Adidas wants to make 3-D printed shoes to give you the perfect fit with your perfect look. Is this the beginning of an industry revolution or a niche product for those who can afford it?
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Great article on an interesting topic! I loved reading about the rotational system to expose more engineers at the company to the technology. So many organizations could benefit from systems like this because ideas can flow two ways when working with new technologies. As a previous pilot, I understand the need to balance innovation with the risk aversion that is necessary in aviation. I want the lightest, strongest, most durable aircraft possible but I don’t want to be the guinea pig who tests the new technology. Do they have adequate systems in place to bridge that gap without stifling innovation?
It’s also interesting to read about the possibility of refurbishing parts versus replacing. Hopefully this helps bring costs down in aviation to make it more accessible. It would also be interesting to see how portable this technology could be made. Could Bell setup AM on a ship or in the battlefield? Supply lines have turned the tides of battles and wars in the past. Could front line units always have spare parts available. It is promising technology that I hope is implemented sooner than later.
Interesting article that captures both the macro and micro hurdles that AM must overcome. Given the inertia of engineers that are trained in designing for traditional manufacturing, it seems Autodesk’s best path forward might be to help push AM past a tipping point and shift the industry. Could they make a version of their software open source to allow students and aspiring designers the opportunity to experiment and learn? I’m concerned about the ability for them to grow if the only path to use their software is through working at corporations who can afford the license. Going open source would empower a new generation who would someday work in companies who would push for the purchase of their mainline software.
Autodesk should also consider either growing an internal consulting service or partnering with consulting services to make sure the benefits of their product are known. How many companies would love to do what GE did in your example if they had the expertise? It seems that AM is on the cusp of blowing up, I believe Autodesk should stay positioned in that field so they can ride the wave of the future.
Well written! I love the point you make about getting ideas from customers when expanding into new markets. I’m going to use that one going forward. The one thing I worry about with open innovation is you tend to hear only from the extreme users and risk being swayed by a vocal minority and alienating the silent majority.
In regards to the rise of expresso machines, I think Starbucks should continue to provide a great experience for customers in store that a home expresso machine can’t match. They could still (and I believe do) sell K-cups with their brand which gives there customer a seamless experience if they don’t have time to come in store. I do believe Starbucks could do better adapting to local cultures. I contrast it with Mcdonalds who does offer local food and is still quite successful. It seems Starbucks almost always holds the same menu. Plus, for travelers, it would be great to pop into a Starbucks while traveling and having the choice of the usual or something local that I could trust will be good quality with the Starbucks brand.
Great article on an interesting business. A few things popped to mind while reading. What other functions do employers/businesses serve beyond providing income and will Patreon ever expand into those areas. Examples could include: health benefits, social connections, growth and development. Could rolling these features out make both artists and contributors more engaged in the platform?
To answer your question, I’m willing to pay when I feel like I’m getting a significant emotional or intellectual benefit from the content. For example, I have donated to podcasts when the content they provide has helped me in personal and professional life. Unfortunately from my experience I can say there is a significant “hurdle” – I am unwilling to spend the time to figure out how to donate $1 for something marginally good but if the content is good I’ll spend the few minutes it takes to give $20 or $50. They should focus on lowering this hurdle for users like me to help smaller or upcoming content creators. For new revenue services, one idea could be to partner with a content distributor like Netflix to make shows or documentaries highlighting work. It would be cheap content for Netflix and potentially bring more attention to creators.
Well written. I had not previously thought about or heard about the challenge that the self-driving cars currently on the road are not “practicing how they will play” I.e. a future with more self-driving cars on the road. Hopefully we will see more advanced systems communication between driverless vehicles to improve coordination.
In regards to the 5 bystanders vs 1 passenger, I hope we train cars to make utilitarian decisions – always minimizing total harm. Unfortunately this may lose out to emotional arguments. If it was my child in the car, I would want the car to save the child, and given the choice, would probably program the car to do so. Do we give owners this option?
Given the injuries and deaths that happen on motorways, I certainly hope government will act in the best interest of society and not enact barriers to this innovation. The state by state fragmented system of regulations regarding autonomous cars is a bit of a concern and there is room for the federal government to step in and provide nationwide guidelines. Otherwise there could be a scenario where a human driver would have to take over when crossing state lines because a system hasn’t passed a certain state’s regulation. I would also like to see a cap on liability claims if there are injuries or deaths while this tech is being developed. It won’t take too many major lawsuits for some companies to give up which could delay or prevent this promising technology from becoming a reality.