How FabLab went viral - Neil Gershenfeld

The video discusses the unexpected success of the Fab Lab outreach, initially intended to set up a few labs with NSF support. This initiative went viral, significantly impacting the maker movement by providing tools for ordinary people to invent. The video also highlights the emerging science of fabrication, which combines material, computer, and physical sciences, creating a new field that bridges basic research and the future of making things.

What was the original intention behind setting up the Fab Labs?

• To provide tools for advanced manufacturing

• To revolutionize the maker movement

• To fulfill a small-scale project with NSF

• To create a global network of labs

What unexpected outcome did the Fab Lab project experience?

• It went viral and expanded globally

• It was limited to a few local communities

• It failed to gain any attention

• It led to the creation of new technologies

What gap did the success of the Fab Lab initiative reveal?

• Shortage of skilled workers in the industry

• Need for more government funding

• Absence of tools for ordinary people to invent

• Lack of interest in advanced manufacturing

Which fields are merging to form the emerging science of fabrication?

• Economics, sociology, and anthropology

• Material science, computer science, and physical science

• Art, design, and architecture

• Biology, chemistry, and physics

What is the significance of the emerging science of fabrication?

• It is limited to theoretical research

• It creates a foundation for future making and the maker movement

• It focuses solely on computer science

• It rehashes ideas from the 50s