A lot has transpired over the past couple of months thanks to the venture creation class that I otherwise would not have had the pleasure of experiencing if I were not to have enrolled and “stuck with it.”  I must say that initially embarking on this academic journey, I was very apprehensive and confused, but I would later come to realize that although I was entering unknown territory, the journey that lay ahead was one that would open my eyes to a whole new world in more ways than one.  Both the aspects of actually starting a venture and integrating the concept of 3D printing  lay at the heart of the class and made for a very challenging semester long project that was filled with a lot of sweat, tears, and fun.

From a personal standpoint, I had never actually thought of starting an entrepreneurial venture and only had the faintest of ideas of what actually compromised a sound business plan and concept.  Here, coursework at Baruch tends to not stress chance and risk, we are taught to be risk-averse for the sake of the longer time horizon.  Compounding this is the fact that I am an accounting student and here conservative measures and doing things “by the book” are principles that are constantly emphasized.  I definitely learned that there are many contingencies and components that must be thought of when considering a venture.  Also, no matter how original your idea may be, there will always be some type of competition no matter how unique or different you may think the product or service actually is; substitute goods/services.  To provide insight on this, my project had to do with the production of 3D printed in-ear monitors, and although 3D printing itself is a new technology, competition exists in a wide array of forms from mass market offerings to specific niche companies that create custom products.  As a matter of fact, 3D printing too was very unfamiliar to me as I had never actually bothered to take a vested interest in the emerging technology.  I honestly had thought that this was just far-fetched sci-fi tech that may be a nice idea some day, and one that would probably materialize items out of “thin-air,” but this initial uninformed notion would too come to change.

Concerning 3D printing, it is a technology that will undoubtedly change all facets of life when the technology actually matures to the point of adoption by the masses.  Technology in general is constantly becoming cheaper, more effective and efficient, and most importantly accessible; 3D printing is no exception.  There are many ongoing efforts currently in process by researchers, hobbyists, institutions, organizations, for-profit entities, etc…. that will undoubtedly and inevitably develop and “bear fruits.”  From medicine to food to bio-engineering, 3D printing technology is developing into a force that will shake the conventional and traditional landscapes of industry and life.  A lot of excitement lies in the future and the potential of the technology and I personally cannot wait to see how it develops.  Here, without this particular class, I worry that I would not have been exposed to such a potential “game changer” unless I were to by chance come across a highly publicized story, and even then, I would only have a very basic interest and a rather uneducated and thus inaccurate notion of the concept as a whole.

Concerning my personal strength and its development, I would come to learn that this is tied into my keen desire for detail.  This positive/negative quality (depending on how one looks at it and the circumstance it may apply to) allowed me to dive deep into the “MyBud” in-ear monitor project and explore technology not only in a pure manufacturing sense that encompasses the use of 3D printing equipment, but complementary technologies such as a 3D ear-scanning system developed by Lantos Technologies.  Adding to this, my product would come to evolve into having actual components that can actually be feasibly constructed and thus become a real product.  Undoubtedly, the fact that I had an actual tangible idea that can be materialized makes me feel a great sense of accomplishment as I recall all my efforts and struggles.  Focusing on the struggles, much research needed to be done into both 3D printing, the actual creation of the venture, and the development of the actual product.  Again, two notions were very unfamiliar to me and they were the technology and the venture creation process.  Here, many hours were spent scouring Google and digging deeper and deeper clicking through sites and adding them to my favorites until I had a few new “favorite sites” added to my bookmark bar; I’d estimate approximately 100 in the bookmark folder.  The whole learning experience was wonderful as it was hands-on, and the amount of time and effort put forth was exactly what the end result yielded; it was a culmination of all the efforts and time spent.  Thus, if I can go back to late January when I was first starting the course and give myself advice, it would definitely be to work only part-time so that more effort can be devoted to actually exploring all the interesting facets of 3D printing.  Adding to this would be to come in with more realistic expectations of the technology and its limitations so that a more “concrete” business plan could be developed for the project.  Regarding the future, I plan to take a concept that has been stressed during the last few weeks of class and utilize it; take a chance, failure is not bad.  Indeed, entrepreneurship may have risks, but one can also bear substantial rewards for taking a chance on an idea.  If one does not try something, they will never actually be able to know if it will work or not (much like asking a girl out; personal story,  but I wouldn’t have a fiancee if I didn’t!).  This notion of risk-taking and integrating it with expectations of what embody a venture will definitely be a part of my future at some point in time because there is a desire to open a business.  However, as it relates to 3D printing, I just do not 100% know yet, but I am now much more aware and open to the concept 🙂

