http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/...fabber.ws.html
Damn! The domain "fabber.com" is already taken.
Synopsis: You can build at home a machine that will build other devices. They are called 3D Printers. It is relatively cheap and you can get plans for devices that the machine will build off the Internet.
Example: I'd like a new IPod-like device for my nephew. I download the plans off the Net. Feed it into my 3D Printer. Feed it parts it needs. Parts are created and assembled. Done.
Anyway, interesting parallels between this and early homebuilt 'proto-PCs' like the Altair.
Enjoy.