Tools

Q&A

• Allow users to post questions which can be easily accessed and answered by the entire network
• internal "ask for help" system which includes
  1. asking questions (including reward system, both in terms of money/micropayments and karma),
  2. commenting / clarifying questions,
  3. providing answers/solutions,
  4. discussion of answers/solutions,
  5. rating of answers and questions (which could be accumulated into a community wide "karma" system to supplement the accreditation mechanism)
     

Tutorial

• To allow Fab Labs to share best practice about achieving sustainability at individual labs in a tutorial based format

Directory

• A searchable database of Fab Lab expertise
• directory of capabilities, needs to be "certified" in some way (probably fab central style) -- on the level of labs and individuals
• Register of Fab Labs avaiable for single product fabrication or low volume production - i.e. Ponoko or 100k Garages

Collaborative Projects

• A method for Fab Lab users to contribute towards Fab Lab projects which can be described online - similar to open-source software development

E-commerce

• A from of E-commerce which enables agreement of fees for assistance and also the payment and receipt of such fees

Tendering

• A method/platform for potential Fab Lab clients to put out calls for tender to the Fab ecosystem
• Fab Labs and Fab Lab commercial users paying for other Fab Lab expertise by the hour/day