MIT Innovations Journal

• Fabrication Diagram method - see Sample Diagram
• Simple tools - Sketchup, Google Docs, Wikis

Intro

What: Case for http://www.mitpressjournals.org/itgg Title: The Future of Manufacturing Deadline: complete first draft of your essay by May 1st. Length: Case narratives are 5,000 – 10,000 words. (10 – 20 pages including graphics, charts, photographs). Further guidelines in PDF.

Joe’s Outline: Intro paragh

audacious statment: Democritization of precision machinery Mass Customization Garage Manafucturing revolution Subtractive Rapid Prototyping allows structural goods to be made with no cost to make changes.

support

examples

what to do with this information Purchase only from micro-manufacturers that open-source their products to enable the highest velocity of innovation. No need to purchase problems that just solve one problem, vote with your dollars and purchase products made in a sustainable way with collaborative methods and global information sharing.

about the authors with information on how to get involved

(Below From Colby - In progress) Process: (Highlight in RED anything you dislike, Yellow Questions, Green anything you love) Outline talking points. Create outline. Turn into short paragraph form. Cut down to best content. Expand narrative. Make cohesive. Cut content.

Possible talking points: Agile method from software as appropriate for rapid prototyping Lego-like hypermodularity concept Open sourcing hardware specs, interfaces as a prerequisite for adaptation by and participation in the maker community. The optimization of devices for environments in which resiliency, adaptation, end user serviceability, and modification are paramount. Modification and modularity allows special purpose efficiency to exceed general case efficiency, and at lower cost. Mass Customization opens new markets, and allows that satisfaction of market niches previously too small to be addressed. Long-tail innovation. Expert communities optimize the velocity of innovation, by shortening the iteration, and lowering the barriers to entry, and democratizing contribution The ability to fork hardware as you do software, and the benefit of common API and interchangeable parts. Analogy to service oriented architecture. Analogy to the computer revolution (garage hackers generating incredible productivity) All Industries are being ‘eaten by software’. This now includes hardware, the means of production, and the physical world. Estimate number of humans involved in the innovation process before and after (before, employees at company, after .. engage developing economy of asia, africa, etc in innovation process -- BILLIONS) Argument against closed source, given that China has already has already demonstrated the ability to copy all of this technology. Benefit from bringing them into an innovation ecosystem, allows us to benefit from their innovation contribution. 3d printing / computer / open source design, and CAD Futuretech Theory Post-scarcity: molecular manufacturing through productive nanosystems (long vision), Diamond Mechanosynthesis, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=molecular-lego , etc Futuretech vs Practical Post Scarcity: OSE References and suggested reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Tail#User-driven_innovation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Tail http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460.html http://www.kk.org/newrules/selected_maxims.php http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/09/mf_kellyjohnson/all/1 http://www.tedxamsterdam.com/2009/video-kevin-kelly-on-what-technology-wants/ http://www.kk.org/books/what-technology-wants.php http://sloanreview.mit.edu/the-magazine/2007-fall/49114/breakthroughs-and-the-long-tail-of-in novation/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_nanotechnology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanosynthesis#Diamond_mechanosynthesis http://whatisthought.com/eric.html#economies

Outline: (From Colby - early start.. ) 1. Intro specification: An introduction to the case comprised of a few tightly written paragraphs that give the reader a working understanding of the innovation and a sense of the magnitude of the challenge addressed by the innovation. IE : Open source ecology is an effort to build open source versions of the 50 machines necessary to re-create the comforts of modern civilization.

2. Body specification: The body of the case is a description, usually in chronological order and first-person narrative (if author is the innovator) of the process put into action, including obstacles (both those overcome and those not overcome), and changes in strategy dictated by circumstances. The writing process should focus on clearly explaining the process, the actors, and the technologies involved. Narrative flow can be provided by drawing readers’ attention to critical junctures—crises, transitions, and shifts in strategy. Authors should emphasize motivation, action, and impact. Through out, authors should avoid the passive voice.

IE: We began by identifying and framing the problem We created a wiki for the machines We researched and engaged with special purpose communities and existing projects We created Factor e Farm as a prototype / dog-food location We created initial design prototypes reflecting our concept We engaged in testing We engaged in outreach and fundraising (TED, Kauffman, Shuttleworth) We engaged in community building We prepared to scale manufacturing We iterated ^ 3. Significance section spec: The final section should reflect on what was accomplished by the innovation: its impact on people, practices, and places. We are particularly interested in impacts on governance at all scales. Authors may wish to conclude with a short discussion of where the innovation is headed in light of its impact to date and changes in the environment.

See reference here to governance: Governments compete and maximum welfare exists by maximizing innovation and distribution of innovation : See Adam Smith Resiliency: Governments use subsidy and other tools to promote resiliency when efficiency optimizes beyond the point constituent security Global Supply Chains - foreign policy dependency Natural disaster resiliency Equity and distribution of wealth Enabling of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffersonian_democracy GDP is a function of human labor * productivity (technology/efficiency) * natural resources. Stabilizing or declining population and natural resource situations in parts of the world imply that GDP growth can only continue through gains in efficiency and innovation. Distribution of wealth for harmonious society. Efficiencies made through IP have less trickle down. Creative destruction in capitalism -- software eating other industries.. now means of production. Foriegn policy: Aid to Africa -- grain dumping on an agricultural economy vs open source user serviceable means of production :: OSE Means of dissent -- does one truly have the means to dissent if they cannot as a group control their means to the production and distribution of basic survival necessities.. IE if the government controls food water and transportation.. how would one rebel?

4. We encourage authors to employ text boxes or “side bars” to highlight illustrative anecdotes, core concepts, notably policy impacts, or technical specifics. These boxes can be useful tools for elaborating upon important topics without disrupting narrative flow.

Resiliency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Want_of_a_Nail_%28proverb%29 from Benjamin Franklin’s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_to_Wealth Software is eating the world // The Network Aid

From conversation with Michael.. stories.. factor e farm, CEB at night, Yoonseo Thiel fellow, community development, story of ironworker. Community Crops, Turbine Flats. Marcin worrking, physicist, seclusion to creating community. Smash the tractor into a ditch, improvised houses, rapid prototype. First impressions, challenges, failures, community, Marcin monk-ness, crisis points. Truefan. Writing in book. Aug 6 Draft.. Influences (SU). Aaron’s story.