Repost of: The Fight Against Boredom
The Fight Against Boredom
Back on my post from Mar 7th - 8th / 2024 - No Energy in the second last paragraph I mentioned an idea about creating a fabrication lab. My vision is to build a small-scale facility of digital fabrication equipment designed to provide access to cutting-edge technologies, foster innovation and creativity in a community setting. The goal is to expose the technologies to those that are interested in learning more about digital fabrication and what can be done with it.
It is important to me to impart my knowledge and experience with others, acting as a mentor in these technologies before my time comes to an end. As Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Locally in the Woodstock, NB area public access to digital fabrication is non-existent. You can certainly hire companies in the area to create the work for you, but that doesn't teach you how to do it for yourself. Empowering and providing access to a safe facility with the tools and guidance needed to empower creativity and further innovation is really needed in this area.
Side Note: While I can't lift anything heavy due to my condition, my mind is sharp and currently bored with just existing. Living with a purpose is different from just existing. It keeps my mind engaged/busy and diverting its attention from the pain in my body.
The lab would start with one or two 3D Printers, a laser cutter, CNC router and a small electronics workbench with Arduinos and Raspberry Pi equipment along with some discrete electronic components to learn and build electronic circuits. Access to computers and software play an integral role in the lab and those too are part of the fabrication lab. The lab would be a collaborative effort not just locally but also helping to put the persons using the lab in-touch with others like minded mentors from around the world that have similar lab setup.
Imagine, what the possibilities for those that now have access to this type of equipment. It could/would provide the exposure and a new experience which potentially expand opportunities that they didn't consider in the past.
Of course, the lab would expand to much more as resources are acquired. Resources not limited but including physical space, mentors with knowledge and experience with other technologies, financial support, community and local area involvement, educational resources, local business involvement through workplace placement, purchasing prototypes or small runs of product from the lab and/or providing further specialized education and resources.
Please comment on the idea, your feed back is important to me. If you don't want to make your comment public, feel free to email me: rick.traveling@gmail.com