There is a lot of worrying about 3D printed guns, for instance, there is a lot of talk on the impact that it will have on shipping and transport industries, but not everyone in these industries is taking the time to adjust for the coming future of instant-access to consumer goods.
That future is edging ever closer, and while we can worry about the potential hazards that 3D printing will bring, the ultimate impact that the technology is poised to have on culture and society is likely going to be quite positive. First and foremost, we should be considering the impact that the technology is going to have on poverty.
Think back to the earliest books. In the 1800's, books were regarded as luxury items. The poor might have read newspapers and magazines, but they didn't own many books. Even farther back, books were something that you didn't even have access to without being a monk or a scholar.
Now, you can take a look at the dumpster behind your local library to see how greatly we value books as consumer items. You can download any information in the world to your desktop or phone or Kindle, so unless you just enjoy the feel and smell of paper, the idea of packing your house with hundreds of thick texts seems impractical from a strictly pragmatic viewpoint.
What happens to housing costs when a 3D printer can actually build a house on a small plot of land? 3D printable food is largely cosmetic right now, printing chocolate or pasta into fun shapes, but what happens to world hunger when we can download recipes and print basic proteins, fibers and vitamins into delicious meals?
If you grew up poor, then you may remember being teased on the first day of school for wearing hand-me-downs, but what if you could print custom-fitted tee-shirts and jeans the day before sending the kids back to class?
We can argue about the root causes of poverty all day long, but we can generally agree that what defines poverty is access. The "haves" have, that's why we call them the haves. The "have-nots" do not have, which is why we call them the have-nots. 3D printing is accessibility defined. If a dozen parents pitch in for a 3D clothing printer, they need never waste money clothes shopping again. If we can print food, we need never starve (or be stumped for dinner ideas).
Right now, 3D printers remain, themselves, luxury goods. You probably don't own one unless you're a real techie with some serious disposable income. Even modest, middle class geeks are waiting for the price to come down, but remember that even in the hands of business owners and geeky uncles, the impact of 3D printing is going to be felt.
You can't justify charging $30 for a pair of generic sneakers when the shoe store a few blocks down is charging $3. You can't justify making your sister shop for her kids' clothes when you could print them out in an afternoon and have her pitch a couple bucks in for materials.
"Even as 3D printing affects the job market, what we're looking at is an invention that is going to drive the cost of everything down, and keep driving it down until we get closer and closer to 'free' as the base cost for everything, so it's hard to be cynical about the promise of 3D printing." Said Internet entrepreneur Jason Hope.
There will always be luxury goods, there will always be status symbols, but the accessibility made possible by 3D printing should make it easier than ever to at least meet the basic requirements to live a comfortable, rewarding life, with or without a lot of money in your bank account.
Amy TaylorAbout the Author:
Amy Taylor is a technology and business writer. Amy began her career as a small business owner in Phoenix, Arizona. She has taken that knowledge and experience and brought that to her unique writing capabilities. She really enjoys new business related issues that are tied directly to technology.
