What is the next big thing in technology?!
3d printing is what I think it would
be. Not your thing? Probably you are right, but soon the applications
of something like 3d printing will be common in everyday life. For
now you might find it uneccessary and a little too geeky but I tell
you soon you wont be able to live without it. A year ago the news of this type of printing was in the
mainstream media with technology analyst talking about it becoming a
common device. I really wasn't convinced but yesterday seeing a demonstration on Bloomberg West changed my mind.
Its surprising how small these devices
have gotten over the past year. Although currently they are mainly
used for the purposes of making small models for designers, it is their
disruptive nature that is so scary. For instance you break a component
in your car, lets say a platic piece on your dashboard that can be easily replaced but the
parts will have to be ordered from the manufacturer because they are not available in your region, or even worse you drive an old model and the parts are no longer in production. Instead of shipping the parts to
you, the manufacturer asks you to visit your local 3d printing shop and pick up
that part. The entire process involved in shipping that part to you is
cut short because of this technology. I dont know about you but if you start to think about the various ways in which this tchnology can be
applied you will soon see how big it is. Certain aspect of the cargo
industy will soon see falls in demand. This could totally disrupt the
manufacturing sector.
Winners
Consumers will certianly benefit from a
reduced cost in certain products and their availability.
Losers
Some transport companies and
manufacturing companies will see their business moving away.
China's manufacturing industry could take a big hit.
Its not too clear how much of a change
this would be but it has the potential to be really huge.
What is 3D printing?3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. 3D printing is achieved using additive processes, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printing is considered distinct from traditional machining techniques (subtractive processes) which mostly rely on the removal of material by drilling, cutting etc.3D printing is usually performed using a materials printer, and since 2003 there has been large growth in the sales of these machines. Additionally, the cost of 3D printers has gone down. The technology also finds use in the fields of jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, and many others. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing |
