3 ms·

It's so tempting to say this is just sensationalist hyperbole...but go watch the beginning of "Pirates of Silicon Valley"...the parallels are uncanny.

ChuckMcM 14y ago
What I find amusing is that 'robotics' have been "the PC all over again" for a couple of decades at least now :-) So I don't like the hyperbole, gives folks too much ammo if it doesn't develop quickly. That said though, the same people who were building computers from kits are doing 3D printers, its fun to watch.
iamwil 14y ago
Well, you have to be skeptical for the right reasons. It is true there's both lots of hype and cynicism. 3D printing parallels computers in many ways, but it's important to see how it is different as well. Unlike computers, I currently can't see anything resembling Moore's law. In addition, it may have some version of the "Singer Problem". When sewing machines came out, you could have claimed that everyone would make their own clothes. But we don't. Why don't we? Or when camcorders first came out in the early 80's, some people were enthused about being able to record their own shows, and talked about how it was going to disrupt traditional media. However, the missing piece they failed to take into account was that there was no method of distribution. It wasn't until Youtube came along that this vision came to be. That said, I'm enthused about its possibilities. I've got a printer at home, and I've been exploring what it's good for, and so far, I'm optimistic.
- thenomad 14y ago
  When sewing machines came out, you could have claimed that everyone would make their own clothes. But we don't. Why don't we? Because making your own clothes still takes bloody ages and a lot of expertise. I've attempted to learn both 3D modeling and clothesmaking in the past, and IMO, 3D modeling was easier. And even a skilled amateur tailor takes a couple of days to make a dress or a suit-equivalent. If 3D printing only makes Making as easy as tailoring, it's not going to get very far very fast. If it makes it as easy as assembling IKEA furniture, though, we're off to the races.

ChuckMcM 14y ago

What I find amusing is that 'robotics' have been "the PC all over again" for a couple of decades at least now :-) So I don't like the hyperbole, gives folks too much ammo if it doesn't develop quickly. That said though, the same people who were building computers from kits are doing 3D printers, its fun to watch.

iamwil 14y ago

Well, you have to be skeptical for the right reasons. It is true there's both lots of hype and cynicism. 3D printing parallels computers in many ways, but it's important to see how it is different as well. Unlike computers, I currently can't see anything resembling Moore's law. In addition, it may have some version of the "Singer Problem". When sewing machines came out, you could have claimed that everyone would make their own clothes. But we don't. Why don't we? Or when camcorders first came out in the early 80's, some people were enthused about being able to record their own shows, and talked about how it was going to disrupt traditional media. However, the missing piece they failed to take into account was that there was no method of distribution. It wasn't until Youtube came along that this vision came to be. That said, I'm enthused about its possibilities. I've got a printer at home, and I've been exploring what it's good for, and so far, I'm optimistic.

thenomad 14y ago
When sewing machines came out, you could have claimed that everyone would make their own clothes. But we don't. Why don't we? Because making your own clothes still takes bloody ages and a lot of expertise. I've attempted to learn both 3D modeling and clothesmaking in the past, and IMO, 3D modeling was easier. And even a skilled amateur tailor takes a couple of days to make a dress or a suit-equivalent. If 3D printing only makes Making as easy as tailoring, it's not going to get very far very fast. If it makes it as easy as assembling IKEA furniture, though, we're off to the races.