Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, WIRED, Best-selling Author of Free, The Long Tail, and The New Industrial Revolution introduced to the MAKER revolution that is currently happening and its repercussions on the future.
Anderson recalled his grandfather's invention of the automatic (timed) sprinkler and making parts out of blocks of metal with him.
The old model of invent, patent, license is over. Now anyone can own end-to-end including manufacturing and speed to market. We are going to use the web's model to re-energize manufacturing in this country - CAD programs now have MAKE menu option.
Kickstarter is one of the most radical #innovations of our age, enabling physical entrepreneurship. The epebble watch sold out online and is one of the most innovative gadgets of the year, brought to market solely via Kickstarter. Created by three guys in basement it raised $10m in weeks and will eventually beat out the Sony ewatch. Kickstarter is the venture capitalist for the maker movement.
The US can regain manufacturing lead via democratized production. We're all designers now, we might as well be good at it. Kids need design classes/tools in order to create the next gen of innovators. They're already creating their own toys. You heard it here first - The Hot holiday gift for 2012 kids - Makerbot - Make what's in your head!
It took twenty years for the paper revolution to happen it will happen in ten in physical 3D printing revolution.We're creating next generation of manufacturers in same way web/social media created next generation of publishers. We can capture reality, change it, and make it...on an iPad, for free.
Valerie M. Russo is a Senior Social Media Strategist at IIR USA with a technology, anthropology, marketing and publishing business acumen. She is a published poet and also maintains a literary blog. She may be reached at vrusso@iirusa.com. Follow her @Literanista.