The New Industrial Revolution: Are we actually ready for this?

wiredmarlin43 said:Ever thought about just leasing the land for $333 a year?

Do you even bother to read what’s right in front of you, or is that just too much to ask?

I already laid it out for you quite clearly: I spent three agonizing years trying to lease a piece of land, only to be constantly jerked around and treated like an absolute fool by the endless, suffocating web of state and local bureaucracy.
I actually went through the grueling process of registering my own small business—and let me tell you, it cost me six months of my life just trying to get the paperwork to align with what the local government expects. These bureaucrats are utterly incompetent; they can’t even give you a straight answer about what documentation is required upfront. It’s an absolute nightmare of inefficiency. I mean, wouldn't you think they could manage basic communication? Instead, you're stuck in this endless loop where they demand a birth certificate that isn't more than six months old, yet they take half a year just to process the initial filing! It’s maddening. 🤣 But they don't bother telling you any of that until you’ve already handed over every single scrap of paperwork and waited through fifty-nine agonizing days since you actually filed that registration application! 🙂 )

I’ve officially reached my breaking point and checked out entirely. I threw in the towel the moment the current Secretary of State decided to slap a blanket ban on all short-term rentals right at the start of his term. I haven't been able to keep up with how things have shifted since then, but from what I can gather, that restriction is still firmly in place. It’s just one of those decisions that makes you want to walk away from the whole mess.

Go to hell. I’m not handing over those blue envelopes to anyone, period. Honestly, I’d much rather just gamble everything I own away and spend the rest of my life drinking heavily with my buddies than give an inch.

David Baker2 said:Do you even bother to read what’s right in front of you, or is that just too much to ask?

I already laid it out for you quite clearly: I spent three agonizing years trying to lease a piece of land, only to be constantly jerked around and treated like an absolute fool by the endless, suffocating web of state and local bureaucracy.
I actually went through the grueling process of registering my own small business—and let me tell you, it cost me six months of my life just trying to get the paperwork to align with what the local government expects. These bureaucrats are utterly incompetent; they can’t even give you a straight answer about what documentation is required upfront. It’s an absolute nightmare of inefficiency. I mean, wouldn't you think they could manage basic communication? Instead, you're stuck in this endless loop where they demand a birth certificate that isn't more than six months old, yet they take half a year just to process the initial filing! It’s maddening. 🤣 But they don't bother telling you any of that until you’ve already handed over every single scrap of paperwork and waited through fifty-nine agonizing days since you actually filed that registration application! 🙂 )

I’ve officially reached my breaking point and checked out entirely. I threw in the towel the moment the current Secretary of State decided to slap a blanket ban on all short-term rentals right at the start of his term. I haven't been able to keep up with how things have shifted since then, but from what I can gather, that restriction is still firmly in place. It’s just one of those decisions that makes you want to walk away from the whole mess.

Go to hell. I’m not handing over those blue envelopes to anyone, period. Honestly, I’d much rather just gamble everything I own away and spend the rest of my life drinking heavily with my buddies than give an inch.

That whole thing about the birth certificate has to be one of the biggest, most pathetic pieces of stupidity in this entire country—it goes beyond pure idiocy and enters a whole new dimension of moronism. Whoever wrote that into the law must have a screw loose. 🤷 Get this, genius: a birth certificate can't be more than six months old. What, so there's no risk of you accidentally being born again in the meantime? 😵

crimsonwolf21 said:That whole thing about the birth certificate has to be one of the biggest, most pathetic pieces of stupidity in this entire country—it goes beyond pure idiocy and enters a whole new dimension of moronism. Whoever wrote that into the law must have a screw loose. 🤷 Get this, genius: a birth certificate can't be more than six months old. What, so there's no risk of you accidentally being born again in the meantime? 😵

It was all patriotic duty and civic pride, my friends, truly. After I marched in there with a freshly printed birth certificate—after specifically asking them if every single other document was in order, to which they nodded and assured me everything was fine—I get called back thirty days later just to be told the birth certificate has to be less than six months old.🤣🤣
Think about the sheer audacity of it: you ask them to verify your paperwork, they look you dead in the eye, check the files right in front of you, tell you everything is perfectly valid, and then, once you think you're done, they drag you back in one by one to claim "actually, this part isn't okay" after you've already cleared the first hurdle.

At first, I laughed at the absurdity, but honestly, I ended up weeping from the sheer frustration of it all.

