The overall goal of our Hacking Manufacturing month was to explore how to do academic research on the factory floor. Specifically, we wanted to see new outcomes from using manufacturing machines to prototype, rather than traditional prototyping tools. Usually, when people go to a factory, they want to produce something that has been well-planned and has clear economic value. Instead, we wanted to bring the spirit of a lab to the factory: What if we could collaborate with its workers, directly prototyping and trying out ideas on the very machines that are used for production? What if curiosity were our only pressure point? As a manufacturing hub, Shenzhen is one of the world’s highest concentrations of factories across many industries. This ecosystem gave us access to diverse knowledge, tools, and raw materials. Benefits would flow—not only from new academic research for publication but also from bringing prototyping closer to production in the ideation phase.
Jie Qi
Jie Qi is an engineer, designer and entrepreneur who blends paper craft and storytelling with electronics and programming. She is co-founder of Chibitronics, which produces friendly toolkits for learning and making electronics using paper craft. Jie holds a PhD from the MIT Media Lab and a BS in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. Her goal is to spread engineering as an expressive medium for audiences beyond traditional technology communities. She is also currently researching open approaches to invention, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
Artem Dementyev
Artem Dementyev is a PhD student in the Responsive Environments Group at the MIT Media Lab. In his research he builds new sensor platforms. The application areas fall into many disciplines; tangible and wearable interfaces, robotics and medical applications. His research has been presented at various conferences such as CHI, UIST and Ubicomp. Artem received an undergraduate degree in Bioengineering at University of Maryland and Master in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.
Gavin Zhao
Gavin Zhao has deep experience in supply chain management for startup companies. In 2010, he joined AQS, a firm that provides electronics manufacturing and engineering solutions around the world. Zhao leads strategic planning and specializes in helping suppliers to overcome manufacturing difficulties in new projects. He has managed projects for littleBits, Formlabs, MakerBot, Chibitronics, and many other startups in their launch phase. Zhao, who earned a master’s in philosophy at Wuhan University
Ani Liu
Ani Liu is an experimental artist, designer, and speculative technologist working at the intersection of art & science. Recently at MIT Media Lab, she creates research-based art that explores the social, cultural & emotional implications of emerging technologies. Ani's work has been presented at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Asian Art Museum, MIT Museum, MIT Media Lab, Harvard University, and media channels such as VICE, Gizmodo, TED, FOX and WIRED. Ani continually seeks to discover the unexpected, through playful experimentation, intuition, and speculative storytelling.
Simen Zeng
Simen Zeng, founder of Kingcredie, began to practicing PCB manufacturing in 2000. His Company is not only providing PCB but also professional services.
Andy Su
Andy Su(Su Peiji), founder of K-TECH(Changli Textile Technology).
