Sometimes all this digital stuff gets a bit too abstract... time for some real stuff.
It is great to see exponential concepts being applied to projects that actually produce physical stuff in the real world. Even more cool is when the ideas are meant to be shared and to build, in a literal and physical way, communities.
One of the potentially exponential technology ideas which has fascinated me for a long time is the open source ecology:
http://opensourceecology.org/about-overview/
https://www.facebook.com/OpenSourceEcology?ref=hl
It promotes self-reliance, distributed production capability and resilience. (maybe ideal for @papa-prepper someone tell him). The idea is to be able to enable end users to build their own production machines and tools they need for ever more sophisticated end products.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source_Ecology
Open Source Ecology (OSE) is a network of farmers, engineers, architects and supporters, whose main goal is the eventual manufacturing of the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS). As described by Open Source Ecology "the GVCS is an open technological platform that allows for the easy fabrication of the 50 different Industrial Machines that it takes to build a small civilization with modern comforts.
Explained in a TED talk:
https://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski
The concept of rapid prototyping tools that are "bootstrappable" is really interesting:
Step 1 conceptualise machines for essential fundamental tasks, (Global Village Construction Set)
Step 2 Then prototype them and simplify and optimise design so other users can replicate them and then open source the plans!
Step 3 distribute documented plans of the designs to other makers, who are free to do what they like: they can start a business building and selling the tractor e.g.
Step 4 Users start bootstrapping their production equipment with self built OSE designed lathes, CNC laser cutters 3D printers,
Step 5 the OSE users start to move up the production value chain making ever more sophisticated end products: production tools as well as consumer goods
The philosophy is to allow users to produce each part of the value chain as much as possible (where it makes sense)
Even extracting and producing raw materials, obviously generating their own alternative energy, but also the engines motors and pumps to make all the other machines work.
There are different categories
Habitat
Compressed earth block press v4 · Concrete mixer · Sawmill · Bulldozer · Backhoe
Agriculture
Tractor: LifeTrac v3 · Seeder · Hay rake · Microtractor · Rototiller · Spader · Hay cutter · Trencher · Bakery oven · Dairy milking machine · Microcombine harvester · Baler · Well-drilling rig
Industry
Multimachine · Ironworker · Laser cutter · Welder · Plasma cutter · Induction furnace · CNC torch table · Metal roller · Wire and rod mill · Press forge · Universal rotor · Drill press · 3D Printer · 3D Scanner · CNC circuit mill · Industrial robot · Woodchipper / Hammermill
Energy
Power Cube: PowerCube v7 · Gasifier burner · Solar concentrator · Electric motor / generator · Hydraulic motor · Nickel–iron battery · Steam engine · Steam generator · Wind turbine · Pelletizer · Universal power supply
Materials
Aluminium extractor · Bioplastic extruder
Transportation
Car · Truck
The idea is to be relatively low-tech and prioritise simplicity and resilience.
Meaning that these machines are not necessarily designed to be super robust or be super efficient, but resilient meaning that the design allows the users to BUILD and REPAIR the machines THEMSELVES.
This is what usually goes wrong with development aid. Expensive machinery that is bought with best intentions for developing countries doesn't last a year in the harsh environment and the lack of affordable spare parts.
This kit is not simple either: these are machines that are progressively more sophisticated and allow users to produce and most physical things that any economy needs to advance.
But they build on each other. There are machines that compress bricks, to build houses and machine shops really fast. Then there are the plans for the machines in the machine shop itself which allows to build parts yourself for other machines! Up to the level of laser CNC machines and manufacturing their own print boards!
That in turn allows to build ever more sophisticated machines like cars, alternative energy etc...
Wish these guys where on steemit.com would be a great way to fund and distribute their designs. Looks like a very cool community, would be great having them post on steemit.com !