User:Tch5085
Blog 2: 9/8/12
1. I think the goal a 'self-replicating universal constructor' is feasible, but only to a certain extent. While this should be theoretically possible, I think the goal will ultimately be hindered by parts of the machine that are simply to difficult to produce at a high quality without more complex means of production. To be able to produce parts like motors and microprocessors at a reasonable quality, the self-replicating machine would have to grow in size, complexity, and cost exponentially.
2. The phrase 'wealth without money' refers to the idea that people without money could still produce wealth. In the context of a replicating universal constructor, this implies that people who would otherwise have to sell their labor would instead be given their own means of production to generate wealth. People would have their own means of producing wealth through the production of goods, without the need for extensive capital first.
3. I think the RepRap project will continue to grow, but that its use as a household production factory will still be limited. While it may be useful for creating small simple objects, and certainly for prototyping, as a means of producing more complex or higher quality objects, I think it will plateau in its evolution. Since everything in economics is ultimately driven by money, in the end it will probably still be more cost effective to mass produce goods as opposed to mass producing machines to produce goods. This is not to say that these machines will not have a place in the future. I just think their use will not be able to extend far enough to completely eliminate the need for industrial production. However, I can certainly envision a world where people simply download the design for a product they want and print it out right there on the spot.
Blog 1: 8/3/12
1. Useful Peristaltic Pump I think this pump could be especially useful for small volume water circulation, and could possibly be used on a water cooled hot end. ref
2. Artistic/Beautiful Gear Heart The fact that this is a functional piece of kinetic art I think makes this keychain item particularly artistic and nifty.
3. Pointless/Useless Shutter Shades I find these to be useless in real life, so I don't find a 3D printed version to be any less useless.
4. Funny LOL Coin I'm a fan of rage comics, so I got a chuckle out of finding this one.
5. Weird Colberthulhu Stephen Colbert's head on an octopus is just disturbing in my opinion.
