Designing Reality

More about the book

That's the promise, and peril, of the third digital revolution, where anyone will be able to make (almost) anythingTwo digital revolutions -- computing and communication -- have radically transformed our economy and lives. A third digital revolution is fabrication. Today's 3D printers are only the start of a trend, accelerating exponentially, to turn data into Neil Gershenfeld and his collaborators ultimately aim to create a universal replicator straight out of Star Trek. While digital fabrication promises us self-sufficient cities and the ability to make (almost) anything, it could also lead to massive inequality. The first two digital revolutions caught most of the world flat-footed, thanks to Designing Reality that won't be true this time.