And don't even get me started on the fact that for every single one of those documents, you're stuck waiting... again.🤣

David Baker2 said:It was all patriotic duty and civic pride, my friends, truly. After I marched in there with a freshly printed birth certificate—after specifically asking them if every single other document was in order, to which they nodded and assured me everything was fine—I get called back thirty days later just to be told the birth certificate has to be less than six months old.🤣🤣
Think about the sheer audacity of it: you ask them to verify your paperwork, they look you dead in the eye, check the files right in front of you, tell you everything is perfectly valid, and then, once you think you're done, they drag you back in one by one to claim "actually, this part isn't okay" after you've already cleared the first hurdle.

At first, I laughed at the absurdity, but honestly, I ended up weeping from the sheer frustration of it all.

And don't even get me started on the fact that for every single one of those documents, you're stuck waiting... again.🤣

Yeah, there are even more trivial examples of how nonsensical our bureaucracy can be.. ☕

Actually, that hits on the core issue here—the prerequisite for any technological progress is actually allowing it to happen. If we live in a country where "new technology" is a completely foreign concept to the bureaucracy, they just slap on extra paperwork and fees just to be safe. Since they don't really understand what they're looking at—like some genius inventing extra permits for solar panels or additional certification fees for gas tanks in cars—we just won't move forward...

David Baker2 said:Do you even bother to read what’s right in front of you, or is that just too much to ask?

I already laid it out for you quite clearly: I spent three agonizing years trying to lease a piece of land, only to be constantly jerked around and treated like an absolute fool by the endless, suffocating web of state and local bureaucracy.
I actually went through the grueling process of registering my own small business—and let me tell you, it cost me six months of my life just trying to get the paperwork to align with what the local government expects. These bureaucrats are utterly incompetent; they can’t even give you a straight answer about what documentation is required upfront. It’s an absolute nightmare of inefficiency. I mean, wouldn't you think they could manage basic communication? Instead, you're stuck in this endless loop where they demand a birth certificate that isn't more than six months old, yet they take half a year just to process the initial filing! It’s maddening. 🤣 But they don't bother telling you any of that until you’ve already handed over every single scrap of paperwork and waited through fifty-nine agonizing days since you actually filed that registration application! 🙂 )

I’ve officially reached my breaking point and checked out entirely. I threw in the towel the moment the current Secretary of State decided to slap a blanket ban on all short-term rentals right at the start of his term. I haven't been able to keep up with how things have shifted since then, but from what I can gather, that restriction is still firmly in place. It’s just one of those decisions that makes you want to walk away from the whole mess.

Go to hell. I’m not handing over those blue envelopes to anyone, period. Honestly, I’d much rather just gamble everything I own away and spend the rest of my life drinking heavily with my buddies than give an inch.

And looking back on the whole mess, you might actually want to thank fate that it didn't work out; if it had, you'd probably be sitting here cursing everything right now, having worked yourself to the bone only to lose every cent you invested and end up owing someone else money on top of it all.

@Ryan Gomez4: Honestly, I don't see our future looking anything like what you described. My bet is on the economy collapsing first, which will trigger a domino effect through everything else that holds society together. We'll end up back at basic survival mode. At that point, the people who thrive will be the ones who are physically fit and have practical, hands-on skills.

@Ryan Gomez4: While I’m on board with your prediction regarding economic collapse, I don't think things will spiral so far that society just stops functioning entirely. What I actually anticipate is a steady climb in unemployment, paired with a repetitive cycle where incompetent politicians jump from one region to another, hunting for some magical fix to our economic woes. One guy will swear by high tech, another will push for manufacturing, a third will pivot to finance, a fourth toward tourism or agriculture—but they’ll all just keep spinning their wheels until enough people realize that neoliberalism is a dead end.

For those convinced that automation is going to swallow every single job, take a look at how sardines are canned here in the States: http://www.youtube.com/v=Tc_Zim1Ra-0#t=178
The gist: fish move along a conveyor belt, workers grab them, trim the heads and tails with shears, and then stuff them into the cans by hand. Could robots do this? Sure, technically. But let's be real—it's still much cheaper to pay a person.

I definitely agree that printers are going to play a massive role in manufacturing down the road. But, if I’m being honest... there are just way too many people jumping into this conversation who don't have the slightest clue how actual production or industrial processes work. Like someone mentioned earlier, the specific type of tech or process isn't even the main hurdle... the real challenge is the idea itself—the product. Around here, we're still struggling to master basic metalworking and fabrication. It's easy to talk about complex geometries when science fiction can dream up a perfect weld, but we're still out here trying to get the fundamentals right. We aren't even close to competing on the level of major players like Germany, Japan, or the USA...

