Hi Guys,
Today's update is about 3D printing, something that really intrigues me (as you will have seen if you ever check out my Twitter feed!) 3D printing, or the printing of objects rather than paper matter is a pretty new development that has only come to my attention at least over the last 3-4 years. I think its important to put a pretty big disclaimer out there at this point that I am no expert on the subject (no kidding?) but it interests me none the less and think it will be a thread that weaves through a lot of my future writing efforts. That said, although very niche at the moment, I think 3D printing could end up having the same ubiquitous effect on all our lives as the internet has over the last couple of decades. Although you could currently stop many people in the street who would have no idea what 3D printing was or could be soon, its applications can go right across the board, from novelty items right up to very heavy and serious applications which have the potential to change our society fundamentally. As such it is one of the topics I think we should be asking some pretty probing questions about. Obviously it has some pretty far reaching consumer applications. As some people already own them I don't think we are far away from a home tech boom in 3D printing where such a printer could be the must have new gadget . Once you have a basic model in situ though what could you use it for? One home application could be in plastic products, such as purchasing and downloading a plan for a phone case or the latest toy and printing it off at home, rather than buying it from the shops. This could probably be said for most homewares, consumables and clothes some day. This could significantly reduce the amount of packaging and fuel we use, which would obviously have a very positive impact on the environment. Such a scenario however could cause much uncertainty also, as you would be pretty much tearing up the retail and logistics rule book as we know it. What would these changes mean for the jobs in this sector? If I am paying for the design for my new table vase online and printing it off at home, what do I need the guy in the shop for,? Or the dude driving the delivery truck for that matter? The technology also has some pretty far reaching implications for heavy industry also, such as in the automotive industry, where all parts could be precision engineered from a master template, all exactly the same, time after time. Here too there could be further job implications in industries where automation has already cost so many people their jobs. What are we all going to do once technology finally puts us out of work? Its a serious question. Another issue would be product/template piracy, whilst the idea of being able to print off a workable firearm in your home,(possibly without anyone knowing, as some people have done already) is a very unsettling one to me. 3D printing could also revolutionise the healthcare industry. We are already seeing 3D printing being used in surgeries such as facial reconstruction and hip joint replacement, the bonus being to be able to get a precise and exact match to the mapped original, thus better and more aesthetically pleasing results. In due course we could see printed replacement organs, perfect matches for the individual which would eliminate the chance of rejection or the need for expensive drugs. Could you imagine the impact on the millions of people worldwide who's lives are spent waiting for an organ donor? We may too also see the end of the pharmacy, with our doctors sending our prescription direct to our printers, with all our myriad of medications being delivered in one daily pill. Here of course in healthcare the need for vigilance for abuses of any new system are even more vital. Just one more - a personal favourite of mine. The impact 3D printing could have on space exploration is mind boggling. Already we have seen NASA 'emailing' a wrench to the ISS for them to print off in space. It was a small but very significant development. One major factor holding back our expansion into space is the sheer expense and logistical strain of basically blasting vast tons of supplies into orbit. If we could instead print these off (which we have proven we can), what implications could that have long term? We know the vast mineral resources of the moon. Every country and his dog is eyeing up the resources to be mined there, along with big business. Once we go back there, say with a pretty significant industrial 3D printer or ten, whats to prevent the team up there using them and the moon rock to establish our first off world base? Then whats to stop it becoming a city in due course? A whole off world colony in time? Utilised to fire us further out into space (via the lower gravitational pull). I find such an idea coming to fruition in my lifetime both amazing and terrifying. We have seen throughout history the unsettling effect on politics of opening up a new sphere of influence that every state wants its own piece of. And what about when the Moon colonies end up having their own 'Boston Tea Party' - what then? As I say, I'm no expert and could be off on all counts - but it makes you think doesn't it? D.T.
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BlogThis is where I will put semi regular musing about things that interest me. I cannot guarantee they will do the same for you guys Archives
May 2022
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