3D Printing (video)

In my 'series' about the Maker movement, I wrote about the new makers and Fab Labs. I also mentioned some resources. At the moment I'm reviewing Makers by Chris Anderson. As this article isn't ready yet, I post a quick but interesting video by PBS Off Book.

Enjoy!

Maker movement (resources)

In my series about Makers, I wrote about the new makers and Fab Labs. For those interested, I gathered some links for further reading. Do you know other useful resources? Please mention them in the comments or drop me a line.

Enjoy!

3D Printing refers to any of the various processes for printing a three-dimensional object.

CAD is the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

CAM is the use of computer software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces.

CNC Machines. Numerical control (NC) is the automation of machine tools that are operated by precisely programmed commands encoded on a storage medium, as opposed to controlled manually via hand wheels or levers, or mechanically automated via cams alone.

MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms is an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the boundary between computer science and physical science.

Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication

Fab Lab is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and invention, providing stimulus for local entrepreneurship. A Fab Lab is also a platform for learning and innovation: a place to play, to create, to learn, to mentor, to invent.

Instructables is a place that lets you explore, document, and share your creations.

Local Motors. We combine co-creation and micro-manufacturing to bring hardware innovations to market at unprecedented speed.

MAKE magazine brings the do-it-yourself mindset to all the exciting projects in your life and helps you make the most of technology at home and away from home.

Maker Faire is a family friendly event celebrating technology, education, science, arts, crafts, engineering, food, sustainability, and more. 

Maker Movement. Community enabled by a rekindled interest in manufacturing and hardware, accompanied by the proliferation of inexpensive or less expensive distributed, democratizing manufacturing tools.

The Maker Movement Manifesto: Rules for Innovation in the New World of Crafters, Hackers, and Tinkerers

Maker Stuff supplies the most innovative equipments which turn your ideas into your product. 

Makers: The New Industrial Revolution

Popular Mechanics helps people build, fix and customize the technology in their lives, from houses to hot rods to gaming systems.

Prosumer is a portmanteau originally formed by contracting producer with the word consumer.

Thingiverse is a thriving design community for discovering, making, and sharing 3D printable things. As the world's largest 3D printing community, we believe that everyone should be encouraged to create and remix 3D things, no matter their technical expertise or previous experience.

The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism

Zero to Maker: Learn (Just Enough) to Make (Just About) Anything
 

Unleash your creativity in a Fab Lab (video)

Last week, I wrote about the new makers. Neil Gerschenfeld was one of the people in the documentary.

This professor of the MIT Center for bits and atoms founded the Fab Labs. According to its website a...

"Fab Lab is the educational outreach component of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), an extension of its research into digital fabrication and computation.
A Fab Lab is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and invention, providing stimulus for local entrepreneurship.
A Fab Lab is also a platform for learning and innovation: a place to play, to create, to learn, to mentor, to invent.
To be a Fab Lab means connecting to a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers and innovators- -a knowledge sharing network that spans 30 countries and 24 time zones.
Because all Fab Labs share common tools and processes, the program is building a global network, a distributed laboratory for research and invention."

To spread his ideas, he wrote Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication and held an interesting TED Talk. Altough it was recorded in 2006, it's still fascinating.

Enjoy!

The new makers

It's been silent on my blog. For too long in fact. But hey, I've also other things to do! Now summer is over - at least here - I'm able to write again. Today, about the Maker Movement.

As I told earlier, we've a nice initiative in The Netherlands which is called Permanent Beta (as the site is in Dutch, you may translate it). The initiators may be inspired by the authors of The Start-up of You who encourage us - surprise, surprise - to live in permanent beta.

Among other activities, we follow a Dutch series of documentaries ('Tegenlicht') and discuss them during our MeetUPs. A few weeks ago, we started with The new makers.

After a short welcome, we watched the documentary. Among others prof. Neil Gerschenfeld of the MIT Center for bits and atoms told about his experiences at university. Jeremy Rifkin, consultant and author of The Zero Marginal Cost Society, gave his opinion on the development of producing at near zero marginal costs.

Afterwards, three people gave their opinion about the growth of the maker movement. We had good discussions, told each other about new developments and socialized.

Well, that's a brief summary, isn't it? For those interested, pictures, reports and even videos (in Dutch) of the event can be found on Permanent Beta and MeetUP.

I got interested in the topic. I think I'll start reading Makers and/or Fab. Next week more about Fab Labs. Are you already a prosumer? Do you use a 3D printer for example?

Enjoy!

Mechanical keyboard

Picture: Cooler Master

Everyday, I use a computer. A laptop at work or a PC at home. Being a lifehacker, I'm always looking for better solutions. For example, I like and use the Colemak keyboard layout.

Today, I'll present you my new piece of hardware: I bought a Cooler Master Quickfire XT mechanical keyboard.

For some time, I was looking for a better typing experience. Using my computers intensively, that would make sense. As a kid, I learned touch typing. I'm my parents still grateful for that! Unfortunately, I was taught QWERTY in stead of Colemak so I had to switch later.

First of all, I went looking for an ergonomic keyboard. There are many types of them: curved ones, split ones and ones with alternative key layouts. Altough the manufacturers and their resellers praised their products, I didn't find convincing evidence they were worth their money. I even found some articles stating the opposite. I'm glad for anybody who likes these devices but I won't buy one.