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In order to effectively arrive at a more concrete plan for the custom earbud it is necessary to learn about not only about the technological and design aspect of the product, but to inquire about what exactly is important to a typical earbud user (Is design customization all that important?  How long would they be willing to wait until the product is mailed to them?).  Therefore, the first step of the plan would encompass sending an inquiry to Lantos Technologies and asking more about their 3D scanning process and its overall use and expandability into the realm of using the data generated to actually upload to a 3D program.  Next, going the more traditional route, contacting an audiologist to understand the current molding process more in-depth would create a clearer picture of the current faults in the customized market.  Pursuing this further, contacting Ultimate Ears for a more direct price quote and inquiring about the actual timeframe from beginning to end and the material used for construction purposes would too paint a clearer picture of the whole process in its current state.  Finally, utilizing internet message boards such as head-fi which cater to audio enthusiasts whom most commonly resort to custom solutions, I would be able to learn more about their experiences with the whole process and the feedback , both positive and negative, or suggestions they can offer.

The rationale and inspiration for my custom-fit-earbuds produced via 3D printing derives out of a problem I and many of my friends as well as fellow audio enthusiasts (via head-fi; a forum dedicated to audio equipment) share, and that is the inability to often actually enjoy our music without the constant need to readjust, reinsert, or deal with discomfort that is often the case with consumer earbuds.  Here, aside from pursuing the expensive and time consuming custom approach which encompasses spending approximately $100 to visit an audiologist in order to get an impression made of the ear canal, and then having to send that impression to an audio company such as Ultimate Ears that specializes in the processes, which in turn means more time and money, there is no other real viable alternative for the time being (Guttenberg).  As a matter of fact, in order to address this issue, there have been a few business ideas that have been proposed and sometimes successfully funded via public funding sites like KICKSTARTER, but they all mostly center around a user solution dependent on the user themselves molding a pliable material.  Here, a variety of factors make the idea unattractive and these include that the material is often not able to isolate sound effectively and as a result the seal is poor and sound quality is sacrificed, the molding process can be complicated and prone to error, and the quality and longevity of the molded piece can be questionable.  The main idea of the 3D printed earbuds is to allow the user to have inexpensive, quick, customized, and no frills solution so that they may enjoy their music without having to accept the standard small, medium, large silicone tips that are often found with earphones.

The solution for the current problem is derived from what 3D printing is ultimately able to accomplish, and that is a fast, quick, and customized approach to creating a product that can be user specific and made out of materials that are durable and which will not compromise comfort or sealing ability.  Here, using 3D ear scanning techniques such as those created by a company like Lantos Technologies which use a handheld probe to fill the individual’s ear canal with a fluid-filled membrane and then shine a light throughout the liquid to create a “map” of the ear, the process can be made much more efficient and effective as a 3D file would automatically be generated (Hsu).  In turn, coupled with new scanning technologies, a user will no longer have to deal with the poor fit and discomfort that is generally found with today’s consumer earbuds nor will they need to endure additional costly expenses or wait time.  The end goal is to have a consumer have the scanning process of their ear made and then have the file stored on a database so that they may not only get a custom-fit earbud, but they would be able to personalize the product by picking their color and/or a variety of designs that would be offered by the company as well as the ability to reorder at any point.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57454025-47/are-headphones-that-are-custom-molded-to-your-ears-worth-it/

http://www.technewsdaily.com/16304-3d-ear-scanning-headphones.html

During my time at Makerspace, I and Jack (a fellow classmate), constructed a little toy that wished to only happily rotate around in circles and trace its patterns via the three marker that were attached to its small blue plastic appendages (yes, this is personification).  Although the assembly was relatively simple consisting of some basic wiring, taping, and zip-tieing the end result was rather satisfying as it began to fulfill its purpose of spinning and scribbling.

