Sunday, July 17, 2011
Game-Changing Technology: 3-D Printing
3-D objects can now be "printed".
This includes tools:
Concrete building structures:
Prosthetic limbs:
And even organs:
(full episode here).
And watch this Ted talk, where Dr. Anthony Atala "prints" a kidney during his talk:
If you have any doubt about the power of certain types of cells to grow tissue, watch this:
Note: 3-D printing may have the power to replace cheap Chinese manufacturing, to allow people to create their own products, and to revolutionize many other aspects of our lives.
Remember that metal objects can be printed (see this and this). So can silicone, glass (and see this), alumina-glass composites, and even food.
And many electronics components are already printed (see this). But as Utopia Crowd argues:
The advances in 3D printing of electronics ... will also speed up the development of customizable electronics modules.
7 comments:
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Isn't that the greatest thing. It's the return of cottage industry in the making.
ReplyDeleteIf we all have access to this tech how does that translate into a viable business Heisenberg? This signals the end of manufacturing as an industry in my opinion. I've see designs for food replicators ( http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4752296-mit-trying-to-create-food-replicator ) although the tech is crude the implications to employment are devastating. Intellectual property and creative design will be the last bastion of the employed and have you seen the debacle that copyright law is becoming?
ReplyDeleteIn truth it is fascinating. I was totally unaware of this technology and I find it really impressive (sure, pun intended as well).
ReplyDeleteBut I fail to see how it may help the economy: if anything it will allow for outsourcing even more. Because really, Chinese or anyone can also manage the machine and may do for a cheaper price. The real problem is another one: in a globalized world different work and salary conditions make up for an unstable system that will tend to flatten.
Also even if cakes can be printed, there's no way to grow food out of them. And food is the key product, all the rest are just the icing of the cake.
If you are interested in this sort of technology and the possibilities and challenges it creates for society, then you will love this:
ReplyDeletewww.thezeitgeistmovement.com
The application of science for social concern!
A Resource Based Economy, beyond poverty and war.
If you are interested in 3D printing, check out 2BOT. Their product uses subtractive, as opposed to additive, technology to yield a final product. It can't create limbs, but it is a useful business tool.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.2bot.com
A resource based economy is a fascinating idea that deserves greater scrutiny. Thanks for mentioning it here xor.
ReplyDeletePrinting for your business i.e. sticker and folder printing gives you the opportunity to get better on the deployment of your advertising message. Within these tags, you can in your marketing slogan or philosophy. You can watch your products effectively, the right people to say something special and important they are.
ReplyDelete