The Dream Factory

Wired 13.09: The Dream Factory

The concept is simple: Boot up your computer and design whatever object you can imagine, press a button to send the CAD file to Lewis' headquarters in New Jersey, and two or three weeks later he'll FedEx you the physical object. Lewis launched eMachineShop a year and a half ago, and customers are using his service to create engine-block parts for hot rods, gears for home-brew robots, telescope mounts - even special soles for tap dance shoes. "Designing stuff used to be just for experts," Lewis says. "We're bringing it to the masses."

This is a wicked article. The author design's his own guitar on his computer. Read it dammit! It is a fascinating look at what the future might be like. It's looking like the next age might be the age of customization.