http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2010/01/darknet-economi es.html
this is background to what follows Monday, 25 January 2010 DARKNET ECONOMIES <http://makezine.com/21/> 21If you haven't had a chance to read "Make <http://makezine.com/> " magazine yet, please do. It's likely the coolest magazine on the planet right now. The current issue, 21 <http://makezine.com/21/> , dives into the rapidly evolving world of desktop manufacturing (additive and subtractive <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/07/journal-the-sw itch-to-local-manufacturing.html?cid=6a00d83451576d69e2011571038070970c> 3D <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/07/journal-the-sw itch-to-local-manufacturing.html?> fabs). What should be apparent to anyone reading it, is that desktop manufacturing is on the cusp of becoming as mainstream, inexpensive, and easy to use as personal computers (with similar effect). What this means in the mid to long term is that manufacturing will quickly become more about manipulation of information (designs, controls, etc.) than materials. The actual physical production takes little space, money, and basic materials (perfect for decentralized resilient communities that need to make their own stuff). This also means that manufacturing will start to really ride Moore's law, particularly as network platforms are designed to accelerate it. Fortunately, this shift towards information dominance isn't unique to manufacturing. It's impacting nearly every industry, service, and product. It's even taking shape in agriculture, as the first signs of a transformation from energy/labor intensive agriculture to information heavy permaculture design emerge. What's exciting about this shift to information dominance, is that it makes our efforts to build an instrumented network (a darknet), one that enables the rapid establishment of thriving resilient communities, not only possible but probable. Our opportunity then, is to build our network in a such a way that the information flow for making and doing things is better, faster, and more easily utilized than the status quo system by several orders of magnitude. Is this possible? Sure. A good starting point is the understanding that our new network's economy will be centered on the production and flow of information 'property'. The only question that remains is whether we use the same broken systems for generating innovation, managing production, and allocating investments. My answer: that's probably a very bad idea. More later. Begin forwarded message: From: Global Guerrillas <[email protected]> Date: August 17, 2010 1:07:40 AM EDT Subject: Global Guerrillas RESILIENT COMMUNITY: Forget Afghanistan, These are Needed in Detroit etc. Global <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/> Guerrillas RESILIENT COMMUNITY: Forget Afghanistan, These are Needed in Detroit etc. <http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.co m/typepad/rzYD> <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/> Link to Global Guerrillas _____ RESILIENT COMMUNITY: Forget Afghanistan, These are Needed in <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/rzYD/~3/wJAFkruWzwg/resilient-commun ity-forget-afghanistan-these-are-needed-in-detroit-etc.html?utm_source=feedb urner&utm_medium=email> Detroit etc. Posted: 16 Aug 2010 04:19 PM PDT <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451576d69e20133f31cb5c2970b-p i> MPHThe US Military Special Operations Command is building eight "mobile factories" that fit into standard shipping containers. These factories are based on the successful experience the US Army has had with something similar called <http://www.cleggind.com/specialstructures/mobilepartsmachineshop.htm> the MPH. From Strategypage <http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlog/articles/20100814.aspx> : The MPH was developed when the army realized that the easiest way to get the many rarely requested, but vital, replacement parts to the troops, was to manufacture the parts in the combat zone. In short order, this led to the construction of a portable parts fabrication system, called MPH, that fit into a standard 8x8x20 foot shipping container. The original version used two containers, but smaller equipment and more powerful computers eventually made it possible to use one container. The key to making this work was the availability of computer controlled machine tools, which can take a block of the proper metal, and machine it into the desired part. The computer controlled machine tools have been around for decades, but the big breakthrough was the development of CAD (Computer Assisted Design) software for PCs in the 1980s, which made the process of designing, and then fabricating, a part much faster. The MPH has a high speed satellite data link, which enables it to obtain the CAD file for a part. Many CAD files are already stored in the MPH. Often, the MPH staff figure out a way to improve a part, based on the broken parts they see, and what the troops tell them. In the last six years, MPHs have manufactured over 100,000 parts, on the spot. This saves days, or weeks, that it would take to order the part from the manufacturer, and the MPH part is usually a lot cheaper (because the air freight and manufacturer mark ups to pay for maintaining the part in inventory). The next version of the MPH has a 3-D part builder, which uses metal dust and a laser to build a part. Hyperlocal manufacturing is real. Think of it as one of the economic hearts of a thriving resilient community. It's a revolution already in motion, as you can see in the rapid spread of hackerspaces <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2010/08/journal-forget -silicon-valley-and-wall-street.html> . Connect these hackerspaces, and the communities they serve, with <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/09/resilient-com- 1.html> networks that allow people to share, buy/sell, modify, customize, etc. designs for products/parts, and we are on our a way to <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2010/01/darknet-econom ies.html> a resilient decentralized economy that can survive the economic dislocation to come. <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/typepad/rzYD/~4/wJAFkruWzwg?utm_source=feedb urner&utm_medium=email> You are subscribed to email updates from Global <http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/> Guerrillas To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe <http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=74cjscRvbCi0vE4QcWzX4Dt VeVM> now. Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610
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