Digital Fabrication and Free Culture. One More Minor Becoming?

Abstract

Digital fabrication is meant to be a Third Digital Revolution, after those of computation and communication. As happened with the two preceding revolutions, great expectations have arisen around its political virtualities to promote freer and more horizontal production relations and more autonomous individuals. However, as happened before with computation and communication, actual events are showing that these alleged virtualities won't become actual without strong determination, organization and work by social and technical activists. The case of the corporate acquisition of open hardware pioneering company, Makerbot, is discussed as an example and turning point of the initial optimism among the new generation of tech-visionaries. A set of possible strategies to promote a free and open source digital fabrication ecosystem is discussed as a conclusion.