Chapter 1;

A food printer?  This concept is rather intriguing as I had really not imagined the possibility of 3D printing actually expanding into such territory.  Whilst the chapter describes a variety of applications that the 3D printing process can actually be used for (spare parts in rescue efforts, constructing homes, organs, etc…) food peaked my interest because I was rather hungry at the time.  The idea that someone would simply be able to download a food item from a library of available schematics and have it available for consumption at the slightest whim is a both a dream come true and a nightmare.  Here, late night cravings and a diverse palate can be satiated with the technology, but this spells trouble for both waistlines and the industry in general.  Needless to say the impact of such a technology is nearly unfathomable as it can collapse the food industry in the most general sense.  This concept holds true to what my perception is of the potential impact of 3D printing overall too on a variety of industries.  The world would undoubtedly have to change drastically to accommodate such a powerful technology as it would change the landscape of how we live, produce, and consume in a drastic fashion.  However, food on demand is still quite an attractive concept!

Chapter 2;

“In a 3D printed future world, people will make what they need, when and where they need it.” (pg. 11)

The concept embodied in this quote is both extremely pleasing and disturbing.  Just as the chapter highlights, it is up to the individual and thus their intentions for what the technology would be able to produce.  Much like Alfred Nobel who created dynamite for use in mining operations, others sought to use his creation for destructive  purposes evolving it and warping it into an instrument of death.  3D printing would open up such a realm on a massive scale.  The ability to create weaponry from a catalog acquired through perhaps an internet database that many could have access to or hack if they sought fit would spell disaster on a grand scale.  On the other hand, the potential benefits are too great.  The chapter highlights the fact that 3D printing would allow for the control of an objects material composition and open up a whole new world to what is possible to blend and then construct.  Here, self-healing machine parts among many ideas are mentioned and this can have great benefit in business, medicine, exploration, etc….

Chapter 3;

“On a 3D printer it costs the same amount of money to 3D print 1,000 unique products or 1,000 identical products.” (pg. 27)

The ability to bring an idea to life and then allow for experimentation via modifications to make it truly feasible is a very promising concept to many.  In the world today it costs a substantial amount to bring an idea to life as a design concept can be fatally flawed once it is born into our physical realm; a thought doesn’t always translate well into reality.  Here, the technology promises to allow for a user to easily modify and thus keep trying to make that idea into a truly practical product, and this in a general sense, would breed creativity and ultimately allow risky ideas to potentially come into fruition.  Time and money are both very important aspects that govern day-to-day life in the world and may perhaps be considered the “end-all-be-all” in business and thus the fact that 3D printing can modify a whole variety of processes in bringing a product to market by streamlining the process and making it more efficient and effective holds great promise into what the future holds if the technology is properly embraced.

Chapter 4;

Microfinancing

Much of the chapter covers previously touched on material, but the emergence of a microfinance economy is something that I had not previously put much thought into.  Indeed, traditional lenders tend to extend credit to only those with an established track record and this model tends to shutdown the dreams of many entrepreneurs who cannot secure financing to bring their ideas beyond that point.  The chapter points out a statistic that is very interesting; reported payment rate of 95-98% in regards to microloans numbering an estimated 74 million people with funds totaling $38 billion.  Crowd funding websites like KICKSTARTER already exist and have become extremely popular so it is interesting to see where the finance future is headed especially in regards to 3D printing maturing and giving rise to many more entrepreneurs all looking to make make their creations a reality.

Before I actually begin my semester long journey into the realm of 3D printing I must mention that I have only the faintest ideas of what is possible and isn’t regarding the technology in its present state.  I’ve watched a few video clips in the past, courtesy of YouTube, that show great promise concerning 3D printing and how it can conceivably shape the world by providing the opportunity to capitalize on ideas, do away with “old-school” thought like economies of scale, and allow people to create things once thought impossible due to aspects like complexity per the limits of traditional materials and methods for construction and creation.  Consequently, I also saw someone 3D print a knife that was so dull it couldn’t cut through paper (in this video the individual actually tears a hole and pretends the knife is doing the work!), so I know that certain aspects of the technology aren’t really viable or directly available to the average person.  Much like prior tech ventures (personal computers, cellular phones, etc…) the technology is in a relatively infant state and is looking to blossom into something special that has the potential to find its way into ever individuals home for personal use.  Aside from the fact that I am venturing forth into unknown territory regarding 3D printing, I am not too much of a blogger or social media user so this is all new to me; let’s begin!