Exploring the Social Impact of 3D Printing

The Social Impact of 3D Printing: Four Possible Scenarios for the Future

• 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, turns computer-aided designs into physical objects from a range of materials and on a range of scales.
• Lancaster University and the University of Wollongong have identified four potential scenarios for the social impact of 3D printing.
• At the 3D Printshow 2012 in London, artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers showcased the potential of 3D printing technology, including children creating 3D designs within the game Minecraft.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing include: (A) home factories, (B) print shops, (C) fab labs, and (D) the 3D bubble.
• In the home factories scenario, everyone has a 3D printer in their home and is printing much more "stuff," mostly made of plastic or resin.
• In the print shops scenario, manufacturing has "returned" to places such as the UK, the US, and Australia, and companies are integrating high-end 3D printers into their supply chains and retail outlets.
• In the fab labs scenario, groups of people work together on not-for-profit or subsidised printers to craft objects they intend to use for recreation or for trading and selling in specialist "maker fairs."
• In the 3D bubble scenario, the market bubble has burst as inflated expectations have caused 3D printing to be severely over-hyped.
• The potential social impacts of 3D printing need to be discussed now, before the future arrives.
• The 3D Printshow 2012 demonstrated the exciting and inspiring uses of 3D printing technology, including a scale model of the Urbee 3D-printed car and a row of 3D-printed mummified animals from an archaeological project rendered in near-perfect detail.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing were shaped by how corporate this new industrial revolution will be and how much individuals will engage with the technology.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing offer different implications for the transportation of objects and the travel of people, as well as efficiency gains in how objects are transported and where they are made.

The Social Impact of 3D Printing: Four Possible Scenarios for the Future

• 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, turns computer-aided designs into physical objects from a range of materials and on a range of scales.
• Lancaster University and the University of Wollongong have identified four potential scenarios for the social impact of 3D printing.
• At the 3D Printshow 2012 in London, artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers showcased the potential of 3D printing technology, including children creating 3D designs within the game Minecraft.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing include: (A) home factories, (B) print shops, (C) fab labs, and (D) the 3D bubble.
• In the home factories scenario, everyone has a 3D printer in their home and is printing much more "stuff," mostly made of plastic or resin.
• In the print shops scenario, manufacturing has "returned" to places such as the UK, the US, and Australia, and companies are integrating high-end 3D printers into their supply chains and retail outlets.
• In the fab labs scenario, groups of people work together on not-for-profit or subsidised printers to craft objects they intend to use for recreation or for trading and selling in specialist "maker fairs."
• In the 3D bubble scenario, the market bubble has burst as inflated expectations have caused 3D printing to be severely over-hyped.
• The potential social impacts of 3D printing need to be discussed now, before the future arrives.
• The 3D Printshow 2012 demonstrated the exciting and inspiring uses of 3D printing technology, including a scale model of the Urbee 3D-printed car and a row of 3D-printed mummified animals from an archaeological project rendered in near-perfect detail.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing were shaped by how corporate this new industrial revolution will be and how much individuals will engage with the technology.
• The four possible scenarios for the future of 3D printing offer different implications for the transportation of objects and the travel of people, as well as efficiency gains in how objects are transported and where they are made.

Discover the potential social impact of 3D printing with our quiz! From home factories to fab labs, explore the four possible scenarios for the future of this revolutionary technology. Test your knowledge on the implications for transportation, manufacturing, and individual engagement with 3D printing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about the exciting uses and potential challenges of additive manufacturing.