The Future Opened by the Social Networking of Product Creation and Funding

◆Funding a printable, open-source robot through crowdfunding

Right now, a crowdfunding project symbolizing the times is underway simultaneously in Japan and the US.
Its name: "Bringing the Future of Living with Robots to Everyone with PLEN2, the Small Humanoid Anyone Can Build!"

This project emerged embodying three keywords defining our era: "digital fabrication," "crowdfunding," and "open source."

"Digital fabrication" refers to new manufacturing methods, epitomized by 3D printers. Fabrication means making things, so literally, it's digital manufacturing. With just design data and output devices, identical items can now be produced anywhere.

In the film camera era, developing photos was difficult without a professional photo lab. However, the spread of digital cameras and inkjet printers made printing photos at home commonplace. The same shift is now possible for three-dimensional objects through technological innovations like 3D printing.

"Crowdfunding" also cannot exist without digital technology. The following elements are essential for crowdfunding to function:

　(1) Advanced, affordable internet infrastructure accessible to everyone
(2) Secure, trusted online payment/money transfer systems
(3) Social networks connecting vast numbers of people and spreading information

These must be established as social infrastructure. If even one is missing, crowdfunding cannot function in that society.

"Open source" means sharing recipes. Because the recipe is shared, anyone can recreate the dish, and anyone can adapt, modify, or improve it to their own style. Then, by further sharing the recipe for that improved dish, the open source project evolves. It's a method frequently used in digital fields like software development and programming. While the scale varies depending on the project, users worldwide participate in development and form communities. It truly is an innovation method for the digital age.

This open-source approach also loses much of its meaning if few people can access the published recipes. It's a method where recipes are exchanged and developed across borders, made possible by the spread of the internet.

◆"Robots Anyone Can Build" Emerge Through Crowdfunding

Digital fabrication, crowdfunding, open source—these share a common underlying concept: expanding the potential of every individual.

Digital fabrication greatly expands the potential for individual creation. It enables the production of various products without expensive molds or the skills of master craftsmen. Furthermore, users can download and print 3D data created by someone on the other side of the globe to make an identical product.

Crowdfunding has opened up a world where raising funds is possible simply by gathering supporters. Even highly personal projects that might not attract banks or investors can now become reality if someone is willing to back them. Open source operates similarly. Anyone can download and use software or programs for free. Furthermore, with a little technical literacy, anyone can customize and modify them for their own purposes. A system has been adopted that connects people who are complete strangers, allowing them to add innovations to each other's work and create even better, and better still, things.

The robot's appearance is open-sourced as a 3D model, allowing anyone to modify it. You can customize its color and shape to your liking.
The robot's behavior and programming are also open-sourced, allowing you to input movements tailored to your own needs and preferences.
A small, portable humanoid robot that you can customize both inside and out to your liking. This concept has resonated deeply, leading to simultaneous crowdfunding campaigns in Japan (kibidango)and the US (KICKSTARTER). It has already surpassed its funding goals and is now setting additional stretch goals due to its popularity.

◆Digitalization will continue to transform the world

As mentioned earlier, crowdfunding and digital fabrication are new systems born from the combination of elements transformed by digitalization. When I first encountered the internet, I could never have foreseen the emergence of systems like crowdfunding or digital fabrication.

Going forward, I believe even more things will become digitized, and as these digital elements intertwine, they will give rise to entirely new systems and values. Crowdfunding is not only a new system itself but will also function as a platform to create even newer value, like in this project.

Observing crowdfunding platforms offers glimpses into what's cutting-edge now and what innovators are thinking. Crowdfunding serves as both a gateway to determine whether new value is accepted by society and an incubator. I believe crowdfunding's role in society will continue to expand.