Tag Archives: 3d printing

Exploring the Possibilities of 3D Printing for the Future

Leave a reply

Exploring the Possibilities of 3D Printing for the Future

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

The possibilities of 3D printing are countless and far-reaching. The technology has been around for years, but it is only recently that it has become accessible to the mainstream. 3D printing can now be used to produce a wide range of products, from jewelry and toys to medical devices and prosthetics. It has revolutionized the way that manufacturing and prototyping is done, and is continuing to expand its capabilities.

The potential of 3D printing is only beginning to be explored, and its applications are becoming increasingly diverse. In the future, 3D printing could be used to produce custom parts for cars, medical implants, and even food. These possibilities open up a world of potential, and it is only a matter of time before 3D printing becomes integral in our lives.

To get a better understanding of the potential of 3D printing, let us explore two case studies.

Case Study 1 – Limbitless Solutions

The first case study is one of a 3D printed prosthetic. A company called Limbitless Solutions is using 3D printing to create custom-made prosthetic limbs for children in need. The process begins with the child being fitted for a prosthetic, and then a 3D model is created from the measurements. The 3D model is then printed in a special type of plastic, and finally, the prosthetic is assembled and fitted to the child. This process is much faster and cheaper than traditional methods, and it has enabled Limbitless Solutions to provide prosthetics to those who cannot afford them.

Case Study 2 – Natural Machines

The second case study is one of 3D printed food. Natural Machines is a company that has developed a 3D printer specifically designed to print food. This printer can be used to print out custom meals with a variety of ingredients, and it can even produce food in a variety of shapes and sizes. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way that we eat, and it could even be used to produce food for those in need.

Conclusion

These two case studies demonstrate the potential of 3D printing. With its wide range of applications and its ever-expanding capabilities, 3D printing is sure to revolutionize the way that we manufacture and produce items. The possibilities are truly limitless, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for this technology.

Bottom line: Futurists are not fortune tellers. They use a formal approach to achieve their outcomes, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to be their own futurist.

Image credit: Pixabay

Subscribe to Human-Centered Change & Innovation WeeklySign up here to get Human-Centered Change & Innovation Weekly delivered to your inbox every week.

Microsoft Stomps on Google Glass

1 Reply

Microsoft Stomps on Google Glass

Wow!

I have to start that word, because I’m not sure how else to describe what has just emerged from Microsoft Research in the new Microsoft HoloLens.

And as I say in the title, if you watch the video below you’ll clearly see that Microsoft has just busted Google Glass – both lenses.

I said from the beginning that Google Glass would never catch on as a consumer product, because they look dumb, cost a lot of money, and don’t really fit into most people’s lives (or add much of anything to them). Recently Google shut down its consumer facing Google Glass program while they try to fix its shortcomings.

Microsoft’s HoloLens on the other hand, if you’ve ever read Innovation is All About Value (if not, follow the link) then you’ll quickly see after watching the video above that Microsoft’s new potential innovation ticks all three boxes in my innovation success prediction framework:

  • Value Creation – Takes 3D objects from your screen and brings them to your physical environment AND lets you interact with them (my mind races thinking about the possibilities).
  • Value Translation – Watch the video. If you don’t see how this might fit first into many professions out there and enable some amazing rapid prototyping without building anything (watch out 3D printing companies!), and possibly also into your personal life, I’ll be shocked.
  • Value Access – Microsoft is already engaging partners to add more value to what is essentially a platform, not a product.

Microsoft HoloLens

Microsoft is being intentionally coy about saying when it will be releasing the Microsoft HoloLens, but some people are predicting it will be available in the Windows 10 launch timeframe, which Microsoft is also being vague about saying only “later in the year” – which for my money usually means Q4 (or maybe Q3) depending on how the preview version does in the wild.

So what do you think of Microsoft’s new HoloLens?

I for one will be reaching out to my friends at Microsoft (you know who you are) to get a personal preview for a further write-up in Innovation Excellence (the world’s most popular innovation web site), so stay tuned!


Accelerate your change and transformation success

Subscribe to Human-Centered Change & Innovation WeeklySign up here to get Human-Centered Change & Innovation Weekly delivered to your inbox every week.

Why the Maker Movement Matters

Leave a reply

Making MakersThe Maker movement is steadily gaining steam and some cities are looking to help it grow and thrive, seeing it as an opportunity to inspire artists and entrepreneurs. One such city is Edmonton, which lies in the Alberta province of Canada, and its program in their public library system to provide maker spaces staffed with library employees and equipped with 3D printers, computers with Apple’s Garage Band and Adobe’s Creative Suite, and more.

Here is a video of Peter Schoenberg of the Edmonton Public Library introducing the EPL MakerSpace:



If you’re not familiar with the Maker movement, then check out these pages:

Maker Faire
Maker Culture – Wikipedia

Or check out these quotes from Time magazine’s article titled “Why the Maker Movement is Important to America’s Future“:

“According to Atmel, a major backer of the Maker movement, there are approximately 135 million U.S. adults who are makers, and the overall market for 3D printing products and various maker services hit $2.2 billion in 2012. That number is expected to reach $6 billion by 2017 and $8.41 billion by 2020. According to USA Today, makers fuel business with some $29 billion poured into the world economy each year.”

“As someone who has seen firsthand what can happen if the right tools, inspiration and opportunity are available to people, I see the Maker Movement and these types of Maker Faires as being important for fostering innovation. The result is that more and more people create products instead of only consuming them, and it’s my view that moving people from being only consumers to creators is critical to America’s future. At the very least, some of these folks will discover life long hobbies, but many of them could eventually use their tools and creativity to start businesses. And it would not surprise me if the next major inventor or tech leader was a product of the Maker Movement.”

So what do you think?

How much of a contribution to the future of innovation will the Maker Movement make?

How important is supporting the maker movement to the future of an economy?

Is this trend sustainable?


Build a common language of innovation on your team

Subscribe to Human-Centered Change & Innovation WeeklySign up here to get Human-Centered Change & Innovation Weekly delivered to your inbox every week.