[king_jester]

Is this really true though? To get raw materials to use a maker to build something you'll probably have to depend on global supply chains, esp. since most goods will require multiple kinds of material to complete.

> The Maker Revolution is about being able to provide for your needs without depending on a global supply chain.

> It's about the kind of material freedom you might have if your neighborhood hardware store, or even your household fab in the garage can make all the goods for your basic needs, and then some.

This is definitely the case, as most of what maker robots are creating now fit this category. With good enough tech, hardware stores, Wal-Mart, and other sellers of mass produced, low complexity items will go out of business, or at least be more much niche then they are now.

[hosh]

I think we're likely to have a long transitional period that still requires a large global supply chain ... but yes, it would be neat to see maker robots locally at say, Walmart or hardware stores.