So, after years of inventing stuff and getting absolute bupkis for it (even the one time I scooped Google: all that got me was a lot of derision when I tell the story, and some commiseration when I show video proving it) I've decided to make one last try.
I don't do typical startup stuff like hyping something that doesn't exist or kissing VC bottom; I only deal with tangible results. This is my latest and, if it doesn't work out, last:
http://igg.me/...
So why am I advertising on Dailykos? Answer below the fold, and I promise it's legit.
3D printers are cheap. They are a huge game changer, if they are allowed to proliferate. However, they aren't replicators -- they can only do some types of plastic, which limits their functionality.
What I did was come up with a cheap laser cutter to add to an existing printer. This allow using acrylic and wood as build materials -- wood is the most versatile stuff on earth.
So what does this do? It takes a power (making wood and hard-plastic small parts repeatably and reliably) and distributes it to people who can spend hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars for it. That's... a lot more people.
In addition, unlike CO2 lasers, it's solid state so you don't have to keep buying CO2 and releasing it.
http://craphound.com/... Maybe read this. It was written in 2006, prehistory as far as the still-new 3d printer scene is concerned. It could happen this year.
Mine is not a revolutionary advance, however it is one of the thousand evolutionary advances we need to get from "here" to "the problem of affording a roof and three meals for everyone on earth has stopped arising".
Also, if I can break even, I will open source this.