The Swedish Magazine Arkitekten makes a reflection about the relevance of 3D printing and the internet. In the article, titled something like “Filesharing changes the future of design”, the editors look into the relationship between technology and intellectual property. They look through current design trends. Among other things, Arduino is mentioned, as one of the open source tools used in the production of Spoorg (browse down in the page),  by Pablo Miranda and Aasmund Gamlesaeter.

(c) 2009 Arkitekten, picture by D. Cuartielles

What really strikes me from this article is the fear it transmits towards open source, as well as towards open fabrication. They expect people with laptops to copy 3D shapes while sitting in a café, sending their files resembling designer pieces to manufacture and getting them shipped home a couple of days later. Actually, the article’s subtitle says “the combination of 3D files over the net and 3D printing facilities can bring illegal downloads of design”.

(c) 2009 Arkitekten, picture by D. Cuartielles

That might in fact happen, and I would love to see it happening. I believe openness challenges our way of understanding many things that we have been giving for granted for too long. Anyway, this is my personal opinion** and shoud NOT be understood as an Arduino opinion.

(** personal as in D. Cuartielles’ )