There aren't any real signs pointing toward a global economic meltdown. Now, things might look a bit different here in America—but we certainly aren't headed back to the Stone Age.

coastaljackal2 said:I definitely agree that printers are going to play a massive role in manufacturing down the road. But, if I’m being honest... there are just way too many people jumping into this conversation who don't have the slightest clue how actual production or industrial processes work. Like someone mentioned earlier, the specific type of tech or process isn't even the main hurdle... the real challenge is the idea itself—the product. Around here, we're still struggling to master basic metalworking and fabrication. It's easy to talk about complex geometries when science fiction can dream up a perfect weld, but we're still out here trying to get the fundamentals right. We aren't even close to competing on the level of major players like Germany, Japan, or the USA...

That's exactly where 3D printing shines—the conceptual phase. It is significantly cheaper and faster to print a plastic prototype—or eventually a metal one—than to try and machine it using traditional methods. For me, the real value lies in rapid prototyping; it's about testing those initial iterations before you ever commit to mass production.

Harold Martin10 said:There aren't any real signs pointing toward a global economic meltdown. Now, things might look a bit different here in America—but we certainly aren't headed back to the Stone Age.

The Stone Age? Please. We're already heading straight for the Middle Ages.

goldengull3 said:You have likely encountered the headlines—the proliferation of 3D printers is accelerating at a pace that many claim will trigger a second industrial revolution.

Billions are being poured into this development. In America, the primary driver is the desire to decouple industrial manufacturing from its heavy reliance on China. Much of what is currently handled by a largely semi-skilled workforce can already be printed, or will be within a few short years:
- plastic and similar components (this is already a reality)
- metal parts (already occurring sporadically)
- houses and similar structures (on the horizon)

The implications are simple. If you need a glass, you print it. If you require an auto part, a mechanic simply orders it from a "print shop," and a component is ready for installation in a matter of hours—eliminating the need for shipping or massive inventories.

Looking for specialized pasta? Even Kraft Heinz is exploring 3D printing:

In an era where a 3D printer can produce product prototypes, floor tiles, miniature replicas, aircraft components, or even custom sweets, it stands to reason that one could print bespoke pasta. This is precisely the objective of Kraft Heinz, which, in collaboration with the RAND Corporation in Silicon Valley, has begun developing a prototype device designed for 3D pasta printing.

The goal is to engineer a printer specifically for restaurants aiming to offer a unique service: serving pasta in customized shapes and flavors, prepared almost instantly upon ordering.

Perhaps you need an entire house? That is also possible; walls can be erected in 24 hours:

On a cleared and leveled site, workers would lay down two rails a few feet further apart than the eventual building’s width and a computer-controlled contour crafter would take over from there. A gantry-type crane with a hanging nozzle and a components-placing arm would travel along the rails. The nozzle would spit out concrete in layers to create hollow walls, and then fill in the walls with additional concrete… humans would hang doors and insert windows.

http://www.psfk.com/2014/01/concrete...er.html#!sfIHV

Millions of jobs will vanish in the coming years. Of course, new ones will emerge—someone must design, assemble, and maintain these printers, just as someone must handle design, sales, and intellectual property protection.

What will undeniably disappear are the low-skill positions in manufacturing, logistics, assembly, and certain sectors of construction. This shift will carry profound political consequences; as the industrial structure shifts, so does the demand in the labor market. Developed nations will no longer be seeking factory workers, but specialists.

Ultimately, this is a subject of intense contemplation in developed nations, but I wonder if anyone here is truly paying attention.

Honestly? I don't think the real story is the printers themselves. It's about automated assembly lines. That's where China is losing its edge because cheap labor isn't a factor anymore, which means manufacturing is finally heading back West. But let's be real: mass production is a tough game. Huge conglomerates will always find ways to churn out goods cheaper than some small-batch factory could ever dream of.

I don't see much point in trying to tackle mass production with 3D printers. If we set aside "tourism" and the "organic food" niche, our best bet lies in developing high-tech, roboticized industries that don't require massive capital but do demand serious creativity. Think exclusive, small-batch manufacturing. Something like high-end firearms produced by a specialized company like Sig Sauer that exports globally.

The other big opportunity is software services. Again, you don't need a mountain of cash to start, just intense creativity—which, if I'm being honest based on what I've seen so far, is something we're lacking (though, to be fair, China struggles with that too).

Beyond that, I don't see any real openings. And frankly, I haven't seen enough movement in those specific sectors to feel particularly optimistic.

It all comes down to high technology, deep creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Right now? We aren't showing much of any of it.

northernsailor8 said:Vague platitudes? I suppose not. Everything I've said is backed by data, including scientific papers.

