Once upon a time, computing was only done by specialists running massive mainframes. Then came microcomputers, and eventually, the personal computer. Neil Gershenfeld of MIT says a similar revolution is on the horizon for manufacturing -- that existing technologies and tools can bring capabilites once only held by huge factories down to the personal level. And while we're not at the level yet of a Star Trek like replicator that can whip up just about anything in seconds, those days aren't that far off. In this hour, we'll talk with Gershenfeld about what today's 'fab labs' can do, both here and in the developing world.

Plus, with this week's elections behind us, we'll get an update on the state of voting technology across the country. Increasingly, communities are moving to the use of electronic voting systems for their elections, moving away from paper punch cards and mechanical lever systems. Are concerns about security flaws in electronic voting systems any closer to being resolved? We'll also check in on the status of energy legislation making its way through Congress, from ANWR drilling to the funding of the Yucca Mountain waste site. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Mary O'Driscoll
Senior Reporter
Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire
Washington, DC

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Avi Rubin
Professor, Computer Science
Technical Director, Information Security Institute
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

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Neil Gershenfeld
Author, "FAB: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication" (Basic Books, 2005)
Director, Center for Bits and Atoms
Associate Professor, Media Arts and Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Books/Articles Discussed:

"FAB: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop--From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication," by Neil Gershenfeld. Basic Books, 2005.

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This segment produced by Charles Bergquist