Designing Reality: How to Survive and Thrive in the Third Digital Revolution

by Neil Gershenfeld, Alan Gershenfeld, Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld

That's the promise, and peril, of the third digital revolution, where anyone will be able to make (almost) anything

Two 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.

Genres: Science, Technology, Nonfiction, Education, Engineering, Computer Science

304 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2017

Reviews

[Bria · Rating 2 out of 5]

We listened to a podcast with Neil Gershenfeld and it was absolutely fascinating, swiftly rocketing him to the top of our Very Smart and Interesting People to Pay Attention to list. Hence, this book - which was a huge disappointment. Boring, not getting very far into big interesting ideas, although I suppose some of them were touched upon. Seemed like mostly a sales pitch for Fab Labs.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped reading this technology piece about halfway through since it is about two years out of date, and my rule with comp sci is to move a little, just a smidgen faster than that.
Maybe half a year off the press, nine months...?

It offered several exciting advances! You might like to see what is going on with fabrication laboratories, fab labs.

I kept it for as long as I did since I wanted to see what was happening in real life. You know, they are constructing brand new things out of absolutely nothing in those "fab labs" - so people are living longer than ever before because scientists/engineers are constructing new livers and gall bladders and other miscellaneous organs that have gone bad.
That is what I have drawn from this book.

I just Googled where the nearest one was. It took me to this website. However, I found Google's interface easier to identify that in my case, this one is closest.

That is thrilling! But on the other hand, can we really create a lot and where does all this stuff end up having to go? I don't want to be crowded out of existence, do you?

I'll get back to you on that.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book by three scientist brothers who study 3D printing and ther forms of customizable "fabrication". They believe that the number of "fabrication labs" will rise exponentially until they can collectively decentralized manufacturing. The book talks about the potential applications of this "third digital revolution". My notes on this book:
1) they fail to discuss how they will achieve economies of scale that can compete with traditional manufacturing
2) the books reads like a runaway daydream by people who are heavily invested in this exponential growth actualizing
3) if you have never considered 3D printing and how it might shape the future, part 1 is a good introduction to the topic from a optimistic perspective. It probably should have been a blog.

[Victor Ladrière · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea is interesting, though a bit farfetched to call it a "3rd digital revolution".
I got bored before the end of chapter one.

[Jeff Wilsbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm familiar with Neil's work and he says here what he usually says about additive manufacturing growing. I think he's probably mostly right.

Alan and Joel are more concerned with the social impact of this advancing technology. Their concern is well founded and their look into how this might effect society are correct.

When Alan and Joel progress into solutions (predictive social sciences) I think they become blind to history and present circumstances. Without unprecedented change in social/economic/political dynamics their social science solutions will be a bug on the windshield of market-based technology progress.

[Blaine Morrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gershenfeld brothers present a case for digital fabrication as the 3rd digital revolution, and it's a convincing one, albeit laid on thickly. There is more ideology and prognostication here than nuts and bolts, so that the reader will certainly be impressed by what looks like the "next big thing" but understanding much less how it works.

[José Luis · Rating 3 out of 5]

O tema é interessante demais, a revolução da fabricação pessoal habilitada por software, equipamentos sofisticados e Internet já está acontecendo. Mas o livro é prolixo, extenso, caberia muito bem em 25% das páginas. Leitura cansativa, melhor ler bons artigos na web.