And by the way, if processor speeds double every year, that isn't exponential growth...😉

How is that not?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tr...Law_-_2011.svg

Under the entry for Exponential growth on Wikipedia, computer technology is listed as an example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_growth

So, perhaps you shouldn't be so condescending. I'm dealing with people who struggle with basic math and probably don't even know how to use Google. ☕

🤣
I don't need Google to tell me how an exponential equation works, but you're such a whiz kid—why don't you remind me exactly how that formula goes?

coastaljackal2 said:I definitely agree that printers are going to play a massive role in manufacturing down the road. But, if I’m being honest... there are just way too many people jumping into this conversation who don't have the slightest clue how actual production or industrial processes work. Like someone mentioned earlier, the specific type of tech or process isn't even the main hurdle... the real challenge is the idea itself—the product. Around here, we're still struggling to master basic metalworking and fabrication. It's easy to talk about complex geometries when science fiction can dream up a perfect weld, but we're still out here trying to get the fundamentals right. We aren't even close to competing on the level of major players like Germany, Japan, or the USA...

Of course the problem is the idea. Nowadays, writing some random computer app is easier than ever, so why haven't we seen a massive explosion of apps making everyone filthy rich? What good is a tool if you have absolutely no clue what you're supposed to do with it?

Amanda Diaz said:🤣
I don't need Google to tell me how an exponential equation works, but you're such a whiz kid—why don't you remind me exactly how that formula goes?

To calculate future speed, you use Pn = Po x 2^n, where Pn is the target speed, Po is the starting speed, and n is the number of years passed divided by two.

If that wasn't clear, we are talking about an exponential equation. For that reason, Moore's law is basically the textbook definition of Exponential growth.

It’s interesting to watch some forum users fail to distinguish between trolling and just digging their own graves. ☕

northernsailor8 said:To calculate future speed, you use Pn = Po x 2^n, where Pn is the target speed, Po is the starting speed, and n is the number of years passed divided by two.

If that wasn't clear, we are talking about an exponential equation. For that reason, Moore's law is basically the textbook definition of Exponential growth.

It’s interesting to watch some forum users fail to distinguish between trolling and just digging their own graves. ☕

Do you still not get it? The graph of a function like that would be a straight line—just the diagonal of some imaginary rectangle—not a parabola like you see in a standard exponential equation.🤷

Amanda Diaz said:Do you still not get it? The graph of a function like that would be a straight line—just the diagonal of some imaginary rectangle—not a parabola like you see in a standard exponential equation.🤷

Oh, look at that. Someone’s heard the term "logarithmic scale" but hasn't actually wrapped their head around how it works. You're lost in the weeds here. 😬

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Nobody has brought up Cryptocurrencies 3D as a major pillar of this new industrial revolution. Look, 3D printers are cool enough—even better if you can actually make money off what you print. But what if you have a global marketplace where you can operate anonymously without some middleman breathing down your neck? Banking and financial services haven't seen real innovation since credit cards hit the scene back in the sixties and seventies. We're looking at a massive boom in finance.

The "hot" technologies for the next few years—not necessarily in order of importance:

Cryptocurrencies 3D
3D printers
Arduino and its derivatives
Security and anonymity tech (Linux, Tor, Open Source in general)
Open hardware and collaborative product development platforms
Content publishing and voting platforms (Imgur, Tumblr, Reddit...)

placidranger said:Oh, look at that. Someone’s heard the term "logarithmic scale" but hasn't actually wrapped their head around how it works. You're lost in the weeds here. 😬

--------------

Nobody has brought up Cryptocurrencies 3D as a major pillar of this new industrial revolution. Look, 3D printers are cool enough—even better if you can actually make money off what you print. But what if you have a global marketplace where you can operate anonymously without some middleman breathing down your neck? Banking and financial services haven't seen real innovation since credit cards hit the scene back in the sixties and seventies. We're looking at a massive boom in finance.

The "hot" technologies for the next few years—not necessarily in order of importance:

Cryptocurrencies 3D
3D printers
Arduino and its derivatives
Security and anonymity tech (Linux, Tor, Open Source in general)
Open hardware and collaborative product development platforms
Content publishing and voting platforms (Imgur, Tumblr, Reddit...)

Look, all I was trying to get at is that if something doubles over a set period, that isn't the definition of exponential growth...

Look, n increases by one value every 10 years, not two like you claimed in the post I was replying to...

For all I care, I could claim any industry is seeing exponential growth; all I’d have to do is set a massive enough time scale on the x-axis.

Amanda Diaz said:Look, all I was trying to get at is that if something doubles over a set period, that isn't the definition of exponential growth...

No—actually, that exact property—doubling at regular intervals—is precisely what defines exponential growth. It can be described by an exponential function with a base of two.

New industries often see exponential growth in their early stages. Just as frequently, they hit a plateau after that initial surge. That's what we call a sigmoid, or S-curve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_function

Moore's law doesn't account for that eventual slowdown toward a plateau, though—who knows where that's headed...