3D Printers.. Closer Than You Think?
from the disruptive-technology-indeed dept
We've written about 3D printers a few times before. Last time, we noted that they were starting to move out of just the "rapid prototyping" space into the instant manufacturing space. Now, Howard Rheingold is predicting that advances in 3D printing are coming along a lot faster than most of us would expect, and they might become quite common much sooner than most people predicted. As Rheingold points out, 3D printers have the potential to be a truly disruptive technology. He points out that they'll let people create new things that weren't possible before. He also touches on the biggest issue I see if such printers become common. How will the world deal with things when we have a "Napster for devices"? Suddenly, even tangible items will be "shareable". All anyone will need is the plans (and the core building materials) and they'll be able to print-on-demand whatever products they want. The impact on so many different businesses would be profound. If you think the entertainment industry is going crazy about file sharing nowadays, just imagine how people will react to a world where manufactured products are just as easily shared and recreated. At the same time, think of the potential benefits, where people could more easily design a product and let others improve on it at will.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Getting closer to star trek all the time...
1) Companies who make parts that will be easily made at home, and the people who hold the patents on said parts.
2) Dictator type governments that ban the sale of certain things that can now be "printed at home".
Basically, the "man" is the only thing keeping this from benefiting the entire world. You still won't obviously be able to print computer chips, etc, or will you? I would think it would be next to impossible to duplicate things like that. You'd need a bill of materials, the blue prints, etc.
This tech may lower the cost of goods though, which is always a good thing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
The US is falling apart from its lowest-bidder mentality, and this free objects thing is just the next step. Why, now that we're printing our own housewares, what will Ikea do? Who's gonna fix your manifold after you printed up a cheap one on your coarse-resolution 3dlpr? You think your collection loosely-fitting parts is gonna be either efficient or compliant to any quality standards?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
http://www.bbspot.com/News/2003/07/hardster.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
But on the other hand you could just act like the 21st century version of a mercantilist, holding on to policies that are no longer relevant. This may not be a race to the bottom, but rather a race to freeing all of mandkind. After all, if you can produce everything you need yourself, it kinda defeats the purpose of money.
ATA
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hyperventilation
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Getting closer to star trek all the time...
[ link to this | view in thread ]