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Obama's makerbot
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Five-year old demonstrates Robohand
I’m a geek at heart, always have been, always will be. Sure I can socialise and hold court with the best of them when “bantering” about football (soccer), booze (liquor) and ladies (errr.. ladies). But deep down all I’ve ever been truly interested in are computers, my grandfather’s model trains, WWF (of the Ultimate Warrior rather than eco warrior variety) and new inventions. Those catalogues that come in Saturday newspapers like Betterware and Kleeneze are like rather racy magazines to me.
Attempting to land a job in the new and exciting world of 3D printing technology required me to research and write an article entitled “How 3D printing will change the world”. I approached the article with gusto and unbridled enthusiasm. After three rather soul crushing years writing about scripted reality television (is that still a thing?) the chance to write about a new and exciting technology was not an opportunity I was about to pass up.
I come at this technology as a wide-eyed optimist, thinking things like “There’s no need to buy a bike to cycle to work I’ll be printing one off soon”. Those eyes have been ever so slightly narrowed by the reality of where we’re at in the terms of technology and I can see how people who’ve been in the industry a long time are slightly frustrated by this new dawn.
However, when in your first week the President of the United States of America mentions 3D printing in his State of the Union Address you know you’ve backed a winner.
As narrowed as my eyes may have been in week one my mind has been thoroughly blown. Some of the tech I’ve seen and heard about in week one have got me very excited for the ushering in of the latest era of technology.
Here are a few of my favourite things so far:
Leanar3do – A software and hardware package allowing the user to create 3D models in a virtual reality environment.
Robohand – A 3D printed open-sourced prosthetic hand designed as a more affordable alternative to share with finger amputees throughout the world. Beautifully demonstrated by five year-old Liam in this touching video.
Flexiscale – A company started by hobbyists who love restoring transport of the past. They are 70% funded in 19 days on kickstarter and are aiming to bring previously unavailable model trains through 3D scanning and 3D printing.
Nanoscribe’s spaceship – A Hellcat spaceship 3D printed in less than 50 seconds yet is only the width of a human hair. This is Science Non-fiction at its finest.
Modern Meadow – 3D printed meat? Probably preferable to what some of us have been stuffing our faces with, which has contained more than 100% RDA of Shergar. On a serious note this kind of stuff could change the world and could solve all of our resource problems.
