Making the Future
Our world is constantly evolving. In recent decades, the digital age has revolutionized the way we consume and share information while green technologies have given us the means to produce our own energy. Soon, the world may experience another seismic shift as we attain the tools to create our own physical products. Produced by the VPRO documentary series, Making the Future examines this inspiring phenomenon which could forever alter the global economy and our way of life.
The bulk of the film takes place at the Maker Faire in San Mateo, California, where a new generation of hobbyists gather to show off their homemade creations. Easily accessible 3-D printers, drones and artificial intelligence technologies have democratized the process of innovation. The Internet provides these inventors with a forum where they can cut out the middle men, and share their concepts with communities of like-minded individuals. They work in collaboration to develop, produce and distribute the products of the future.
Tools and raw materials are cheaper than ever, and start-up costs are dwindling. The goods that used to be produced in mammoth multi-million dollar factories can now be realized in someone's basement. This dynamic poses a major challenge to the economic principles of capitalism as we know them, and it's put large corporations and brick and mortar operations on notice. Behemoths like NASA have recognized the writing on the wall, and are actively recruiting these makers to create autonomous robotic systems and other highly progressive technologies.
The maker movement encompasses much more than just creating your next piece of furniture on a 3-D printer. This do-it-yourself mentality has also reaped rewards in scientific fields like synthetic biology. With a modest workstation and information gathered from the web, an amateur scientist can set up their own homegrown lab where they might possess the capacity to manipulate human DNA and bacteria. This could bring about the next great cure for a mystifying disease. But a shadow figure with more nefarious motives could also produce the next great plague.
Making the Future provides an eye-opening look at the benefits and potential dangers that may accompany the next industrial revolution.
Directed by: Martijn Kieft
@Alicia: Most of that trash made by a Maker machine can be recycled.
@Mark: Super difficult to change your IP address from Netherlands to elsewhere? No. Use a free VPN. Web search for something like "change my IP address" or "free anonymous IP address" or "free VPN" or similar. Some are much better than others so if you don't succeed, try again. By the way, I used one to watch this docu.
@Boreal: It amazing that you are clairvoyant. That or wish to be a dictator. I don't want to live in your or anyone else's "green eco-villages". The whole point of the maker movement is to make things how you (more accurately, how "I") think is best or desirable. Which for me would be far from a "village" or city of any kind where people are forever trying to tell you that you must do and use the "approved" items or methods. The maker movement says: no thank you, I'll make something I like, want, or need. You "could" MAKE significant improvements and comfort in your "green eco-village" with some technology. For instance, a wheel or two under a cart would be much better than dragging stuff around. Where it your cut off point to technology? And when you cut it off there, isn't that quite hypocritical to be using any? It seems you are telling all to use what you think to build with. And if I live where there is an abundance of trees which readily grow back, like your straw, only takes a bit longer, that's off limits due to those who worship trees? No thanks, I can think for myself. Yes there is a problem with corporations raping the land for profit. However, I want to see how your sand, clay, and rock water pipe and water heater? holds up to earthquakes and slides.
It is going AGAINST nature, our nature, that of mankind, to restrict man's ability to create. After all, we were made in the image of our creator. However, it would be nice to be able to lock up all those who weren't wise enough to avoid going where angels fear to tread, those creating worse diseases, like those people in govt. including the various flavors of Collectivism.
Already aware of most of this, still glad I watched since wasn't aware of the Metal maker using a robot arm, which could make small to very large items. Nor was I aware of a publicly available Bio-lab.
I welcome the day when someone comes up with an analyzer, as the Bio-lab gal mentioned could be in the future, which could quickly tell us what is in the food sample we place in it. Nice to be able to verify and keep everyone honest, since when money and sales is concerned, too many people seem to have a huge problem with being honest.
Next most needed item would be a device to put in front of your audio-video device or connect to the audio which detects lies. So the far too many who want to believe what their favorite politician or newscaster says, would have no illusions.
The advance of 3d printing is great, but can also accumulate trash and junk like mass manufaturing. Can't see the end of the present useless stuff culture. People also seem abstract of the natural world when immersed in these hobbies. So, every evolution needs to be embraced with balance.
I got an inkling of the future. It's mind-boggling. I don't think it can be prevented. It's sure to come. Be ready to face it. There is no other way.
This documentary is amazingly good! Extraordinary!
Dutch documentary, but not available in the Netherlands:(
Our Future, to be alive and be part of the living world, is in Living Naturally in Eco-villages,
AND Transforming current cities into GREEN Cities (means every house is built using only Natural and abundantly available materials like Clay, Sand, Rocks, Earth and Hay)
Only This Way continues to support LiFE on our planet and letting the Nature and other living beings continue
Future for Life on planets is NOT in more Technology !
There is no slowing down or controlling technologic development, the only thing you can do is prepare for the coming of the 4th industrial revolution