[p2p-research] replab and replication

[Paul D. Fernhout]

Kevin Carson wrote:
> On 11/24/09, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for someone to explain the importance of the replab initiative
>> to our audience? would you have some time?
> 
> I'd be glad to, but since I'm not an engineer or a hardware person my
> explanation would probably be of limited value.
> 
> And IMO while self-replicability is a plus, all other things being
> equal, it's not all that important in itself.  What's really important
> is having all the prerequisites of replicating an entire Fab Lab in a
> networked, resilient local economy so that there's no danger of having
> the chain of production broken.  I agree with Franz Nahrada's
> observations re OSE that resilience and replicability are best
> achieved at the level of the community economy, rather than either the
> individual tool or the individual shop.

I'd agree with that point about a community economy too. Although I think we 
will see a progression over time, including some sudden singularities 
perhaps as systems at smaller scales like a shop or a 3D printer become more 
capable as ideas suddenly seem to come together. But for the next five or 
ten years, certainly the community level is where a lot of planning and 
design makes sense.

--Paul Fernhout
http://www.pdfernhout.net/
http://www.beyondajoblessrecovery.org/