# Summary of #hplusroadmap IRC Log (June 12, 2011)

* A link to Carranza's "Cooperative Mind" meetup group was shared (http://www.meetup.com/CooperativeMind/events/20139201/), likely related to collective intelligence or collaborative cognition research.

* The Toaster Project, an experiment in building a toaster from scratch to explore manufacturing dependencies, launched its dedicated website at http://www.thetoasterproject.org/.

* A significant development in biotechnology was shared regarding "biological lasers" as reported in Nature (http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110612/full/news.2011.365.html), representing a novel intersection of biology and photonics.

* DARPA's Open Manufacturing program was discussed, with a substantial budget of approximately $130-135 million over 3-4 years, part of DARPA's larger Advanced Vehicle Make (AVM) portfolio that includes iFAB and META programs.

* An alternative patent reform idea was mentioned where patents would grant tax exemptions rather than monopolies, suggesting new approaches to intellectual property in innovation.

* A discussion about CAD software took place, with someone trying to identify what appeared to be "Solid" (likely SolidWorks) from a shared image.