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You Can Make It On Your Own

  A Factory On Your Desk
 
Photo of Neil Gershenfeld
  Neil Gershenfeld collaborates on the Alda All-Angle Anti-red-eye Periscope Prototype.

Much of the digital revolution took place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's world-famous Media Lab. In "Personal Fab," Media Lab scientist Neil Gershenfeld demonstrates to Alan what he believes are the seeds of the next revolution in personal empowerment.

In his course called "How to Make (Almost) Anything," Gershenfeld's students fabricate tangible objects from the plans they design on computers, using computer-controlled machines to cut through materials ranging from plastic to steel. Alan tries out a one-of-a-kind bicycle made by one student based on a model of Matisse's Blue Nude Number Two.

Photo of Alan on a bike
Alan rides off on a student-designed, one-of-a-kind bicycle, printed out on a powerful printer.  

As Gershenfeld tells Alan, "It's not just that students learn to make a bicycle, they learn to make their bicycle. Every bicycle is different, and part of expressing yourself and the bicycle you want is what this is all about.

Then, it's Alan's turn to express his ideas. Accompanied by Gershenfeld's six-year-old twins, Alan designs and prints out the "Alda All-Angle Anti-red-eye Periscope Prototype," which Alan hopes will help reveal true-blue eye color in photographs. But the first attempt isn't quite right, and it's back to the computer for a quick redesign. Bingo - the perfect shot, with blue eyes shining bright.

For more on this topic, see the web feature:
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