So I did some more research. After reading some articles about mechanical keyboards on Lifehacker.com, I became interested in this category. Like many others, I started computing with a mechanical IBM keyboard. Later on, I got used to to membrames which are most common nowadays.

Most inexpensive keyboards utilize a flexible membrane layer beneath it's buttons. Users have to press the keys entirely to type. Mechanical keyboards however, use a switch underneath every button. They provide tactile feedback and a clicking sound. They're also durable.

There are many types of switches available. Each of them with their own characteristics and purpose (gaming, fast typing, etc.). I choose Cherry MX Blue switches as these are recommended for typing.

After reading some reviews, I decided to buy a Cooler Master QuickFire XT. Why? Because it was the cheapest available. Mechanical keyboards are rather expensive. I'd liked to buy one with eighty something keys as I use with my laptop but the full size model was less expensive.

The Cooler Master is about two months on my desk now and I love it! The keyboard is rather heavy and looks solid. The kit comes with some additional keys and a little tool to remove keys. Directly, I removed the Windows keys and replaced them with CM logo keys. It worked directly on my Debian powered PC. The typing experience is good: I like the feedback of the keys.

Is such an expensive keyboard necessary? In my opinion not. Yes, it seems durable and yes, it provides comfort which is nice if you spent many hours using it. But for much less you may buy a decent, proper functioning keyboard as well.

Do you use a mechanical keyboard?

Keepod

Recently, I wrote about portable Operating Systems. I found out, I'm not the only one. ;-) The people of Keepod created a complete Operating System on an USB stick. By seperating the software from the hardware, Keepod offers a simple and cheap solution for personal computing. Nice isn't it? But, do we need it?

As the costs of this way of computing is very low, it comes in reach for the poor. According to Keepod, 5 billion people don't have access to personal computing, let alone the internet. People don't need to possess a computer themselves any longer. Access to (a shared) one is enough. As the system requirements are low, old and refurbished computers will do.

Keepod contains Linux which is stable, 'light weight' and free (as in 'freedom'). Users are able to use the enclosed software. However, they may be able to install their own applications. All data are stored on the thumb drive, so they carry their data and don't leave traces on the guest PC's.

The costs of such a USB stick are only $ 7 (!). The Keepod project is in search for funding at Indiegogo. This isn't the first idea to bring computing to developing countries. An earlier initiative was One Laptop Per Child. As the name states, it's aim is to provide every child with a laptop for education purposes. Therefore they developed a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop. Many of them are sold and distributed.

Good initiatives! Do you know other projects like these?

Pandigital Novel e-reader

Picture: Pandigital

A few months ago, I bought an e-reader. As you may know, I read a lot. I've collected a bunch of e-books in different formats like EPUB, PDF, RTF and TXT. As I dont't like reading on a computer - not even on a laptop or a netbook - I went looking for an e-reader. My wishes were: a good screen, extendible memory and long battery life.

On Marktplaats (sort of ebay in the Netherlands) I found a used Pandigital Novel. It came its original packaging, included the manual and had nearly tracks of use. As it was designed for the American market, I need an adapter (also included) to charge it directly. However, there's also the possibility to charge its battery through a USB connection.

Along functionality to organize and read books (duhh), it's also possible to store and listen to music and to keep and view pictures. Furthermore, it contains a calendar, a dictionary and even a game (Sudoku). And last but not least: there's a WiFi connection, a web browser and an e-mail programme.

On my computer, the books are stored in Calibre, an open source e-book collection and reading application. I connected the e-reader to my PC and copied some books from Calibre to the Novel's library. It's even possible to convert files to EPUB although books with 'difficult' layouts will transform strangely. Unfortunately, tags aren't copied. However, there are several manners to sort the books.

Reading on the Novel is easy: open the book, zoom if necessary and turn pages by the screen or - as I like - a button. One can bookmark pages, make notes and highlight text. I used the e-reader at home for several weeks and I liked it. Texts are easy to read whether being in- or outdoors, in daylight or artificial light. Some PDF's are hardly to read as one has to scroll, not only vertically but also horizontally, e.g. every line. WiFi works well but browsing the web is not a joy as the pages build slow. Pictures however, are shown very good (in black and white).

When going on holidays, I had to decide whether or not to take the e-reader with me. We like camping so we carry a lot of stuff. An e-reader is more efficient than a dozen books. But, will it be possible to charge it? A friend of mine took his e-reader last year with him... and broke it. He hadn't anything to read during that holiday! I choose the safe way: I took two paperbacks with me along the e-reader. I had a lot of fun using it. For the first time I could choose which books to read! I had to charge it every four or five days. Once the Novel needed a reset. Strange but not a problem: being a Scout and lifehacker, I always carry a paperclip in my moneybelt.

All in all, I like the Pandigital Novel. The screen is well readible in many circumstances, it's easy to manage my books along with Calibre and the Novel has a good battery life. Reading PDF's is not always a pleasure. I don't use the e-reader for other purposes like web browsing, listening music and playing games.

Do you use an e-reader? Do you read books on a tablet and/or a smartphone?

Happy reading!