I chose this particular toy because because of two primary reasons: 1 ) I have a liking to building something out of parts; 2) There was a time limit imposed and I wanted to have something functional by the end of the activity

Thus, because I have been exposed to such little novelty items in the past, I was already familiar with the wiring of the basic battery circuit and what needed to be taped or zip-tied in order for the product to function; instructions weren’t needed just a simple glance at the box-art depicting the constructed toy sufficed.  Aside from the actual successful construction of the toy, the Makerspace made me realize that I have a habit of picking a project that has a clear and set end design and function rather than exploring the more abstract and “imaginative’ assembly kits that were sprawled throughout the room (a circuit board with a variety of LED’s and motorized components comes to mind).  Thus, if the opportunity presents itself next time I would like to take on the more time consuming and customizable kits that were present, particularly the previously alluded to circuit board.

I’m not much of an artistic person nor have I ever had any real interest in the large majority of what is considered art.  I will admit, I like music architecture, and graphic novels (Jodorowsky is responsible for this) but I never was really spurred to gain insight into art, at least studiously, beyond the confines of the classroom due to mandatory assignments.  My visit to the MAD didn’t really enlighten me or change my mind in regards to art, but it did allow me to view some interesting things that can be done with the tech of 3D printing.  MAD isn’t like most museums and I noticed this upon visiting one of the floors housing two 3D printers and a computer with a Kinect (Microsoft’s first generation “smart” camera device).  The Kinect and computer were used to scan a willing individual, and if so desired, provided the ability to order a 3D model of the scan.  A custom designed miniature of oneself seems to be rather intriguing given the fact that such a novelty would have been rather expensive if the provided technology did not exist due to that wonderful phrase “economies of scale.”  Here, a custom mold is not needed and the scan can in fact be made with cheap consumer technology (Kinect).  Seeing this little novelty finally allowed an idea to pop into my mind regarding an idea for a project, but more on that at a later date.  In the museum I was looking for something genuinely interesting to write about, something that really generated an interest and was something I would not mind researching further, and then I found it….

I find great interest into the potential uses for 3D printing outside the realm of creating artistic pieces to simply be displayed; practicality and usability of the technology is more interesting than something that serves to be decor. First, the thought of using a massive 3D printer to construct buildings definitely peaked my curiosity and this is exactly what I found at the museum.

A custom designed home at 25% the cost of what it would conventionally be otherwise and done in 24 hours or less is an amazing feat all in itself, but there is so much more worth considering.  The fact that a plethora of materials can be incorporated and then fit to shape an individual’s vision without the restriction of traditional materials and designs creates a whole new realm of possibilities.  Consequently, the fact is that construction costs and time would be drastically cut and would make the dream of home ownership and adequate shelter a reality for many more.

Next, with a customized home an individual will no doubt want to pursue the opportunity to have furniture and decor that fits the home’s design, right?

This particular piece portrays the notion that unique design opportunities arise with the emergence of 3D printing.  The use of alternative materials that are actually able to be shaped, molded, and can potentially be stronger and made resistant to corroding processes as well as damage not only allows for a unique vision to come into fruition for the decor enthusiast, but also serves a practical purpose and would reduce the concern of wear and tear on the object itself.  Consequently, much like the home concept spoken above, one can also assume that pricing would also be made more affordable without having to settle for inferior materials or construction via  conventional “cheap furniture.”

My visit to MAD allowed me to truly see, in person, a variety of ways that 3D printing can be utilized in order to bring a concept, idea, or vision into fruition.  Like the book Fabricated emphasizes, the traditional cost structure  and investment needed into producing a piece, whether it be for the sake of art or usability, is almost done away with.  It doesn’t cost more to produce a variety of unique pieces or prototypes versus a production run of the same exact object.  This allows for constant tweaking and customization to either improve on the design of an object or to realize an artist’s true vision for their piece.  From architecture, decor, clothing,  to prototyping new transport (Rapid Racer by Stratasys)  3D printing has a multitude of uses.  Efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and versatility are all words that I have come to associate directly with the potential that lies with the technology itself.