The Impact of Consumer 3D Printers
3D printers print objects in the same way
that a regular printer prints text. You can design your own
object or print a file you got from someone else. In recent
years the price of 3d printers has fallen
dramatically, resulting in increased availability to the general
public. What are
the benefits of widespread availability of this new technology?
What are the problems/dangers? What benefits and
problems have we already seen? How
might this technology further develop?
How might this development affect individuals in their
daily lives? How
will it impact society? To
what extent should this technology be
regulated? Consider
what this would mean
in regards to the way products are currently manufactured and
made available to
consumers. Remember
to keep your
analysis centered on personal 3d printing; avoid discussion of industrial
applications.
Examples
of
useful objects that can be 3D printed
"3
Dangers Society Faces From 3D Printing"
"The
Impact of 3D Printing Technology on Society and the Economy"
"Printing
Insecurity?
The Security Implications of 3D-Printing of Weapons"
"How
Defense
Distributed Already Upended the World"
"...the
Cody Wilson 3D Printed Gun Case"
Defense
Distributed
Online Blog (caution: this is an extreme political
opinion)
"Cam’s
3D
Printed Hand Journey"
"Will
the
Foodini Food 3D Printer Be the Microwave of the Future?"