Peer To Peer Meets Manufacturing

Crashmarik writes "Small times has an article detailing UCB advances in desktop manufacturing. They raise the possibility for effectively downloading physical objects through the net. We have allready seen the reaction "Property Holders" over downloading music, what is the likely upshot of being able to copy physical objects. More importantly what are the implications for our society as we move out of an age of scarcity to an age of plenty ?" Great article - the author of it also won The Foresight Institute's prize in communications for 2002.

Comments

Alot of Capitalists would rather commit suicide

[HanzoSan]

I've spoken to alot of people including some on Slashdot who would prefer to commit suicide than live in a socialist society.

Intellectual Property will die out just the same, as once people learn that sharing is the better of the 2. Each item mapped gives inventors more power and leverage to work with, hence more goods. It'll turn this capitalistic country into a pure form of socialism, one where all needs are provided. Or at least, could be capitalistic with a socialism base floor.


This will never be allowed to happen, people would riot at the thought of such an idiotic and foolish idea.

Still, fabs would have to be made and sold, and only a large fab could make smaller fabs. You also have the problem with Energy consumption. Fusors may be the only realistic way of capturing large amounts of energy.

Yeah but what would our jobs be? Like I said alot of people would commit suicide in a world with no jobs and no work.

There will STILL be an economy, just the balance of power will be radically shifted.

With less jobs, even if theres an economy, you wont have a job.

Re:Matter printer?

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

Redundant? The article is not linked in any other comment so how is this redundant?

FURTHER PROOF THAT THE MODERATION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK.

Re:Its not a bad thing for me, I'm a Socialist.

[crazyphilman]

Here's my dream country:

Healthcare, childcare, care for the needy all treated as national priorities. Jobs programs and abolition of all foreign outsourcing and work visas (if you don't have a green card or citizenship, you don't work for a company headquartered here, period). Perhaps use the Switzerland model: tax all noncitizens at 100% for all work done in-country (I love those crazy Swiss!). Unionization across the board for all positions.

A firm, solid, religiously-held commitment to the bill of rights. Respect of real property rights (less "eminent domain" seizures of property). Decriminalization of minor offenses (slow down the prison industry). Eliminate civil forfeiture. Emphasize small businesses instead of large corporations. Reduce emphasis on consumer culture and increase emphasis on personal growth, the arts, technical creativity. Abolition of advertising-driven television (it sucks ass, anyway). Abolition of bans on using home computers as servers when connecting via cable.

In general, a capitalist society in which the capitalism has been reigned in by a largely socialist government, and the needs of the many far outweighing the needs of the wealthy few.

I don't think I'll live to see it, but it's fun to dream. ;)