Chris Anderson's Third Big Idea: "Atoms & Bits"
Perhaps you were wondering what Wired editor Chris Anderson is up to, after putting forward ideas called "The Long Tail" and "Free"? Well, now we know! His new idea is called "Atoms & Bits." He will be giving it away… for free. (Oh and a book deal. And some speaking gigs. Whatever.) But what is "Atoms & Bits," besides a good name for a futuristic dog food brand? You can find out at a breakfast coming soon!
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL BREAKFAST PRESENTATION
CHRIS ANDERSON, WIRED EDITOR IN CHIEF
Best-Selling Author of The Long Tail and FreePREVIEWING HIS NEXT BIG IDEA: ATOMS & BITS
Transformative change happens when industries democratize. In recent years publishing, broadcasting and communications have undergone a cataclysmic shift, increasing the range of participants and participation in everything digital. Now the innovation models from the universe of bits are extending to the world of atoms, too. Thanks to low-cost DIY factories in China, anyone with a good idea and bit of expertise can create products for users anywhere in the world. The entrepreneurial potential of a million garage tinkerers is about to be unleashed on global markets-no tooling required. "Three guys with laptops" used to describe a web startup. Now it describes a company that makes things, too.
Friday, December 11 | 8:30-10 AM
The WIRED Store
415 West 13th St, between 9th Avenue & Washington St
RSVP to [redacted]Sponsored by: American Airlines
This event is complimentary. Space is limited.
My mind is certainly blown.
It's an irresistable combination that gives your Future dog joy in every bite.
Atoms and Bits was that late 80's sitcom with Markie Post and Robert Guillaume. Your confusing it with Atoms & Bits & Bits & Bits.
Soooo…Tommy Friedman for nerds, then?
Needs more zazz.
Transformative change happens when industries democratise *with Chinese characteristics* and entitled Californians leverage the power of mercury-drinking children.
From digital sharecropping to networked Dickensianism is a logical development, I suppose.
His idea is China? Mind is blown.
Actually, this is Negroponte's idea from Being Digital. I don't mind it so much when the cultural conversation is dominated by pseudo ideas, but I must say I do mind it when the new pseudo ideas are the same old pseudo ideas, without even so much as a new name.
I read all of this maddening bastard’s columns in the 1990s Wired and that isn’t what Negroponte was talking about. His theme was the transformation of society when we finally stop moving atoms (objects) around and move bits around instead.
Anyway, what Anderson seems to be talking about here is what Matt Webb discussed in his keynote at Web Directions in Sydney: Manufacturing your own objects. You can use the open-source MakerBot to do so. And he describes how MakerBot’s makers ran out of parts and just asked existing MakerBot owners to manufacture some. Webb also discusses inexpensive Far East manufacturing.
It seems to be an idea that leading intellectuals are backing, but Anderson can be relied upon to add his own flavour of hucksterism.
"…Thanks to low-cost DIY factories in China…"
I'm sorry DIY factories? A DIY factory is one where you go and make you stupid plastic geegaws yourself. The term you're looking for is "do it with the help of underpaid Chinese factory workers" (DIWTHOUCFW), which admittedly has less zing to it.
Hasn't this genius used up his fifteen minutes yet?