3D Printing Cultures, Politics and Hackerspaces

This book explores the 3D printing culture in Hackerspaces, Makerspaces, and Fab Labs, tracing its historical roots, technology, and political narratives. It illustrates how 3D printing has brought together hobbyist maker communities, activists, and entrepreneurs, and addresses the convergence of activism and the maker culture with cultural imaginaries. It also examines challenges and motivations in grassroots innovation.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 264 pages
\n Publication date: 26 October 2021
\n Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
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This remarkable book makes a significant contribution to the ongoing discussions within Science and Technology Studies, particularly concerning cultural politics, the rise of citizen science, and civil society interventions in shaping technology. Through extensive fieldwork data, Savvides delves into the burgeoning 3D printing culture beyond the confines of professional labs in Hackerspaces, Makerspaces, and Fab Labs. This captivating ethnography not only strengthens arguments by tracing the historical roots of makers and Hackerspaces, 3D printing technology, and political narratives surrounding these new technological environments; it also showcases how 3D printing has facilitated parallel grassroots innovation in experimental spaces across the UK, Germany, and Cyprus, bringing together hobbyist maker communities, activists, and entrepreneurs alike. Moreover, the study explores the convergence of activism and the maker culture with prevalent cultural imaginaries, such as the visionary creator within decentralized and distributive manufacturing, the concept of autopoietic social systems, and the imaginative leap to space colonization. It also addresses challenges and motivations in the field of grassroots innovation by examining how it is organized and conducted in semi-informal contexts.

\n Weight: 512g\n
Dimension: 161 x 240 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781800716667\n \n