3D Printing Impacts Us in More Ways Than We Imagined

In an age where we have machinery to plant and harvest the crops, tend to the cattle, repair the infrastructure and in general take care of every need we have; In the age we are approaching where we can tell a computer to 3D print a pizza for us and it will be ready in just a few minutes without having to go to the door to greet the delivery person;  In this same age where we can have body parts printed for people who have been injured or abused their body to the point that they need new parts; In this age which is quickly approaching there will no longer be a need for the masses to work.  Then, in that age, what shall we do?

One will need to work only if they want something to do which cannot be satisfied by the entertainment systems of the day.  TV, in the new sense, will be able to stream, on demand, whatever programming the viewer desires.  Sports on the professional level could be virtual, to prevent injuries to the athlete, or they could continue to be actual physical events where people play for the thrill and the danger of injury.  After all, we will be able to replace injured body parts by just printing the correct one.

If a person is not being productive in some way, what is their raison d’être?  Why should they continue to carry on with life?  Will we enter the Twilight Zone or Doctor Who episodes where people are judged based on their contributions to society?  And if they don’t meet the criteria for being productive, be put on a game show to play for their right to live?  Should the masses be used as tokens to be pleased, with the person having the most on their side the one who gets the extra ration of whatever they desire?

These are all very morbid thoughts.  It is better to go into the future with a clear idea of what we are facing than to stumble blindly forward.  If we start thinking about the problems that choices cause before the decisions are made, we will have a better chance of making the right decision.

What impact do you think 3D printing will have on our economy?

Will 3D printing be used in the food industry?  Or will there be another technological breakthrough used there?

Please leave a comment, I’d like to hear if you think anything will come of this.