Makers; The New Industrial Revolution, by: Chris Anderson
1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?
Manufacturing and the ways of the traditional industrial revolution are no longer growing countries and economies as they once were. Automation and and globalization have contributed to a new and rapidly growing type of revolution produced by "Makers". Makers are people that are enthusiastic about something and decide to develop and share their knowledge online. Further they develop their own ideas through the use of technology, like 3D printers, to cut out the traditional middle men of the old industrial revolution. Anderson suggests that the DIY movement is taking over and that more people are shifting to bits instead of atoms. This idea is that software is the way of the future and the potentially new market for the new industrial revolution.
Manufacturing and the ways of the traditional industrial revolution are no longer growing countries and economies as they once were. Automation and and globalization have contributed to a new and rapidly growing type of revolution produced by "Makers". Makers are people that are enthusiastic about something and decide to develop and share their knowledge online. Further they develop their own ideas through the use of technology, like 3D printers, to cut out the traditional middle men of the old industrial revolution. Anderson suggests that the DIY movement is taking over and that more people are shifting to bits instead of atoms. This idea is that software is the way of the future and the potentially new market for the new industrial revolution.
2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?
Anderson's book completely explained the old version of entrepreneurship. Someone has hundreds of ideas, tries to develop them, spend a bunch of money on a patent, then they sell their idea off for royalties in production. Generally these people were tinkerers and many of their ideas were never realized or they never really made money. He then explains how as more technology is developed and information is shared online, this process changes. People have access to prototyping machines or they can order smaller batches of production. All of these advances have changed the way the entrepreneur operates. It relates to the class by describing unmet needs, and the process of production, and the new ways to earn profit, or motivate people.
Anderson's book completely explained the old version of entrepreneurship. Someone has hundreds of ideas, tries to develop them, spend a bunch of money on a patent, then they sell their idea off for royalties in production. Generally these people were tinkerers and many of their ideas were never realized or they never really made money. He then explains how as more technology is developed and information is shared online, this process changes. People have access to prototyping machines or they can order smaller batches of production. All of these advances have changed the way the entrepreneur operates. It relates to the class by describing unmet needs, and the process of production, and the new ways to earn profit, or motivate people.
3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?
I would suggest that students learn to create a new small toy prototype. They could use software provided by the school and the 3D printing machines in the library. I would then ask them to compare the costs of this method vs a traditional manufacturing method.
I would suggest that students learn to create a new small toy prototype. They could use software provided by the school and the 3D printing machines in the library. I would then ask them to compare the costs of this method vs a traditional manufacturing method.
4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?
The aha moment was realizing how DIY movement is furthering the new industrial revolution. It almost suggests that people and their ideas, not products, are driving this revolution.
The aha moment was realizing how DIY movement is furthering the new industrial revolution. It almost suggests that people and their ideas, not products, are driving this revolution.
No comments:
Post a Comment