywhere. Lucas, I appreciate the links you put up to the blog posts in Global Swadeshi.
Lonny, agreed, but let’s think scale here. A student? How about 10, or 20, or 50? Number 2 in my three things is an attempt to address this. We need different people working on different aspects.
My three things:
Before the model is more developed (i.e. now):
1. promote/advertise the conversation.
Once the model is more developed:
2. Get a student working on the project.
Once the model is much more developed:
3. Look for some grant money to help refine it and integrate it into university curriculum.
Check out http://www.appropedia.org/Callooh as well.
[…] outlines 3 conditions for advancting open source self-replicating machines, which are not so far away from realisation, as evidenced by this quote about the RepRap […]
i will join. what are your needs!
is there a security risk of hacking when using open source business /crm tools?
‘ Apache, MySQL, PHP, SugarCRM, and AsteriskPBX’?
is there a security risk of hacking when using open source business /crm tools?
‘ SugarCRM, and AsteriskPBX’?
1. Distill the Model – build the Open Source Fab Lab. That’s concrete enough. Start with definite tools, add ancillary tools with time. See http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Fab_Lab
2. Build the Network – Yes! Then come to Factor e Farm to make it happen in a crash program. http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Ecology:Community_Portal
3. That’s the next step. Start with 1 and 2, 3 will follow in time.
Fellows, let’s talk about how we can get people in one place. We already have a location.