The IFTF recently released an interesting "future map" called "Future of Making Map:

"Two future forces, one mostly social, one mostly technological, are intersecting to transform how goods, services, and experiences—the “stuff” of our world—will be designed, manufactured, and distributed over the next decade. An emerging do-it-yourself culture of “makers” is boldly voiding warranties to tweak, hack, and customize the products they buy. And what they can’t purchase, they build from scratch. Meanwhile, flexible manufacturing technologies on the horizon will change fabrication from massive and centralized to lightweight and ad hoc. These trends sit atop a platform of grassroots economics—new market structures developing online that embody a shift from stores and sales to communities and connections."

Why do I blog this? this topic quite resonates with the near future laboratory purposes and concerns. It's interestingly frames in that document showing the driving forces (eco-motivation, rise of amateur-professionals...), the signals from today and trends.