John Tierney writing in the Atlantic:
New technologies like 3-D printers and laser cutters have boosted entrepreneurial activity in American communities...and they could do the same across Africa
Two and a half years ago, James Fallows wrote an article about the changing state of American manufacturing. He argued that developments such as 3-D printing are enabling startup companies to capitalize on "a strategy that combines quick response, local skills, and a global marketplace to foster manufacturing in U.S. cities."
A workroom in the Columbus Idea Foundry, a vibrant makerspace in Ohio's biggest city (John Tierney)
And over the past 20 months, our American Futures reporting team that Jim leads has visited nearly a score of small and medium-sized cities around the country, generally taking note of developments and patterns that are key to understanding how America is changing—the shift in immigration or racial patterns, the rise or fall of a regional economy, the change in industrial base, or the shifting flow of trade or manufacturing.
As part of that taking stock, we've noticed the remarkable number of "makerspaces," "fab labs," tech incubators, and similar facilities dedicated to helping makers, designers, creators, and entrepreneurs bring their vision of a new product to fruition, translating an idea into a tangible, manufactured item. We've come across these spaces in Greenville, South Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and many other places. And Deb Fallows has explored the way other civic institutions, particularly public libraries, are getting on-board, providing space and equipment for such endeavors...[continue reading]
