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The parent comment is perhaps a bit too thin on content and too much on the conspiracy theory side (edit: it was grayed out when I wrote this reply), but it doe

The parent comment is perhaps a bit too thin on content and too much on the conspiracy theory side (edit: it was grayed out when I wrote this reply), but it does touch on an interesting question: is our progress limited more by technology, or is it limited more by socio-economic factors? Consider that a toy steam engine was built by Heron of Alexandria around 2000 years ago, and yet nobody got the idea of harnessing it to replace human labor. Perhaps this can be explained in part by not-quite advanced metallurgy, but what about the fact that society back then relied on very cheap slave labor? What role did that play? Think about what the business model for making 3d printers pervasive could be. If you manage to do that, you might become the next generation's Bill Gates. Too bad I don't have an answer there...

dwiel 15y ago
The guys at open source ecology might not have the business model, per se, but I think they're headed in the right direction. Rather than selling the 3d printers (and related technologies), 'sell' a community which requires of you only 4 hours a week of work to participate and all it takes to join is whatever it takes to transport your body there. Maybe its not 4 hours a week, but 8 or 2 - either way its not going to be much and it will only get smaller.
forgottenpaswrd 15y ago
"Consider that a toy steam engine was built by Heron of Alexandria around 2000 years ago, and yet nobody got the idea of harnessing it to replace human labor. Perhaps this can be explained in part by not-quite advanced metallurgy," Exactly, it is explained by not quite advanced metallurgy and tools. The steam engine works thanks to the small tolerances industrial lathes gave us that let a cylinder to carry a piston without fluids getting out. Watt had to create himself special tools for the creation of his engine. I have a link somewhere in my browser but zotero search is bullsh*t.

dwiel 15y ago

The guys at open source ecology might not have the business model, per se, but I think they're headed in the right direction. Rather than selling the 3d printers (and related technologies), 'sell' a community which requires of you only 4 hours a week of work to participate and all it takes to join is whatever it takes to transport your body there. Maybe its not 4 hours a week, but 8 or 2 - either way its not going to be much and it will only get smaller.

forgottenpaswrd 15y ago

"Consider that a toy steam engine was built by Heron of Alexandria around 2000 years ago, and yet nobody got the idea of harnessing it to replace human labor. Perhaps this can be explained in part by not-quite advanced metallurgy," Exactly, it is explained by not quite advanced metallurgy and tools. The steam engine works thanks to the small tolerances industrial lathes gave us that let a cylinder to carry a piston without fluids getting out. Watt had to create himself special tools for the creation of his engine. I have a link somewhere in my browser but zotero search is bullsh*t.