Forbes Technology Council quotes Jose Morey in latest article "12 Revolutionary Ways 3D Printing Is Changing The World"
"12 Revolutionary Ways 3D Printing Is Changing The World"
POST WRITTEN BY
Expert Panel, Forbes Technology Council
3D printing technology has garnered a lot of investment and research support because of its potential application to almost every industry in the world. From creating replacement parts for machines to developing prototypes from scratch, the technology has advanced immensely over the last decade.
Along with this inexorable march to the future have come some uniquely interesting potential applications of the technology. Never before has humanity had the ability to replicate durable objects so easily and quickly. To this end, 12 members of Forbes Technology Council discuss what they consider to be the next exciting potential applications of 3D printing that we may be reading about in the news.
1. Precision Medicine
It can have multiple applications in precision medicine -- from creating personalized organs, skin grafts or mechanical parts to printing targeted nanoparticles, food and pills that are adapted to one's specific microbiome and physiology. This will be one of the drivers of the next wave of innovation in personalized health care. - Jose Morey, Liberty BioSecurity
2. Organogenesis
3D printing will be used to create anatomical structures in cell cultures to imitate the growth of human organs. It will save countless lives by allowing faster transplants, compatible without the need of lifelong anti-rejection treatments. Car accidents are the main source of organ donors. Self-driving cars will thus create insurmountable shortages, so organogenesis is an absolute must-have. - Martin Zizi, Aerendir Mobile Inc.
3. 3D-Printed Food
People may soon use 3D printing to tackle one of the world’s most prominent issues: ending hunger. Meals made with 3D printers offer a sustainable solution to our growing population. Oil and powder cartridges will be used to create nutritional meals that supply people with the calories they need to thrive. This process will also help end food waste as the cartridges will have a 30-year shelf life. - Christopher Yang, Corporate Travel Management
4. Custom Apparel
No more problems of being in the middle of standard sizes. Currently, some people face the issue of shoe size 7 being too big, and 6 (or 6.5) being too small. A 3D printer can make it the exact size. The same goes for the clothes. When you're able to 3D print clothes, they are going to fit perfectly. As a bonus (some people may call it main feature as well), you are your own designer, too. - Vikram Joshi, pulsd
5. Disrupting The Construction Process
Traditional building design and construction techniques are ripe for improvement and disruption. The most forward looking design and construction companies are nibbling at the edges of 3D for current projects. As the costs of 3D printers drop, the evolution of the value chain from design to implementation will take off, enabling big changes in our built environment and a next wave of modernity! - Jp Rosato, Sitehands
6. 3D-Printed Homes
3D-printed homes are slowly coming onto the market. In fact, the first-ever 3D-printed house was apparently built just recently, and was done so in less than 24 hours for about $10,000. This will be especially beneficial to areas of the world that are without adequate or affordable housing. - Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
7. Household Repairs
While 3D printing has been primarily restricted to industrial and technological uses, one use case can get 3D printers into every home: 3D printing repairs. With 3D repairs, people will be able to fix broken plates and cups, ripped shoes and clothes and even fix squeaky door handles and broken light switches. While less dramatic than 3D-printed homes, this might be what will popularize 3D printing. - James Kawas, Saily
8. Space Program Acceleration
By allowing innovators to share data and design, 3D printing has broken down borders. But it will also accelerate our endeavors out of this world. Space station teams and intergalactic explorers will utilize this tech to manufacture components and products without needing to wait around for resupply missions. This will enable mankind to venture forth further than ever possible before. - Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC
9. Real-World Security
3D printing, from engineering design to food and human body parts, is a reality. What about security? 3D printers are able, through code, to create physical objects. Since that code is, well, "code," it can be used in both a physical sense, as well as a virtual sense. Physical keys and objects will be married with virtual security code that ensures matches, enabling a dynamic "unlocking" of anything. - Tim Vasko, BlockCerts.com
10. Gaming
As creative engineers apply this technology to more residential use cases, I believe we'll see more adoption in the gaming vertical. Retro gaming is extremely hot right now and electronics have become so commoditized that the only thing preventing mainstream use is cases and controllers. 3D printing technology lends itself perfectly to gaming consoles and controllers, reviving '80s and '90s items. - Tom Roberto, Core Technology Solutions
11. Hard-To-Find Parts
Instead of sourcing hard-to-find parts, now you can order the specs and print them at home. This can potentially help save a lot of money, given that before, when parts were no longer available, it was a good reason to upgrade. - Seth Wasserman, Menin Hospitality
12. Manufacturing Innovation
3D printing, while a cool concept by itself, will have the greatest impact in manufacturing, providing reduced numbers of components and enabling on-the-fly innovation not possible in traditional manufacturing chains. The potential to reduce industrial waste and save on natural resources involved in traditional manufacturing is also exciting. In a way, we can finally go beyond the assembly line. - Rj Bardsley, Racepoint Global