Bre Pettis has a Vision
My son is really into robots, so I brought him down to Gnomedex checkout Bre Pettis’ “robot that makes things” called MakerBot. Needless to say, he thought it was awesome (and so do I)!
Simply put, Bre Pettis is a man a vision. Here’s how the story goes:
40 years ago computing was done on mainframes. Over time, smaller, semi-portable “personal computers” were developed. First, it was the domain of researches and hobbyists. I’m sure the old guard said it would never work. But, it did–now most computing is done on personal computers.
Same goes for manufacturing: everything is made in a big factory with big machines. But, what if in the future everybody had a manufacturing machine at home to make stuff? You need a new car key, so you make it in your own private factory…a little machine the size of your toaster that sits in the kitchen. New sunglasses? A part for your computer?
That may sound crazy now, but so did personal computers 40 years ago. Bre is on the forefront: MakerBot is the first reasonably affordable (under $1000) “consumer manufacturing” machine.
Sure, it can’t make much now, but the first personal computers didn’t do much either. Allow the time for the technology to develop, for collaboration and inventiveness to occur…it will happen.
Trust me, in 25 years, “Bre Pettis” will be a household name.