Originally Posted by Guinness (Post 1088665)

I know this is a tech thing and could be put in the tech forum, but I'm more interested in the ramifications than the actual tech stuff...

So the new technology thats about to break big time is the 3D printer...at the moment its kinda pricey and you need to be a real tecchie to put one together and you can only create plastic stuff.

It's the Star Trek replicator.

If you're a rich tecchie train set nerd..you can already print your own signal boxes, stations and trees to paint. You can already print guns if you fancy yourself as a wannabee terrorist.

They are already working on the version that prints 3D metals. The very near future...create your own iphone, ipod, ipad, laptop...self replicate the actual printer you are using.

If I was younger I'd be kinda scared...this one invention has the potential to make the industrial revolution look like a playground fight. The job losses will be astronomical...

Download the pattern from Amazon and print off a complete crockery and cutlery set, it's Christmas..just print off the PS28 or Xbox34 for the kids and a Spectrum 48k for Great Grandad, (to bore the crud out of you about playing Manic Miner, PEEKs and POKEs and something called a cassette), TV on the fritz, download the pattern and print a new one, flat battery on the motor, print one off. At first the patterns will be expensive and one time use, but some bright nerdy kid, yet to be born, sat in a darkened back room will create something that will enable everyone to do it as many times as they want for a few quid.

I'm not a doomsayer, but personally I think this thing is an economic timebomb.

Originally Posted by Eric (Post 1088667)

I started a thread in "Questions and Anwers" .... "Is there such a thing ..." It concerns the upcoming Technological Singularity.

Originally Posted by MargaretR (Post 1088675)

The technology that would bring down the financial system will not be allowed to happen.

Just like the way to have free energy that Nikola Tesla discovered, it will be impounded, suppressed and all records destroyed.

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth (Post 1089567)

I think at the moment they can only print an object in one material- all the same plastic or all the same metal. So you could print a case for an ipod, in plastic or metal, but not the inside parts which each may be a mixture of metals, plastics and silicon.

Originally Posted by Studio25 (Post 1090336)

I've also seen news of an American eagle with a 3D printed upper beak to replace the one it lost when injured.

Originally Posted by Guinness (Post 1100364)

Damn..this thing is moving fast

3D printing surgery: Woman has entire SKULL replaced with plastic made using a 3D printer - Mirror Online

Just been listening to an interesting discussion where a surgeon said that there is a high probability that, within 20 years or so, the competitors in the paralympics would be outperforming olympic athletes because the technology is about to outstrip mother nature and dedicated training.

Two months ago we were talking about a piece of chocolate and a plastic eagle beak..now its skulls and face reconstruction

Originally Posted by accyman (Post 1100405)

i dont know what the fuss is about .Anne summers have been replecating willies for years and theres been no where near as much praise or fuss