Gershenfeld, who runs MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, foresees a time when computers will upgrade from PCs to PFs, or personal fabricators. This eye-opening survey of "fab labs" completes the progression in Gershenfeld's earlier studies of the overlapping of computer science and physical science, such as When Things Start to Think (1999).

This book was alright. I like the idea of the democratization of content going all the way to the democratization of the production of content. ( )

I can't wait for the era of personal fabricators -that is the topic that this book is about- to dawn. The subtitle of this book summarizes this book nicely: "The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication". Yet, I feel anyone who decides to read this must be forewarned: it will drive you crazy that this technology isn't readily available right now. Imagine a device that enables you to download and print out 3d items just as you download software and print out pages now. That's what this book is all about. In the future, people will manufacture their own goods and we really will have mass customization. If this interests you, I recommend that you read this amazing book! ( )