Updated: Death and Destruction at (4)!

(1) The Santa Machine

As I posted about back in the mists of antiquity, researchers are making serious headway on 3D printers and other forms of rapid prototyping. 3D printers for plastics are now nearing affordability. This model costs a mere $40k—within shouting range of affordability (OK, that’s if you yell REALLY loud).

(I also like how friendly it looks in this picture. I expect it to start be-booping at me like R2D2 or something.)

The business/ manufacturing design implications of this technology are obvious, and already in use. But consumer applications will eventually become viable, too, when the price drops another 1.5 orders of magnitude or so.

Imagine you purchase one of those home and garden programs that lets you figure out how you want to remodel or landscape your home. You do everything up in your 3D modelling program, just the way you want it. Then you press the button and out comes a real scaled, color model of your design, that you could hold in your hands. You could take it outside and refer to it as you work.

Or let’s say you have a kid whose favorite activity is Sims, which lets them design 3D models of people and things. Or they use a new 3D modelling software that lets them design and print out their own toys! Is that cool, or what?

I want one right now. With the requisite software to let me model things, of course. And it’s just what I need right now: another technological distraction. Sheesh.

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