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FabLabs: The Road to Distributed and Sustainable Technological Training through Digital Manufacturing

Author

Listed:
  • María-Elena García-Ruiz

    (Department of Business Administration, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

  • Francisco-Javier Lena-Acebo

    (Department of Business Administration, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

Abstract

The fast expansion of digital culture has fostered the creation of makerspaces such as fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) that, thanks to their flexibility and their use of open source tools, strengthen the sense of community and produce true transformations within those communities. Despite their relevance, few studies focus on the characterization of these environments. This paper presents the results of the FabLab Global Survey, aimed at understanding the characteristics of FabLabs through the visions of their managers, or “FabManagers”. The results show an enormous diversity of approaches within the FabLab movement that cannot be extrapolated to a single characteristic element, but that allow its global compression. Their properties reveal them as transforming elements that eliminate technological and cultural barriers, empowering user communities and optimizing learning processes regarding digital technology. FabLab activities allow not only economic and industrial development thanks to innovative projects, but also a digital technology approach for young students and the inclusion of minorities at risk, thus eliminating old cultural and social barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • María-Elena García-Ruiz & Francisco-Javier Lena-Acebo, 2022. "FabLabs: The Road to Distributed and Sustainable Technological Training through Digital Manufacturing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-32, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:3938-:d:780385
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. María-Elena García-Ruiz & Francisco-Javier Lena-Acebo & Rocío Rocha Blanco, 2023. "Early Stages of the Fablab Movement: A New Path for an Open Innovation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Georgi V. Georgiev & Vijayakumar Nanjappan, 2023. "Sustainability Considerations in Digital Fabrication Design Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.

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