3D Printers - Still cool?

Do you believe that 3D printers are still cool? We already heard so much about it, and many of us have even witnessed 3D printing in real life, so we might conclude that 3D printers used to be a great innovation, but now, they are just another thing we use.

My friends already wrote about different applications of 3D printers, how cool they are: saving life by creating human organs, and even saving the day by printing toilet paper (sounds weird? You have to read our previous blogs). Even Kanye West is afraid that 3D printers will ruin the textile market the same way the Internet ruined the music industry.

So again, is it 3D printing still thrilling?

Well I say, DEFINITELY YES. Let me try and explain why by comparing the current 3D printers to the development of mobile phones. The early mobile phones were big and clumsy, crazy expensive (only a few businessmen with cigars stuck in their mouths could afford them), and perceived as highly innovative. Then, a few years passed and suddenly phones became smaller, prices went down, and they became an integral part of our lives.

Some may say that at this point, mobile phones were just another thing we buy. I, on the other hand, claim at this point people started asking themselves what else can we do with this thing that every 10-year-old has in their back pocket? This question led to a massive wave of innovations such as early games (snake J) and apps (remember ringtone editors?). These days we have smartphones with an endless stream of applications. Can you imagine your life today without a smartphone?

So now let’s go back to 3D printers. In my view, 3D printers today are like the early generations of mobile phones. The printers are slow, expensive, big, and we don’t really know what to do with them. BUT now is the time when we should ask ourselves: “what else can we do with this thing?” and that is why 3D-printers are going to be way cooler.

By: Nir Charny

What Kanye West thinks about 3D printing and why he's wrong

Kanye West may like robots but he doesn’t feel the same way about 3D printing.  In a recent episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kanye West exposed his fears of 3D printing during a tour of a digital art and design afterschool program, Tumo Center for Creative Technologies,  in Armenia with wife, Kim Kardashian West.  

While visiting a 3D printing lab, Kanye admitted, "This is what I'm afraid of here, 3D printing, because the internet destroyed the music industry and now this is what we're afraid of right now with the textile industry."

As a musical artist and self-proclaimed designer, West’s fears are not entirely unwarranted.  With the rapid technological advancements of 3D printing, machines will become increasingly mainstream and intricate designs could be reproduced with the press of a button.  But we aren’t anywhere near that threat right now.

West’s tour guide and administrator at the school conceded that his concern was somewhat justified but pointed out that there are several benefits to 3D printing that outweigh West’s out-of-touch reservations and noted the complexities involved in replicating designer clothing or shoes.  3D printing can be used to manufacture simple, single-material products that aren’t readily available to consumers but more intricately designed products like Kanye is referring to would be extremely difficult and expensive to replicate.  

It is quite possible that future designs could be stolen and illegally reproduced using 3D printing but we shouldn’t let that stop us from developing this technology into something that could greatly benefit society in so many other ways.  Patent laws will evolve to address the challenges Kanye West anticipates regarding the technology.  Also, the technology could have major positive effects on the fashion industry, contrary to Kanye West’s beliefs.  It could help small designers to lower manufacturing costs and easily personalize orders.  3D printing is improving our lives through quickly generated products and modeling and prototypes in medicine, international development, business and manufacturing.  And we certainly shouldn’t let it stop us from using it for educational and creative design purposes at Tumo.

Do you agree with Kanye that 3D printing could destroy the fashion industry or do you think the benefits outweigh the potential risks?

Take a look at how students at Tumo are using 3D printing for stop-motion animation:

See the video of Kanye’s visit to Tumo here: http://morningafter.gawker.com/kanye-west-wants-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-to-loo-1732056555

Written by: Liz White

Photo source: www.3ders.org